Shortlist unveiled for Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2011

WOW!

What an outstanding selection of

Wow?

Sorry, but I'm a little underwhelmed. Is it me? Am I missing something here?
I apologise in advance but I thought a portrait, especially one thats in the running for a big cash prize, should take the breath away, should it not?
These are not even technically superior and except for the first one of the asian painter, do not tell a story at all. The subjects have no expression...like their faces are a mask. There is no shading or the use of contrast to bring out subtle nuances. In most, the lighting is not controlled, nor do I get a feeing of artistic richness.

Sorry, that's the way I see it. Anyone else?

Wow?

Sorry, but I'm a little underwhelmed. Is it me? Am I missing something here?
I apologise in advance but I thought a portrait, especially one thats in the running for a big cash prize, should take the breath away, should it not?
These are not even technically superior and except for the first one of the asian painter, do not tell a story at all. The subjects have no expression...like their faces are a mask. There is no shading or the use of contrast to bring out subtle nuances. In most, the lighting is not controlled, nor do I get a feeing of artistic richness.

Sorry, that's the way I see it. Anyone else?

Is it April Fools day ?

I am speechless, is this really the best of the best ? The first photo has some merit but the others are simply snaps that are poor and show absolutely no talent or creativity at all.

Where is the creativity of light, natural or other wise, what happen to composition or context ? I'm sure those talented portrait photographers out in the real world are falling about with shear hysteria at this sad collection, I know the photography forums are awash with laughter. 12k to the winner............... best deal ever :) A little underwhelmed Steven, that's an understatement.

No change there, then ...

The first portrait is excellent, I think. But as for the others, it's the same old story year in, year out. School of Bland has been the dominant portrait fashion for some time now. Still, seeing this sort of work winning prizes does get the heart beating faster, no?

Student work

First image is fine all the others you could see at any photography undergrad degree show!

Student work

First image is fine all the others you could see at any photography undergrad degree show!

The more things change the more they stay the same.

The first shot is fine. But the others? More flat portraits heralded as the cream of contemporary photography. Don't get me wrong, I don't blame the other photographers for trying - really, I don't. It's only by shooting more that you improve - but I seriously wonder about the judging.

blank

It`s been this way for some years now. The vacant blank stare, neutral lighting and general blandness. Not sure what it`s about or why it`s still so `in` . baffling. not that i`m bitter about them rejecting my superb non bland portrait of Bill Bailey or anything! :)
http://archive.nigelhillier.com/gallery-list

this is sad

The first image is worthy of merit.
The snapshots do not belong with the first.
Is this a joke?
I hope not.

Yeah, right......

This is a joke, isn't it? This is the best??? Taylor Wessing officially jumped the shark!

Glum and uninspiring

Yet again this competition is showcasing 'glum'.

What's so clever about asking subjects to stand there usually facing flat to the lens, often with their arms dangling lifeless by their sides and usually with a glum facial expression?

Admittedly it must take a certain amount of effort to remove all colour and human interest from the subject. But why is this succeeding? Can the judges honestly explain it?

This prize is unlikely to inspire the public. Compared with the painted portrait prize exhibited at the same gallery, photography is being given a bad name.

(As with other comments here I agree that the first image is acceptably interesting. But I say that only by comparison with the other pictures here - it's still a glum lifeless expression winning the day.)

The bland leading the bland

The shortlisted selection have a sameness
and are devoid of soul or personality.
I reckon a software program picked them
out to save paying the judges!

Head scratching again.

I've been watching this award for some time and the comments above about sum up for many what seems, on the face of it, to be something of an underwhelming annual batch of images; the 1st one has, as mentioned, some merit, so let's hope it wins!

Week-in, week-out, I see some great portraits in the papers, especially the weekend broadsheets. But this award always leaves me scratching my head somewhat, trying to better understand what it is that the judges are looking for and why certain portraits win through.It's a lot of £££, and yet seems to leave people cold and unmoved. Am I alone in thinking this?

Any chance the BJP can get some real insight / interviews into why certain images are chosen before 2011's award closure date from the judges (in particular) and also the winners?

Exhibit the rejects

I think that the organisers should have an exhibition of the rejected portraits and have a people's choice award.
We will see a more interesting exhibition.
The judges or judge has chosen in every case the same style for the finals which has overtaken portrait awards around the world and by doing this the judges are encouraging photographers to submit bland work rather than extending and experimenting.
.

And again...

While I think the first one has a great deal of merit in many respects, the rest, as is becoming the norm, are somewhere between underwhelming and banal. A shame to see the 'sullen teenager' thing still dominates, as does an almost complete lack of engagement. The sad thing is that the show itself will undoubtedly contain a great deal of very fine work, well thought through and executed, that will receive a great deal less exposure due to the timidity of the judges in remaining welded to whatever the Photographers Gallery Tendency has decided is the (usually terribly predictable) style du jour.

