From Wikipedia: “An environmental portrait is a portrait executed in the subject’s usual environment, such as in their home or workplace, and typically illuminates the subject’s life and surroundings. The term is most frequently used of a genre of photography.
By photographing a person in their natural surroundings, it is thought that you will be able to better illuminate their character, and therefore portray the essence of their personality, rather than merely a likeness of their physical features. It is also thought that by photographing a person in their natural surroundings, the subject will be more at ease, and so be more conducive to expressing themselves, as opposed to in a studio, which can be a rather intimidating and artificial experience.”
Grand Prize Winner:
Grand Prize Winner of MPEX Environmental Portrait Contest. Photo by Barbara Edwards.
Our Grand prize winner was chosen on the strength of the composition, use of color, and of course, the surroundings of the subject. We can tell a lot about the subject by his closest belongings, but we are also given a hint at a possible relationship to the three people in silhouette. The three silhouetted figures add depth and mystery to the frame. Maybe friends, maybe family, maybe just passing strangers. Looking closely to the right of the man, you can see what appears to be a pair of ladies’ shoes, making the possible connection to the silhouetted group even more intriguing.
Congratulations to Barbara Edwards for winning the Grand Prize, a Phottix Mitros+ TTL Flash ($500 value)!
The Phottix Mitros+ flash has a built in Odin transmitter and receiver. With full TTL control, power can be adjusted automatically and manually, all without moving from the camera position.
2nd Place Winner:
2nd Place Winner of MPEX Environmental Portrait Contest. Photo by Marc Piscotty.
Marc Piscotty wins 2nd place with a classic environmental portrait. Marc will receive a $300 Ilford Galerie Paper prize pack, stuffed with all the best paper that Ilford Galerie has to offer!
3rd Place Winner:
3rd Place Winner of MPEX Environmental Portrait Contest. Photo by Steve Schuenke.
3rd Place Winner Steve Scheunke wins third place with good use of color in his portrait of a young fireman. Marc will receive a $50 Midwest Photo Exchange gift card!
$50 MPEX Gift Card
Selected portraits tagged #CBUS will be on display in our Learning Studio Gallery on Friday, December 11th from 5:00pm to 7:30pm. Photographers can meet one another and enjoy some refreshments and conversation and see their photo in high quality print on Ilford Galerie paper.The gallery is on the same night as the Midwest Photo Feature Fair, so anyone can come by to see some great demos at the shop, and then check out some beautiful prints at the Learning Studio!
Best in Show #CBUS Portraits:
Best In Show #CBUS Portraits. Photo by Andi Wolfe.
Andi Wolfe captured the motion and mood of this woodworker to claim the $200 Ilford Galerie Prize pack for Best in Show! Come to the gallery to see this and many more in print and in person!
