Mark Mortensen, The Foyer (DOCUMENTARY & STREET 2025)

While out and about, I came across an extraordinary scene in the foyer of the National Portrait Gallery that immediately captured my attention. The juxtaposition of elements in this space was so striking that I couldn’t resist photographing it. At first, I toyed with the idea of converting the image to black and white, thinking it would emphasise the timeless quality of the scene and draw focus to a natural balance. However, one detail made me reconsider: the vibrant pink T-shirt worn by a member of the public. That bold splash of colour was central to the photograph’s character, and removing it would have diminished its impact. What truly drew me in, beyond the colours, was the symmetry and balance inherent in the composition. On one side of the frame, there’s a portrait of Gordon Darling gazing outward, and on the opposite side sits a visitor, perfectly positioned and wearing that incredibly bright pink shirt. The way these two elements play off each other—one static and formal, the other dynamic and casual—creates a scene that feels both deliberate and serendipitous.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.