Taylor Wessing

 On the 31st of January myself and my fellow photography degree students went and saw the prestigious 'Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize' which is the leading international photographic portrait competition and offers you the chance to see sixty pieces of work by some of the most exciting contemporary photographers from around the world. With works ranging from editorial to advertising to fine art. The photographers are asked to interpret 'portrait' in the widest sense of ‘photography concerned with portraying people with an emphasis on their identity as individuals.’ with the winner receiving £12,000 and open to anyone 18 years or older.

   Jooney Woodward won this years coveted award with her portrait of 'Harriet and Gentleman Jack'

Jooney Woodward 'Harriet and Gentleman Jack' 

 This image was shot on film using a Mamiya RZ medium format camera using a tripod, and was an opportunistic shot and was the first of the photos she took. Woodward states 'I prefer the quality and depth you get from using film; unfortunately it’s a dying art. I don’t mess around with Photoshop so what you see is what you get. Enhanced images can portray a false sense of reality, whereas my work celebrates the people and places as they appear every day.' Woodward's image has caused a bit of controversy within the competition due to the fact of the winning entry by David Chancellor
in the 2010 'Portrait Prize' called 'Huntress with Buck' from the series 'Huntress' which also depicts a young sullen red headed girl posing with an animals. Despite this I rather like the Woodward's image as the young girl's hair complements the colouring of the fur on the guinea pig, there is however a down side to this piece and that is of the lack of emotion within, making it difficult to relate and connect with the subject. Woodward states the she finds the image 'unsettling' but i find this hard to see what is so unsettling about it.

Second Prize

Jill Wooster - 'Of Lili' 2011

Third Prize

Dona Schwartz - Christina and Mark, 14 months, 2011  

 Fourth Prize

Jasper Clarke - Wen, 2011

Fifth Prize

David Knight - Andie, 2010

Websites
National Portrait Gallery
Jooney Woodward
Jill Wooster
Dona Schwartz
Jasper Clarke
David Knight