Portraiture is one of the things at which photography as a medium excels. It would be nice to see a shortlist that reflects that.

are those the best?

A part the first (just a little better than the others) the only explanation for the selection is the wish of the judges
to invite everyone to partecipate. No need to send a "beautiful" and amazing portrait

Too uniform

Whether you like this style or not, it seems a bit sad that the finalists are all basically taking the same kind of shots. Where is the interest in that?

bullshit

yawn yawn! I have completely lost all faith in this competition. Do the photographers say to their subjects ' hey look sad cos' that's what makes it 'art' ? I've seen more interesting pictures whilst driving past a bus stop than this pretentious rubbish!

Bland?

There's nothing inspiring at all about these photographs, just bland straight on portraits. Is this really all the judges are basing their views on, I've seen better in amateur photography magazines. I'd expect more character and emotion within the images. A disappointment.

They want the same thing year in year out

I entered this competition this year and my work wasn't accepted but I took solace in the that the work that won would be superior in lighting, composition subject matter but I'm disappointed. I feel a bit cheated especially how i think less then half the shortlisted artists are well established photographers who were invited to enter pieces and I believe didn't go through the judging process. I felt my work was a bit different and brought something new to the competition, I felt I wasn't given a chance but I could be wrong http://www.axisweb.org/seCVWK.aspx?ARTISTID=15579

At least its different

I personally like the Taylor Wessing portrait stuff Makes a change from all the commercial photos you see day in day out. these to me do tell a story and its an honest story about the person who is the subject, sort of makes you feel that you've just met the subject and not the photographer.....

School of Mediocre

Like a lot of other people I believe that the first image is the only worthy contender the rest are bland and lacking in originality It makes me angrey that when presented with so much talent that this is is the final selection. Obviously a competition with no teeth run by a mediocre institution.

School of Mediocre

Like a lot of other people I believe that the first image is the only worthy contender the rest are bland and lacking in originality It makes me angrey that when presented with so much talent that this is is the final selection. Obviously a competition with no teeth run by a mediocre institution.

The Tyranny of Dusseldorf

What's become clear over the last few years is that the Dusseldorf School has emerged as the only valid and artistically viable style of photography if you want to be taken seriously by curators and galleries.

One must be seen to be 'making' photographs, never 'taking' photographs.

I have come to see it as the coward's way out. It invites no confrontation. It's cool and aloof in the same way Miles Davis could be cool and aloof. However, Miles could hit depths of emotion that would knock the listener over and I don't see that here.

This is how I see almost all of this style of work now. It can do the cool and aloof part. Anyone can, it requires little thought, just lean back and don't speak, like the thick but good looking guy who nods along charismatically without ever actually saying anything. The emotion though? It's just not even anywhere near.

Dusseldorf is now at a state where it's tyrannising every aspect of photography. It's time for a Photographic Spring.

Disappointment

I would have to agree with the vast majority of comments in response to the shortlisted images.

As a student we've been taught that the Taylor Wessing prize is one of the, if not most, prestigious photographic portrait prizes to date.
To see such poor, lifeless snaps; It is a huge disappointment and gives a lack of hope to the future of the award.

I think the 2010 winning image by David Chancellor has been , by far, the best image to come out of the Taylor Wessing selection.

www.keirlaid.com

Forgettable

These five pictures display a bland forgettable trend has been affecting these portrait prizes for some time, not only in UK but here in Australia also, to the extent that it seems pointless to enter a picture that one deems worthy of submission, because chances are that another batch of mediocre pictures will once again get the nod from the judges. A great portrait should hit you in the heart, peel away the layers to reveal the inner soul - at least stop you in your tracks.
These are snaps, nothing more.

What future, portrait photogrphy?

Let us collectively hope that Wen, 2011 by Jasper Clarke © Jasper Clarke wins as it is a good portrait.

The general public will be trooping in to view this lot at the NPG; what will they make of the state of modern portrait photography based on this small sample?

Most of what I read here on / in the BJP inspires me. This is the polar opposite to how I feel about my profession when I view these images. They make me depressed that such soulless images are held in such high regard by the panel.

£12,000!!

£12,000 for these pictures. Think I might consider giving it a go next year!

bland commenting about the bland

Like a lot of other people I believe that the first comment is the only worthy contender the rest are bland and lacking in originality It makes me angrey that when presented with so much talent that this is is the final selection. Obviously a comment thread with no teeth run by a mediocre general public.

Same Old...

Same old tired shots, same old tired photographers. Unless you submit a shot of this 'school' you won't get a look in. Knowing a judge would be good too. last year I took a portrait course with the WPO. On Royal Wedding day we went out to take street shots, with the instructions 'don't let anyone smile'.

How ridiculous can you get? Needless to say no one on the course took a blind bit of notice and some great shots were made.

I agree the Taylor Wessing is a closed shop and needs a Public vote.

Baron.