National Photographic Portrait Prize 2012

[gstark]

Here's a link to the entries in this year's competition.

Last time we looked at these competition, the general consensus was that while there were some good images there, that year's winner (2009?) was not amongst them.

What's your feeling about this year's entries? I'm undecided about the winner - I think it's good, but is it better than some the others?

There are certainly some crackers amongst these.

[Remorhaz]

Noooooooooo - please - must restrain from having opinion....

[stubbsy]

Well, there are some fine images there (some exceptional ones even) and alongside them are some very ordinary ones. It also makes me wonder if having a well known person in your image helps (of the 46 images here I am aware of 8 of the subjects - that's a high percentage of "celebrities")

One image though gives me pause for thought. Mike Konakci has an image called "For a Pittance." This is a portrait competition and it's a finalist. I wonder if this was chosen for the image alone or the backstory that contextualises the image.

Should the image stand on its' own (I don't think it does) or does the artist's narrative matter. If the former then why have a narrative, if the latter then isn't it a vote on penmanship as well as photography?

Your thoughts please

[gstark]

Peter,

That image is actually one of my favourites.

Obviously, I think it stands on its own, and then some. I love the composition, which seems to me to be very deliberate: look at the way the clothing stands have been laid out. The contrasts within the image, which could almost have been from the '50s.

To me, there's a definite feeling of decay: the light fitting with bulbs missing, and the way the subject has been dressed. But there's also a richness with the warmth of the timber table, and the beauty of the old sewing machine.

This is ostensibly such a simple image, but yet there is so much within it.

[gstark]

Well, there are some fine images there (some exceptional ones even) and alongside them are some very ordinary ones. It also makes me wonder if having a well known person in your image helps (of the 46 images here I am aware of 8 of the subjects - that's a high percentage of "celebrities")

"Celebrity" is certainly a requirement for the Archibald prize; I think the citation demands that the subject be a publicly known person. I don't know about this competition though.

I did note that the call for entries for next year is September however, so I'm thinking that I might just diarise that ....

[biggerry]

I have 'National Photographic Portrait Prize 2012' fatigue syndrome.

[sirhc55]

Again, who gives a toss - I don’t.