Portraits with Personality

A portrait that oozes emotional content. Much similarity to be found in any early painting you might find in any gallery, with the overall poise and light. Beautiful colours throughout and all brought together in a gallows like frame. I would say you can very much identify with the feelings going on here. Really well done.

Just the right amount of light here as all else fades to black. Quite a Mick Rock of a photo which could have been taken thirty years or thirty seconds ago. Engaging eyes and good connection with the camera. Can defiantly feel some shy punk energy from this young man. .

Asides from having a colour pallet to die for, theres a lot of feeling in this photograph, for me. The background wraps around the subject as they stand almost inside the right-angle of the frame. The light is thoughtful and considered and the technicalities in general serve to compliment the subject. Despite to the strong stance and posture, I'd argue there is an insecurity to the masculinity. Oozing with personality, the subject has been captured presenting themselves authentically. Easier said than done with portraiture. PJB

Such a strong image. I put this in my top 10 fairly early. Defiant and confident but has lots of warmth in her connection with the camera. Getting that connection is the most important aspect of portraiture and it's been achieved really well here. Adore the colours and texture.

Id have liked to have seen a closer cropping here, but it's a beautiful and strong image. It encourages us to imagine the world as she views it through the bubble. She seems curious and questioning to me. There is a lovely gentleness to it which the photographer has portrayed here very well.

Lots of story to be had from this portrait. Very engaging and makes me hungry to know more about Joe. This is the great thing about portrait photography, the engagement with the subject and questions it may leave us with. Very good volume of light and texture here that keeps us locked in.

I love the gentle nature of this photograph. There is so much balance going on with the colours and light is just right as it moves from background to foreground. I would say we get a good feel of the nature of the person and the moment the two subjects are sharing. A thoughtful frame with a hint of comedy.

A portrait that fit's the brief perfectly. Makes me wonder what the relationship between the subject and photographer is like. Leibovitz always says she doesn't believe it's the photographers job to put the subject at ease, which I highly agree with. The gentleman is opening his character fully to the camera and literally giving us his personality. We are left with questions regarding the details of what's in frame, which is what a good photo should do.

I would say there is a lot to be read from this photograph regarding this gentleman and his life. Lovely lighting with a very relaxed and comfortable attitude coming from Mr Carl. He looks thoughtful and friendly which comes across from him quite evidently.

I came back and forth to this image. Although not quite in my top ten, it deserves recognition of being a very well executed portrait. Lots of burden and feelings of laboriousness come through for me here. Many children feel the pressure of standards of achievement and I think the photographer has done a great job of capturing that weight on this boy's shoulders.

I kept coming back to this photo, over and over. The light falls away behind him perfectly, bringing him popping out from the frame, enhanced further by the window itself. It feels like there is a lot of humble pride going on. You can really get a feel for this gentleman and the stature he has in his community. Highly revered in his moment with a quiet reserve. Confident. A really beautiful frame which I hope as on a wall somewhere right now.

Not all kids stories can be full of happiness. I think thats the most immediate and confronting part of this image. There is a look of struggle and hardship, which is alien to most children faces, a very strong connection coming through the lens. Letting the camera do most of the work rather than processing would give a louder voice to the photograph all round, I would say.

A photo that shouts volumes. With regards to portraits with personality, this is the quality I am looking for. I am always keen to express the importance of visual storytelling within photography. It's the most important aspect of the art form for me. Throughout the competition I have seen lots of posed models, reenactment characters, candid moments, etc. A portrait needs to be real.
Every single image that was commended was chosen carefully and this one for me was very deserving. It's a great learning example of how we get a feeling of the person in the frame. Great job.

I adore this frame. were it not for a few clues I'd say it could've been taken at any point in the last fifty years. The detail is delicious in black and white and I'm pleased to see the direct light leaking its way through the hat and making its way across the subjects face. I enjoy the knife being just above the phone, her two most important things easily to hand, the hint of a smile after the calf has just been brought to the ground. A wonderful and authentic feeling portrait that really gives us a feeling for who this young woman is.

Absolutely adore this photograph! So much character coming from the subjects which cuts through their age. I would argue you can easily imagine them as kids and all that cheeky energy comes through well in this portrait. Lovely balance all round to the image with just the right amount of softness.

Through her elegance and stoicism I think theres a hint of a lady who seems tired here. Worn out, even. After coming back to the caption I see why that comes through in the photograph. A lovely executed portrait with a real feel for who she is. Lovely natural light painting her face.