Portraits

(Steve McCurry)

1. This portrait practically leapt off the screen when I first saw it because of the eyes. Those eyes are so intense, almost cold and hostile, and so hard. They are eyes that have seen more than any child should have to see.


 (Steve McCurry)

2. I love this portrait of the man before the tree because it appears as though the entire earth is tilted, but the man is holding himself perfectly straight and balanced.


(Henri Cartier Bresson)

3. The tension in this black and white silhouette style photograph is especially sharp because the man's book is about to break the glassy, perfect surface of the water. I like that his reflection is clearer than his actual form.


(Henri Cartier Bresson)

4. I like the way the woman's clothes and movements blend with the flowing flag - this photograph makes use of the powerful presence of lines. I also think her expression is intriguing.


(Sam Abell)

5. I think that this portrait has an element of mystery and surprise in it; I love the way the light glowing behind him makes him shadowy and imposing. The fishing net draped from his hands adds character as well.





(Sam Abell)

6. In some ways, I think the hidden face conveys a more powerful message than an open, visible one. The blending colors of the clothes, the content countenance of the horse, and the bright, curious expression on the dog's face help express emotions that are not necessarily derived directly from the man.




(Scott Sroka)

7. Everything about this photograph is mingled surprise and beauty. Here is a girl bathed in pretty golden light in front of a colorful fading landscape, shoes abandoned at her side, and in her hands a phone. It startles me that the soft expression on her face is directed at the tiny electronic device that seems so unreal compared to her surroundings.



(Catherine Karnow)

8. I like this photograph because it tells the man's story; it shows his pride, his skill, and his happiness, and it reminds me that life can mean so many different things to people in different places around the world.


(Reza)

9. This swirl of red movement is like a pretty flower or a bright painting - it is simply pleasing to look at, and it looks so vivid and real. I like the intensity and the simplicity, as well as the feeling of concentration that it evokes.


(Bruce Dale)

10. I like portraits that focus on multiple people, and this one in particular has incredible dynamics. The triangle they form speaks volumes about their possible relationships and emotions - the boy off in the background might be racing back to join the group, or splashing off to explore on his own. And I admire that the shot caught the girl frozen in mid-flip.