Competition #248 PORTRAITS NOT TAKEN IN A STUDIO

[mikeaspinall]

Hi Gang

A few years ago I set this subject which did quite well for entries.

Not everyone has the use of a studio/model to take their pictures so please give me (once again) your best portraits (human or animal) head and
shoulders etc. or full length fully clad or nude, colour or black and white, with/without flash but NOT taken in a studio.

Closing date Midnight (of course) Sunday 13th December.

[BydoR9]

Seen Better Days

[melbarnes]

Lulu on a rock.

181A3177 copy.jpg (359.67 KiB) Viewed 11625 times

[John]

071 Simon.jpg (384.01 KiB) Viewed 11601 times

Simon at the end of the day in Castlefield.

[Daz Hanson]

Charlotte at Astley Mine

[danny]

Spooky

[Sue]

013 Jordan.jpg (351.58 KiB) Viewed 11492 times

[brian hull]

Issy

[kenlawton]

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Image.jpg (395.26 KiB) Viewed 11441 times

[Simon-vtr]

layla.jpg (79.52 KiB) Viewed 11421 times

[mikeaspinall]

Well I set the competition and you gave me the headache.
I have to make judgements but remember they are only my opinions and not written in stone.

ANDY - Cracking start with this portrait. Focus on the eyes ( in this case just the one) they say and you have done just that. Super sharp with neutral background. Just typical Andy Butler.

MEL - So you were just having a walkabout with your camera and came across this young lady sunbathing on a rock. Great shot Maestro and hats off
(and the rest ) to the model.

BIG JOHN - Moody image with strong lighting. Shadows normally detract but here add to the shot. Well done.

DAZ - Sorry but this is not my kind of portrait (am too old fashioned). The figure however stands out against the muted background and is sharp where it should be so well done there. Not keen on the smoke though.

DANNY - This is the same as for Daz I'm afraid Danny. Well lit and the background seems to work but just not for me.

SUE - Very nice picture which works well with the tree as a prop. Perhaps the lighting is a bit strong but I bet his Mum loved it.

BRIAN - Mono treatment works really well here. Model slightly off centre which works really well and very sharp. Umbrella normally would be a distraction but works here.

KEN - Nice capture here. Young lady is a bit soft (subject movement?) but that's O.K. I can see the 'ugly' but which is the good and which is the bad?

SIMON - I hate you, you rotter. I had my chosen ones sorted out and then you sneaked this one in at the last minute. Lovely image of a very lovely young lady. You are playing on my weakness with my own obsession with my Granddaughter Mollie.

So what do I do. 3rd place goes to Brian but who gets 1st and 2nd?

My head says Andy with the superb fox picture and my heart says Simon with his picture. It just ain't fair folks Heart or Head? Head or Heart?

Perhaps because of the more 'difficult to get' image I have to go with head so second place is (Sneaky) Simon and winner is the famous Andy Butler.

Over to you Andy.

[BydoR9]

Wowsers! Thank you Mike! I will have to get my thinking cap on now.