#auscycle5week6

I was in full agreement with the judges’ assessment of Adele’s shot being timeless; you could tell me that this was a Chanel ad from nearly any decade following the brand’s founding and I’d believe it. Her squatted pose may be somewhat unconventional, but it still manages to be very poised and refined, plus she did a great job of displaying the dress. The angle is perfect for her face and I love her charming and alluring expression. Adele’s luxurious shot is worthy of being a major ad campaign, and it’s one of my personal favorites of the season so far!

Even with some stellar photos from this week, Adele’s stands as the clear victor. The judges were spot on with their comments on this, it is timeless. This photo could be an ad from when Chanel was just founded, from 30 years ago, from now, and I could still see it being used 20 years in the future. I could go on about this shot forever, there is so much to praise – the pose, the face, the expression – but I really feel like the shot speaks for itself. It is one of those photos I never see any doubt on, it is successful on all levels and a shining shot to have an a portfolio. I was uncertain on Adele for most of this competition in terms of potential, and I think I’d have wanted her gone in week 4, but I am so glad the judges saw something I didn’t, as otherwise this shot would not exist.

Clare comes back from her slight stumble with another incredible shot in her portfolio, you would never of guess she had issues on set. It is such a deceptively simple shot, but there are so many little details that make this shot work. The slightly extended hip, the hand resting on the side, the hand gripping the bag with only three fingers, the cocked leg. The pose is a masterclass of modelling. Every single piece she is wearing is sold; shoes, bag, dress, all of it. I love the energy of the face too, it’s sly, seductive, casual, and gives the shot a very modern edge. I think the side glance is maybe too pronounced, but it is such a minor detail, the overall quality is brilliant.

Last week was a good photo, but no model, but here we see a model. She has finally arrived. Lola looks like a fashion giant here. With the perspective of the shot it looks like she is towering over the rocks, surveying the land she is about to conquer. Lola’s face is incredible here, it is strong, but to the perfect degree. The contrast of her tall physique, with the small pink back is delightful, this shot feels charismatic, classic and full of life. Too bad she wasn’t the only person to absolutely smash it, otherwise I am sure she would get a first call-out for this.

Sadly I couldn’t find the full version of this with high quality, so we have this slightly trimmed version. Still doesn’t stop me adoring this shot. Neither does the fact it is a fluke, it is still one of the most interesting shots of the day. Tahnee’s face and body both look great from this profile angle, and it is the kind of shot that would pop right off the page. It feels sweet, and the composition of the full shot is brilliant. Her glancing over the edge of the pillar, down into the abyss. The only thing I wish was different is having the bag in the other hand, so we can at least have that product front and centre. Minor change, but would help the practicality of this shot in terms of it being an ad.

Damn, Cassi really gave us this? I remembered Franky and Laura disappointing, but this shot was a sucker punch. I really almost put it below Laura’s, as at least her bone structure photographed well. Cassi’s face here looks really odd. The expression is attempting dreamy, but is giving me…constipated? The body is slightly better, she has shown the clothes well, but the right arm is really awkward in holding the bag. Guess it is a recurring theme of models forgetting how to hold them this week. For the girl with all the high fashion potential, she really let me down.

Laura’s elimination was due at this point, she could have recovered with a stellar photo, but this is a disappointing shot for such an elegant shoot. Laura is just acting as a hanger to beautiful things in this shot, her pose is so stuff that it could be a mannequin, and her face so devoid of emotion that it could be a bust. I think it her face does look gorgeous here, which is the one thing going for the shot, but entirely expressionless at this point in the competition isn’t okay. It was her time, as much as I loved her as a viewer, and was devastated to lose her the first time I watched.

This is definitely a horrendous photo of Franky, and for such an expensive brand she has managed to produce something that feels cheap. Franky’s body normally looks great, but here the pose is awkward and disjointed. It looks like she has never held a bag before, or even worn a dress before. The face too is disappointing based on all factors: vacant, soulless expression, and not a particularly flattering angle in terms of her features or bone structure. This photo is bad enough to justify elimination on its own, but it was clear at this point that it was someone else’s time to go.