The photo prize is a yearly trip for me since 2007, I make the pilgrim trip to the National Portrait Gallery to see the 60 images chosen by the panel.
The yearly competition is becoming a more touchy subject with critics due to the lack of real diversity in the choices. We have seen many years of minimalistic, often dreary portraits hanging on the walls. The last 3 - 4 years I have come out very frustrated on the missed opportunity to show some really great talent instead of choosing the same photographers year are after year. I know photographers choose images to submit on what they think the panel will want to see, rather than what portraits they are most proud of that year. They end up not meaning anything. Photographers I have edited their work with having the saying 'oh that's very NPG' it's sort of a running joke.
This year was no surprise, there were some really beautiful pieces, I would say 10-15 real gooduns that would inspire. One of my favourites is actually the image on the cover of the catalogue by Erik Almas.
It was sad to see such bad lighting and printing over looked because it had a interesting backstory. One example is a portrait of a heroin addict expecting father with his pregnant partner looking at him, beyond the terrible prentiousness of it, the lighting as so bad! I personally want to see creative compositions, with sense of elegance and wonder.
With all my bitterness aside, I enjoyed all the prize winners this year, each told a story and all were very unique.
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