AG|WPJA The Artistic Guild of the WPJA

Judges Comment: This category had a lot of contenders but this image I kept coming back to. Great light, great composition and a fantastic idea. The frame is really a sweet touch. I might suggest making the image a little tighter. I probably would have moved the subjects over to the right just a bit for the great light and come in a hair tighter. The far left side is the only weak part of the image and if it was tighter or cropped it would not be a problem. That said, this is really a fantastic image. Elaborate illustration that required meticulous planning and the cooperation of a dramatic sky. The epitome of a creative portrait.

Judges Comment: This is a very successful portrait! It’s got great color, flattering light and great tone. One could go nuts in Photoshop trying to make this woman look 19 years old but why? That said, there is some minor makeup retouching work (lips) that would help this out a bit. This gets top honors however because it really is a portrait unlike some of the other images I picked. Wish there were more shots like this one entered in the category. A fine example of moving in close and showing a bride at her best.

Judges Comment: This is another really strong image. I love the design created by the repetitive blue and white. Very clean and nice image with a different touch. The graphics within this image are an obvious element but the juxtaposition of the bride, just like the elevator, takes it to another level. But it’s actually more than an alliteration of shapes. The flowing forms of the bride are in stark contrast to the mechanical world around her.

Judges Comment: One could argue strictly this is not a portrait. Don’t care; it’s a lovely ethereal image. Love to see a big print of this. It’s off aligned a tad too. Very cool portrait. The tilt focus works well here. The muted shadows add to the dreamy feel.

Judges Comment: This is too much fun not to pick. I like the tone and hardness of the contrast. Everything from the lighting to the location work really well.

Judges Comment: The couple is fantastic. Great moment and great angle. I am bothered a bit by the white in the foreground. I see why the photographer utilized it but the couple themselves are so strong that the foreground starts to compete with the couple. I wonder what it would have looked like either as a horizontal with more of the pattern and less white marble or if it was cropped as a tighter vertical, cropping the right and left side and the bottom. Still it is a really strong image.

Judges Comment: Very theatrically lit, staged and toned. There’s a lot visually going on which I like. It reminds me of another B&W I picked. The framing here is perfect. Graphic austere composition juxtaposes with footstep of yearning to produce a winning combination with an air of sexual tension. I love how the photographer used the frame to create a sense of anticipation in this image. The large blocks of light and high contrast add to the intrigue.

Judges Comment: It’s a successful shot. It’s not the most original idea but at least it’s pretty well done and the color of the barn and the sky really make it work as a photo illustration. Again, could be a stock shot expect the little details that need to disappear (those wires).

Judges Comment: I really like the couple and the tree. It is a nice use of a very simple element that makes the image graphic.

Judges Comment: Eccentric, quirky image. Nicely composed with interesting expressions. Choosing a plant with root provides the ideal detail.

Judges Comment: A wild and wacky television concept that is as at home in a gallery as in an album of the new millennium.

Judges Comment: Brilliant artistic photograph. Oozing with nostalgia. Technique creates the texture of an old daguerreotype. Winsome expression draped in old-fashioned veil feels authentic. A beautiful and evocative photograph. The styles of the photographer and subject seem to intersect to produce a unique portrait. The brush work on the background provides a strong finish. I would love to see a print!

Judges Comment: What a joy to see this fresh approach to portraiture. The warm tones and limited depth of field help tell the story. The photographer kept up with his subjects and it paid off.

Judges Comment: Here, we have a great example of finding a background and moving in the subject to accent its spectacular design. Well done.

Judges Comment: There is something about this quirky portrait that makes me want to know more. I love the use of open space, but I am not sure if the little girl on the far left adds much. Try cropping her out.