Awesome Portraits

<p><a href="http://www.npg.org.uk:8080/photoprize/site09/exhibition2_exhibitors.php">The National Portrait Gallery</a> - Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize</p>

<p>Thanks Christine</p>

<p>Yes, awesome portraits. Thanks for sharing this link.</p>

<p>Some awesome but I have to say many are anything but.</p>

<p>Thanks for sharing, Christine. </p>

<p>Hmmm. As Paul said, some are fantastic, but many are bland. I'm also wondering:</p>

<p>1) Why isn't ANYONE happy? All 60 portraits are of what seem to be completely depressed people. Even the Olympic hopeful. It's often said that in order for a beautiful woman to win Best Actress, she must make herself look uncharacteristically different / grotesque. Apparently in order to win the NPG contest, one must shoot solely suicidal subjects. I'm exaggerating of course, and provocative shots often elicit sadness. But, all 60? Not a single gleeful smile?</p>

<p>2) Do convicted murderers really sleep in bunk style rooms in Russia? No cells? And, two to a "bed." That one left me with the most "need to know" impact. (Sorry, I'd link to it, but there seems to be no direct URL to that specific image. Just look for the one of the young man draped across the cot.)</p>

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<p>Andrea, there is one picture with a smiling subject near the bottom:<br /> <a href="http://www.npg.org.uk:8080/photoprize/site09/media/photos/47_2849.jpg">http://www.npg.org.uk:8080/photoprize/site09/media/photos/47_2849.jpg</a></p>

<p>I also thought many are bland but no denying they are different.</p>

<p>If it's this image you're referring to, it's a juvenile prison which might account for a lack of security:<br /> <a href="http://www.npg.org.uk:8080/photoprize/site09/media/photos/3_0642.jpg">http://www.npg.org.uk:8080/photoprize/site09/media/thumbs/3_0642.jpg</a></p>

<p>Thanks for the link Andrea.</p>

<p>Yes, nice photography.</p>