Summer portraits

There’s a lot to be said for keeping it simple, as Oleg’s shot superbly demonstrates. His choice of soft background, unfussy styling and light retouching work has resulted in a natural-looking photograph that captures a sense of carefree summer days and balmy evenings terrifically. The warm light is echoed by the warmth in the model’s smile, and we love the shapes created by the scoop of her hat and the curves of her hair. Who says you need eye contact to create an evocative portrait?

A super interpretation of the theme, Amelie’s self-portrait captures the essence of summer without a hint of sand, sea or sun glare. Only a gifted photographer would spot the potential in the shadows cast by palm trees on a yard floor, and understandably it took Amelie a number of attempts to position the ‘spine’ accurately – particularly as it was an area open to the public, necessitating several quick changes! The square crop and desaturated colours ensure it’s a tight, focused image, while the sharp shadows sketched on the floor add a dynamic quality.

We love the mood Carlos has created in this portrait of his friend, Cintia. The pair may have sneaked ‘ninja style’ into the closed pool of a condo complex to take it, but the narrow window of opportunity, lack of assistants or stylists and poor lighting conditions aren’t evident in the end result. The laid-back attitude of the model, along with the spot-lit feel to the light, the shadows and the harmonious blue colour scheme transform this from a typical pool shot to something altogether cooler.