“The Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2016 is the leading international competition, open to all, which celebrates and promotes the very best in contemporary portrait photography from around the world.

Showcasing talented young photographers, gifted amateurs and established professionals, the competition features a diverse range of images and tells the often fascinating stories behind the creation of the works, from formal commissioned portraits to more spontaneous and intimate moments capturing friends and family.

The selected images, many of which will be on display for the first time, explore both traditional and contemporary approaches to the photographic portrait whilst capturing a range of characters, moods and locations. The exhibition of fifty-seven works features all of the prestigious prize winners including the winner of the £15,000 first prize.”

Visiting the exhibition demonstrated a human ability to capture a image that says so much about its subjects. The concept of the exhibitions intrigued me as unlike most, I was unaware of any of the artists history looking at each image said a great depth about both the photographers and the subjects. Personally, looking at the imagery said a great deal about the culture we observe and how they are recognisable by colour and expression. I loved the variety throughout the room and the curating of the images was impeccable.

The photography I witnessed I found to be really inspirational and adaptable. By observing others around you and how they see the world gives you fresh takes on how you can replicate an entire sub culture through one or two images. Sian Davey featured two incredible photographs taken of her daughter and her friends and what they do when they ‘go out’; the artist observed as her subjects smoked and drunk at a local park, but captured there movements impartially as a viewer, not  a mother.

The small exhibit was held on Lexington street in Soho in a discrete location that was difficult to initially locate, however this worked in favour for its privacy. The white space was divided by a wall that framed  approximately 25 photographs taken by David Bailey during the 1980’s in Notting Hill/ Primrose Hill area; the photography highlights the immense change the area has endured to become one of London’s wealthy postcodes. During the period, Notting Hill was an undesired home for most for its dangerous connotations and deteriorating derelict buildings, however many artists and designers fell in love with the surroundings and embraced its character.

The photography is striking and breathtaking; the composition created almost art like images that have movement and flow amongst each other. Bailey is famous for his use of black and white imagery and ability to characterise his subjects; although this collection is landscape, it still stays committed to these values. His attention to detail is proven evident in his ability to catch symmetry and repetition in his work in a influential way, the effect of this seems political and purposeful.