31 August 2023 For the first time, this year’s wine writing competition has included a visual component, as we invited people to submit a portrait of their favourite person, whether a photograph or a digital version of a drawing or even a painting or collage, alongside their written entry. Much to our delight, the majority of the 134 competitors responded to the challenge. Jon Wyand, in the self-portrait above with Lalou Bize-Leroy, has professionally photographed just about every notable winemaker in Burgundy as well as many beyond. He kindly agreed to lead the judging of the portraits of contestants’ favourite people – not an easy task, as he explains below.
And now you get your chance too. To determine the Readers’ prize for portraits, please vote for your favourite entry from the shortlist of 11 below, at the same time as voting for your favourite written entry. Vote HERE before 8 am UK time on Monday 11 September. See here for details of the shortlisted articles. For the full list of published entries and more about the competition, see our WWC23 guide.
I must confess I have railed against judges since I first entered a photographic competition more than 50 years ago. So an invitation to judge this competition was a double-edged sword (as many honours are!). Everyone has an opinion and their right to it but what qualifies anyone to be a judge?
Fifty years taking pictures, most of them as a professional, a photographic education (although some would dismiss that) and a willingness to stick my head above the parapet is all I can claim.
Even triaging the submissions down to 11 has been difficult, and I have questioned my choices almost daily. The most important thing about all of these entries is the act alone – of being bold enough not only to press the button or pick up the pencil and make a mark, but also to submit the efforts to the whims of others.
So how did I make the choices? What makes one image better than another?
By and large I used the same criteria I use to assess my own pictures: viewpoint, composition, atmosphere, impact, longevity, technical success in difficult circumstances – all these elements come into play.
One main rule is that the subject has to catch the eye swiftly. By all means include environment but it must be an aid not a distraction. Backgrounds can be too busy; things that appear in the foreground can distract. Be aware of what else is in the viewfinder. It is a good idea perhaps to learn to look for reasons not to take the photo.
Consider also longevity: some images make an immediate impact but do not have the staying power that might inspire you to hang them on a wall.
There are technical questions to consider, but you also have to ask, how damning is a small error? If everything else is gorgeous but the focus is faintly ‘off’, does it detract from the image? If not, then who cares? We don’t look at Mondrian or Picasso with a rule book in one hand. An image speaks to us, or not. We tingle, smile, are rooted to the spot speechless.
Perfection can also be the enemy of the believable. I like images that make me think, that come from a new direction, or show me a new way of looking. My favourites are all things I wish I had done, or that introduce me to new ideas, showing that breaking rules can be highly successful.
The most important question is, does the image reflect a familiarity with the subject? Does it tell us about the subject? Does it do so in an interesting way, with a light touch?
I have the good fortune that I can now share the really difficult job of picking a winner. Take your time and be prepared to change your mind again and again. Below are the 11 shortlisted entries. The team here at JancisRobinson.com will decide who wins the Judges' prize, while we hope you cast your vote for the Readers' prize.
Please vote HERE by choosing your favourite portrait, at the same time as your favourite written entry. Voting closes at 8 am UK time on Monday 11 September.
We very much look forward to seeing which are your favourites!
The shortlisted images are shown below in alphabetical order of competitors' surnames.
Now go vote for your favourite visual and written entries HERE!
