Portrait photography is perhaps the image-making genre that connects the most. People, taking photos of other people, making a connection and telling a story. Well, the best of the best have been recognised thanks to the International Portrait Photographer of the Year contest that selected the top 101 images to appear in an awards book and win a slice of the cash prize on offer.
This year’s winner was announced as Australian photographer, who captured this dramatic mono creation entitled; ‘Solitude’. Forough Yavari is an award winning portrait and fine art photographer based in Brisbane and this image also won Forough The Portrait Story Category.
Other winners included Zay Yar Lin from Myanmar, who took first place in the Family Sitting category for a brilliant black and white image entitled; ‘Maiden of Suri Tribe’, which was captured with a Nikon Z 7 paired with a 14-30mm lens.
Placing in the Portrait Story category was this brilliant frame by Australian photographer Adrian Donoghue. Entitled; ‘The fountain of youth’, the image was captured on a Canon 5D Mark II paired with a 17-40mm lens and shows how powerful reflection in portraits can be.
Taking top place in the Environmental Portrait category was Josef Burgi, who hails from Switzerland. Entitled; ‘The Mundari Cattle Herder’, the image was captured with a Canon 5D Mark III paired with a 70-200mm lens and shows great use of light and tone.
Placing in the Character Study category was this expertly-lit image by Jonathan Thorpe from the USA. Entitled ‘Chef Declan Horgan’, the portrait shows a competition chef on Hell’s Kitchen.
Commended in the Environmental Portrait category was this startling frame by Indian photographer Debdatta Chakraborty, who commented; ‘hayyam Chowk is a mundane alleyway in Sri Nagar. But with the sundown, this area bustles to life with the aroma of the wazwan style kebabs, atypical of kashmiri traditions. Kebabs are slow cooked over charcoal fire and the chefs take care to make them in the most succulent way.’
Also commended in the Character Study category was this thoughtful frame by Darlene San Agustin, from the Philippines. Entitled; ‘The Price of perfection’, the image was captured on a Canon RP paired with a 24-70mm lens.
Placing in the Character Study category was this frame by Australian photographer Louise Bagger. Entitled; ‘Homage To Sassoon’, Louise commented; ‘In the spirit of Vidal Sassoon, my hairdresser and I collaborated with an Adelaide stylist for this particular photoshoot. It was all about recreating the classic 60’s/70’s geographical look of a Sassoon 5 point cut and the iconic images that are still recognisable today.’
Featuring in the Environmental Portrait category was this dynamic frame by Peter Adam Hoszang from Hungary. Entitled; ‘Icelandic Sapphire’, Peter commented; ‘ This is Disco, the Icelandic tour guide captured in his usual environment – an ice cave.’
