Looking back at the winning images from the last five years of the London Photo Show Competition, we had two nature shots, two portraits, and the travel winner, you notice they all hit a specific benchmark of impact and interest.
If you’re looking to get your work on the walls at the Hoxton Arches, in the Salon or competition, this is what you should aim for.
1. Nature: Behaviour And Impact Over Static Portraits (2 Winners)
A lot of people submit nature photos that are just clean, sharp portraits of an animal sitting still. While technically fine, they rarely win.
Look at Alex Brackx’s winning shot Those Last Seconds (the zebra and the cheetah). It won because of drama and perfect moment. It’s all very well composed and technically perfect.
Lars Gesing’s image wont for pure perfection of the striking silhouette against the incredible colours of the sky.
2. Portraits: Mood Over Perfect Lighting (2 Winners)
The winning portraits from the last five years aren’t shot in a sterile studio with perfect, flat lighting. They usually have lots of mood and character.
Tom Atwood’s portrait won for intrigue, character and storytelling. There is a whole life in this picture.
Laura MacAulay’s portrait won because it captures exactly that feeling of the last rays of sun and has an intimate mood and warmth.
3. Travel: Layered Scenes Over Postcards (1 Winner)
The single travel winner by Mustafa Abdul Hadi won because of that unusual angle, the repeating pattern and the sense of scale of experience.
