2012 National Portrait Prize Winner

[Bear Dale]

What's your opinion on the winning photo?

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-1...-prize/3899438

[orientalfox]

Great Image, i had a quick look at it's competition and there is some very nice work in the collection.

[Xebadir]

Pretty flat and average image IMHO - seems like the marketability of an image and the background story on something that can be socially opinionated has dominated the competition rather than the image being a particularly good portrait - The portrait really should not require an accompanying storm but convery something in what it shows.

[CapnBloodbeard]

Absolute crap. The only thing I can think is that there must be something in print that didn't translate to screen.

The image (scroll down for the uncropped image) is as boring as they come. I have some knowledge of the struggles of Jackie Charles, and nothing in his face conveys any of that.

I can't see anything good at all in this image - especially compared to other images there which manage to tell a story while demonstrating just a touch of creativity and technical skill, which this image achieves none of.

[Bear Dale]

It just doesn't do a single thing for me. I don't feel the slightest spark of anything looking at it.

[geoffsta]

The poor bloke looks like a stunned mullet. And excuse the reference, but I have seen better mug shots. As said above, there is no feeling, or story in this image.
But judges are judges, and no-one knows what goes through their minds.

[ricstew]

I think he is a very white black man in that image.........was this deliberate?
cheers
Jan

[Danielle10]

Ooh, ummm... I do not like it, agree that it is flat and well boring.
It doesn't really show any emotion it just looks like a mug shot

[Xenedis]

I'm afraid it does nothing for me either.

[danny]

Was looking at the finalists a day before the announcement of the winner. Must say that when is was announced I was surprised that this was the winner. But I still wish I had taken a photo that good.

think this one was the best...

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-1...ottjpg/3898566

[Louise]

Totally agree with all of the above and 100% with Danny I think that was a winner!!!!

[Bennymiata]

I reckon the guy needs a good haircut and a beard trim, myself.

I agree with the above sentiments, and that portrait of the frog hunter is a great shot, far better than the winner IMHO.

[Jeanette]

IMHO it does not strick me as much as other photos, especially comparing to many i have seen on here.
sense political edge rather than THE PHOTO...
i agree flat, slightly over exposed areas and flash shows on the forehead rather than subtle light.
and very posed.. which works for many shots but for this guy who DOES have an interesting face and character, to get him not front on posed bt rather a capture might have stirred some story and emotion which it lacks big time to me

[Steve Axford]

Reading all this criticism I am just left with the impression that we all think we could do better. Perhaps it is best to just appreciate the top entries and leave it at that. $25,000 is a good prize, but it fades when compared to what the winner of the Aus Open tennis tournament gets. We pay our sportsmen much, much more - and then we (experts?) criticize the decision for a photo. I suspect we are just shooting ourselves in the foot.

[FallingHorse]

I didn't think much of the winning entry either. Agreed with the flat lighting etc. I found the one titled "Transition: Nikki & Nick" by Emma Phillips appealed to me.

[Xenedis]

Reading all this criticism I am just left with the impression that we all think we could do better.

That's not the impression I get.

One doesn't have to be particularly good at something to know when another example of it isn't good, or isn't appealing.

[CapnBloodbeard]

Reading all this criticism I am just left with the impression that we all think we could do better.

We all could though...Heck, I'm woeful at portraiture and I know I cold produce a more interesting image than this with my eyes closed.

I've seen more interesting passport photos - and that's basically all this is. Sure, it's a bit far away and the wrong background, but that's basically all this is.

I'm reminded of the shot on the cover of Times for Mark Zuckerman, man of the year. It basically WAS a passport photo. I basically thought the same about that.

But because it's in a prominent location, it plays on people's minds and they start to find meaning and interpretation where there really isn't any.

[Xenedis]

It's also to be remembered that art is very subjective.

What one person considers to be rubbish, someone else could consider to be a masterpiece.

[I @ M]

One doesn't have to be particularly good at something to know when another example of it isn't good, or isn't appealing.

Amen to that, doesn't only apply to photography in particular or art in general. We see examples of mass appeal everyday ranging from the latest tech gadget to a kitchen utensil.

It's also to be remembered that art is very subjective.

What one person considers to be rubbish, someone else could consider to be a masterpiece.

Particularly when competitions are held that seem to reward artists who have captured someone with "celebrity status", maybe it is time to overhaul the judge selection criteria ------

Or would that go against the grain of sponsors and bum kissers?

[Steve Axford]

It would seem that I am a lone voice. I don't think it's a bad photo at all. It may even be an excellent photo, though it is hard to tell with a small jpeg. At least I find it hard to tell. Apart from that, I do think his face shows a lot of character and it is relaxed. Does he really have celebrity status? I've never heard of him, but he is of the stolen generation, so I guess that makes him a celebrity. Small reward!!!