National Photographic Portrait awards: Australia

[Gem]

I don't see what's so great about the image. Looks pretty ordinary to me....contests can be weird.

[F8&Bthere]

For me it's like the end of nearly every episode of America's Funniest Home Videos- the most unspontaneous and unfunny video of the final three always wins, and I go "huh?"

[GregL]

Here is an excerpt from the Sydney Morning Herald

National Portrait Gallery curator Christopher Chapman, a member of the judging panel, says Kenne's photograph is powerfully direct.

"We were impressed by the potent connection that is evoked between the subjects in the photograph and the viewer," Dr Chapman said in a statement.

"We also appreciated the complex compositional qualities and sculptural sense of space within the photograph, and its technical excellence."

Kenne was born in Sweden but now divides his time between Sydney and New York.

The 43-year-old said he was thrilled to win the prize, but it had taken 15 years of hard work.

If I can find anything more offical I'll post it.

[F8&Bthere]

...Kenne's photograph is powerfully direct.

"We were impressed by the potent connection that is evoked between the subjects in the photograph and the viewer," Dr Chapman said in a statement.

"We also appreciated the complex compositional qualities and sculptural sense of space within the photograph, and its technical excellence."...

Are we looking at the same photo? It's the one with the two boys by the indoor hot tub, right? No disrespect intended toward Mr. Kenne or Dr. Chapman but I keep going back to it and trying to get something out of it, but every time I come up blank... and believe me, I understand the concept of subtlety in art.

[JAS_Photo]

Lol, I think this where art criticism becomes a parody of itself, Gem.

[Marko]

Shots 4,8, 10, 11 are superior to the winning shot IMO.
The winning shot is good, particularly with regard to shapes and lines but doesn't deserve the win imo.

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegrap...0140-4,00.html
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegrap...0140-8,00.html
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegrap...140-10,00.html
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegrap...140-11,00.html

[LeAngel]

Doesn't do anything for me. :(

[JAS_Photo]

I like 3, 8, 4 and 12, in that order. So I guess this just shows how subjective 'art' is. The winning photo is just plain disturbing to me in a vague inexplicable way. Photo 3 is plain interesting, lots of stuff going on in here but I think the message is pretty clear. (Basically, the aloneness of all humans.) 8, I love the curves and light. The form of the slightly defocused body flows like across the frame in the way Dwayne's waterfall shots do. 4 is a classic portrait in a Masters painterly sort of way. The face itself is a treat for the eyes; so much to look at in that face. And 12, well it is a jumble but it makes you smile. It is in the category of eccentric colorfulness. Your eyes are all over the picture looking for all the 'secret' details that slowly reveal themselves.

[Mad Aussie]

That photo would have struggled to make my top 10 out of those 15. In fact I'd be hard pressed to choose a top 5 out those examples at all.

What's controversial about the winner AL? Well in my opinion, plenty. It lacks any punch at all. It even lacks a focal point. What type of portrait lacks that? A bad one I'd say.
It has distractions. Poor composition in many facets.

Aside from that quick analysis, there are simply much stronger images in contention.

I can think nothing other than that contest is a joke. Very poor form by Nat Geo.

[F8&Bthere]

...The winning photo is just plain disturbing to me in a vaque inexplicable way...

Yes, this is why I keep trying to go back to see it again with a fresh perspective. To see if there's some subtle moodiness I missed. But it actually just looks like a spontaneous shot that no special effort went into setting it up or composing. It's like it was as simple as a photo enthusiast dad sitting by the pool with his camera and he thought it'd be fun to interrupt the kids in play with a loud "HEY!" and they looked over half stunned, half worried, very serious expressions that probably lasted only a few seconds, he snapped, and the rest as they say is history. It certainly doesn't appear to be the product of "15 years of hard work" or whatever the guy said.