Midwest – January 2022 – Portrait/Illustration

Judges Comments

This category didn't have many images and most were very boring. First place was awarded as the cleanest. We would suggest a crop to base of the tie, and highlight of window, and in from the right as the suggested cropped elements do not add any information and don't enhance the composition. However, the red high light on the left complements as a leading line to the tie. Judges agreed that second place was a challenging setting to get a home run image with. We commend the photographer's attempt. We suggest more light to fully flatten the scene, and one judge was wondering if conversation could have allowed for the subjects' facial expressions to have a more congruent mood. Judges agreed that the cat added a valuable homey and quirky element.

Judges: Melissa Sue Gerrits/Freelance, Andrew Craft/The Fayetteville Observer