Portraits

This great studio portrait is all about the colour palette. The subject’s baby blue eyes match her dress and her striking red hair contrasts with the dark background. The somewhat absent expression adds a layer of mystery, and the f/10 aperture has retained sharpness throughout the image.

This image is incredibly detailed and sharp, but it’s the strong colours that really make this studio shot stand out. In the top corners a red background is visible, which complements the subject’s red lips. The green eyes contrast their surroundings, providing a strong focal point, and the lighting leads the viewer’s eye directly to the centre of the face.

This fantastic street portrait was taken in Santiago de Cuba. The rays of light breaking through the gaps in the woman’s hat and the presence of a cigar make for unusual elements of interest. The photo feels relaxed and not at all staged, as the woman isn’t looking directly at the camera. It was edited using Adobe Lightroom and the Silver Efex Pro plugin.

This is a great image with plenty of character. It's tack-sharp, and the shallow depth of field and dark background draw the viewer’s eye immediately to the subject. The expression feels genuine and not at all posed too. Unfortunately we don’t accept submissions with watermarks, but felt we had to at least mention this excellent portrait.

Every element of this photograph exudes character. The subject, Skins Elliot, was captured at blue hour as he performed on Clapham Common. Flash was used to balance the scene, illuminating the subject, while the sky and flaming implement are exposed correctly. The flame and chain is slightly blurred too, which conveys a sense of movement.

From the disco ball to the clothing and makeup, this month’s winner oozes 1970s Americana. Remarkably, it wasn’t planned. The helmet was borrowed and the location was found on the spur of the moment. A prism was used to mirror the subject, and a flash mitigated the diminishing light from the setting sun.