The National Portrait Gallery presents the annual Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize exhibition which features one of the most prestigious photography awards in the world. Since the international competition began in 1993, it has remained an important platform for portrait photographers and offers an opportunity for professionals and amateurs to have their work shown to a wider audience.
I went to see Taylor Wessing Photographic Prize exhibition tour with talks from two of the exhibiting photographers: Claudia Legge and Shahid Bashir.
Attendees all gathered around outside first & then we proceeded to Claudia Legge’s work where she explained the story behind her photo.
Claudia Legge
From the series Borana’s Unseen Conservationists
Claudia Legge mentioned that colours are really important part of her work and she is also someone who loves animals dearly. So for this work, spent two weeks photographing portraits of armed rangers for Boana Conservancy, in Kenya. As this ranger prepares for his night duties, Legge photographed him against the orange textured walla of their headquarters taken just before sunset hence, it has the harsh shadow effect which framed the subject nicely. Adjusting the collar of his uniform, which he wears with confidence and pride, the portrait captures the courage and responsibility involved in the dangerous struggle against poachers of endangered animals.
Shahid Bashir works as a business psychologist and a visual artist at the same time. He has photographed actors and models waiting to be called out to put their makeup and costumes before going on stage. Bashir was struck by the face and sharp features of model Olga as she waited backstage. He uses a digital camera, but he works against the accuracy and precision associated with digital technologies. So for this photo- Olga – he captured it with an off-focus blur to replicate the feel of an analogue film, creating a portrait with a dreamlike atmosphere.
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After introducing themselves and their work, they also toured us around and explained the stories behind the prize-winning photographs.
The images around the exhibition explore many different aspects of the photographic portrait and feature a few famous faces but more often the friends and family of the photographers. This year, a number of photographers have explored many different areas around the world and especially areas of conflict.
I enjoyed the exhibition and find exhibitions like this is always interesting and entertaining with some wonderful contemporary portraits, the range of photographs offer a wide variety of subject matter which provides evidence of a large number of talented photographers using their skills to record all side of the human condition.
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