Darrin James

Taking Care
Laos. Young girl takes care of her brother as her friends swim in the nearby river. EOS 1V 400mm f5.6 Velvia

Why We Chose It:
A great shot - first and foremost it says so much. The bond between the little girl and the baby is very apparent and it is an eloquent social or cultural record of sibling care in what I imagine is rural Laos. Photographically it is also a very strong image. The exposure is spot on as is the focus and the use of depth of field. The lighting is stunning and the overall composition very pleasing - it is impossible to criticise this shot.

John Marmon

Thai Boy with mother

Why We Chose It:
I can imagine that this photograph will divide opinion - some will like the use of depth of field, others may not. I thought it was a great way to use depth of field - keeping the boy sharp, but softening the mother. This really pulls the viewers eyes to the boy, but at the same time the mother's expression and self evident pleasure in her son is not lost. I am slightly intrigued as to how it was done - at the very least it must have been a very fast lens - perhaps even a f/1.4 which would suggest perhaps a 50mm or shorter focal length lens. My guess is that a slower lens, even an f/2.8 would not provide such a shallow depth of field. Alternatively, it could have been taken with a tilt and shift lens with a bit of tilt, but this seems the less likely option.

Kieran Quinn

Can't you see I'm naked
A snapshot taken while bathing our six month old girl Aoife. From the expression of outrage on her face I'd say she wasn't happy about having her picture taken.

Minolta Dynax 7, 24-105 @ 105, 5600 HS flash @ 1/32 power, stofen diffuser, ilford XP2, scanned on canon FS4000 and converted to greyscale in ps elements

Why We Chose It:
Keiran describes this photo as a 'snap-shot' which perhaps undersells it to some extent. Photographs can be used in so many ways - from high art down to a simple record of family events but this latter group should not be dismissed lightly. I thought this was a great shot, it really made me smile and it certainly captured the moment. Keiran clearly thought through the technical issues for the shot and executed well - I am sure the black and white rendering has added to its impact. Overall an entertaining and memorable shot - one perhaps to bring out at the wedding.