One some level we are not fans of how the portrait has come to be a crutch in photojournalism. It’s not that we don’t appreciate them when done well, and not that we don’t want to accept that they have been, and increasingly so become, a staple when the pressures of the contemporary newspaper business do not allow for a more documentary approach. Several entries rose quickly to the top and the portrait of the high school student, as mundane as the story may be, was so well executed that it had to be our first place choice. The photographer can’t take credit for the overall color pallet or the pattern on the skirt matching the pattern of the bricks, but they got the light and pose more than right enough. The judges all agreed a tiny bit of cropping to remove elements in the corners would improve the image a bit more. The portrait of the psychic was imaginative and well executed. We feel like a bit more dramatic light might have elevated the image. Third place was a nice, clean personality portrait. The impish expression gives the viewer a sense of the woman’s character.
Judges:
Sean D. Elliot/The Day, Peter Huoppi/The Day, Dana Jensen/The Day, Sarah Gordon/The Day
Judges Comments
One some level we are not fans of how the portrait has come to be a crutch in photojournalism. It’s not that we don’t appreciate them when done well, and not that we don’t want to accept that they have been, and increasingly so become, a staple when the pressures of the contemporary newspaper business do not allow for a more documentary approach. Several entries rose quickly to the top and the portrait of the high school student, as mundane as the story may be, was so well executed that it had to be our first place choice. The photographer can’t take credit for the overall color pallet or the pattern on the skirt matching the pattern of the bricks, but they got the light and pose more than right enough. The judges all agreed a tiny bit of cropping to remove elements in the corners would improve the image a bit more. The portrait of the psychic was imaginative and well executed. We feel like a bit more dramatic light might have elevated the image. Third place was a nice, clean personality portrait. The impish expression gives the viewer a sense of the woman’s character.