Welcome to the poll for our September "Portraits" photo contest! Select the photo you think is the best from among our finalists below:

#1.


#2.


#3.


#4.


#5.


#6.


#7.


#8.


#9.


#10.


#11.


#12.


#13.


#14.


#15.

[grey goat]

Yeah, if that’s a watermark it’s also a trademark violation =D

Ha! At least you didn't mistype something like I did. . . . ;-)

[garywakeling]

Interesting point. I think there'll always be people drawn to whatever animal is in the photo--dog, cat, eagle, hummingbird--though there are some animals that would be poor vote draws for whatever reason. That said, if the votes revealed in this thread are any indication, most voters don't seem overly swayed by the presence of an animal. Of course, the votes of those who don't reveal anything in this thread may tell a different story.

Another way to separate the images in this particular contest would be to have separate contests for studio portraits and non-studio portraits. One thing I find interesting, though, is that a couple of the images here that are or seem to be studio portraits have marks that appear to be from dust on the sensor which could and should have been taken care of at some point; that detracts somewhat from the images' other qualities--for me, anyway. If they hadn't been studio portraits, I'd have probably found those spots far less annoying.

As with others posting in this thread, I have definite likes and dislikes regarding these portraits. But that's how it always is, isn't it? I don't have the negative reaction to watermarks some do, for instance: this is, after all, a casual contest and it's online, which is very different than a print contest in which judging would be blind. I mean, it's easy enough to ferret out who made a certain image here with or without a watermark. But if it bothers a viewer, I certainly don't have any problem with their not voting for a watermarked photograph. And I don't have a problem with people voting for an image with a pet or a dust spot.

We all have our individual criteria when it comes to voting in these contests. As far as I know, the only hard and fast rule is that the photograph must have been made with a Pentax or Ricoh camera and/or lens. After that, it's all down to individual taste.

Enjoy it for what it is. . . .

The two sets of similar eyes attracted my vote rather than the species involved

[José Mª Coca]

In this final I will definitely vote for number 4, it seems to me that it transmits naturalness and friendliness

[niels hansen]

Portraits are a field where black and white mostly is superieur , and the most sublime is analogue

[RogerGilroy]

Voting for 1 Well done

[jrbettis]

Voting for #4

[Skodadriver]

Number 5 had some problem with the light/flash preventing the girl's pupil from being round. Spoiled it for me unfortunately as my eyes were drawn there. Otherwise I would probably have added it to the three I liked best.

[Sir Nameless]

Number 5 had some problem with the light/flash

I have to confess that I would have never noticed that...now I can't un-see it!

[Kennuf]

#6 gets my vote!

[Vaskebjorn]

I am really not into portraits, but #9 is my favorite

[saabeilin]

2, 6 and 12 are really great!
I really enjoy BW portraits much more, but... Composition, and the subject ar more important.

[Archimedes the Dog]

Voted for 13, I like claustrophobic portraits. #6 is IMO the best image in here but I don't feel it's a portrait.

[zahnski]

15 is really impressive.

[800rate]

I vote #1

[EMcK]

Voted! (I always have a problem being critical about other peoples work, everybody's a critic, even when they can't do it themselves!)

Some really lovely work.
Some thought provoking.
Some pretty.
Some beautiful.
Some made me smile.
Some raised an aaaah.
All worthy.

Well done everyone