Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize

As part of our Representation module we went on a trip to The National Portrait Gallery to see the Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize.This year there was a total of 6,000 entries by over 2,500 photographers, selected down to an exhibition of sixty portraits. Overall I wasn't blown away by the range of work, I think that a lot of the portraits were very safe and there was nothing in particular that really demanded my attention. However there were a few images that I did find thought provoking. 

  

Oliver, Kelvin Murray 

Kelvin Murray's portrait Oliver, really draws you in, it's intriguing and quirky. Oliver's family won a photoshoot from this distinguished photographer, the catch being that Murray would have complete creative control. The results are phenomenal.   

Paolo Patrizi - Anna

What I found compelling about Paolo Patrizi's Anna, is it plays loosely with the term portrait, we can not see her face or read any expression, and I feel that this alone made it stand out from the other entries. The narrative of the photograph makes it even more powerful, as we find out that Anna is a migrant Nigerian prostitute working in a field by the side of a road in Italy.

Erica E. Born In 1910 by Karsten Thormaehlen

What to me is striking about this portrait by Karsten Thormaehlen , is the way is demands your attention, you can not avoid her gaze. It is strong and empowing, yet the lighting and colour pallet creates a sense of softness. Each line and contour of her skin seems defined revealing character. This portrait is part of a series depicting people at 100 who are not suffering. 

The exhibition runs from the 10th November 2011 until the 12th February 2012.  


http://www.npg.org.uk/photoprize1/site11/index.php