Portraits of People in Black and White

This is a really strong ' in your face ' head portrait. The unusual light falling on the right hand side of her face combined with the direct, challenging gaze, wide open eyes and firmly closed mouth, make me think of a warrior queen or a Boudica type figure. A somewhat haunting face, this image will stay in my mind for a long time. Excellent!

This is a stunning environmental portrait with real punch! The use of a 120mm focal length lens at f2.8 has concentrated attention on the main subject who is pin sharp whilst retaining sufficient clarity in the background wrestler. Both figures are well placed compositionally and the rear wrestler's gaze is directed at the foreground figure so our attention is always brought back to him. Great work!

A very sensual portrait. The head, leaning slightly forward to form a diagonal, the slightly open mouth, the unsmiling eyes and the less than perfect hair result in a look that challenges the viewer. The hand forms a counterpoint diagonal and tightens the composition keeping the viewers attention firmly on the face.

A very striking image! There is a lot of tension in the photograph. Very contrasty but still retaining just enough detail in the highlight areas. The eye contact is powerful and the slightly open mouth adds to the tense feeling. Placing the head right at the edge of the frame and cutting out the left eye creates a very strong composition. Very creative and somewhat disturbing!

There is a lovely juxtaposition here with the man appearing to rest his head on the woman's lap! Whilst they are in restful poses they both lie on opposing diagonal lines introducing a feeling of tension and dynamism which brings the image to life. Just one minor crit. The reflection in the right hand spectacle lens is a tad distracting.

A beautifull somewhat ethereal scene. The figure is well placed compositionally. Her eyes look to the smoke which fills the darkness of the left upper corner. The shape of her clasped hands echo that of the burning objects. The slightly open lips are very enigmatic. This image asks questions of the viewer.

A perfectly timed shot that captures the sweat erupting from the left hand boxer's head following the blow from Starkey. The overlapping gloved hands form an unbroken line from one boxer to the other. The differing facial expresions tell the story of the moment. The scene is set by the spectators just identifiable beyond the ropes.