There were 6,900 submissions entered by 2,700 photographers for the National Portrait Gallery's Photographic Portrait Prize this year. The judges selected 60 to be displayed at the exhibition, of which four were short listed. Below are some quotes about the photographs from their authors. We thought we should also get an outside opinion so we asked Edwin Laliq, the "arty one" from Man Like Me to give us his thoughts. Here they are:

Above image:
Joseline Ingabire with her daughter Leah Batamuliza, Rwanda by Jonathan Torgovnik
© Jonathan Torgovnik

Jonathan Torgovnik first met Tutsi women who had been victims of sexual violence during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, while covering a story on the HIV epidemic in Africa for Newsweek. Joseline was raped continually throughout her pregnancy, even at nine months, and again after she gave birth to her husband’s daughter, who is pictured in the background of the portrait.

Jonathan says, "when the genocide started, Joseline was married and two months pregnant. The militia came to her village and brutally killed her husband in front of her. Immediately after that she was raped. She has two daughters who are less than one year apart, one is born from love, the other is born from rape. Neither girl is yet aware of the situation."

Edwin Laliq says, "good to see love between a mother and a daughter... it makes me happy. And the other daughter leaning on the house is cool... just cool."

Lucila a.m. by Julieta Sans
© Julieta Sans

A return visit to her native Argentina allowed Julieta Sans the opportunity to continue work on a long-term photographic project in which she recorded friends and acquaintances in the quiet intimacy of their everyday rituals. In this photograph she portrays a close friend at home in Buenos Aires as she prepares for the day ahead.

Julieta says, "that morning I woke up and went to see Lucila in her room, where she was eating breakfast and epilating her legs. The photo shoot was very improvised. I intervened very little in the scene, limiting myself to observing her gestures and suggesting subtle changes."

Edwin says, "ok... er... pants, knife and a YOUNG women in the early hours of the day. A knife can be used as a tool. It is considered by some to be the most useful tool of all time. It can be used for spreading things like jam on bread, in close-quarter combat and for taking the bones out of a fish, like the one in the next picture."

Alice & Fish by David Stewart
© David Stewart

This portrait features David's 14-year-old daughter, who was photographed among the seagrass beds of Morecambe Bay during a visit to Stewart’s home town of Lancaster.

David says, "at the time, Alice was full of teenage attitude and going through an “emo” phase. She and her friends were always so miserable that I thought it would be fun to pose her with an equally gloomy looking fish. It seemed a nice fit. Humour is a big part of my work – I like gently poking fun at people."

Edwin says, "another YOUNG girl this time with the words drop dead on her t-shirt and what looks like married zombies (all a bit Tim Burton for the likes of me). Where, how, who bought that for her?"

Janine by Michelle Sank
© Michelle Sank

Taken from the photo series Reality Crossings, Germany, which documents a day centre for troubled teens in Mannheim, Germany.

Michelle says, "I knew when I photographed Janine that something powerful was happening. At first sight, she seems very self-assured and empowered – only then is your eye drawn to the scars and scratches on her arm. There was a real sadness about some of the kids at the centre. Many were dealing with a lack of family or parents who take no interest in them."

Edwin says, '“this world is wild at heart and crazy on top and the violent storm is coming up behind Janine to carry her away to meet the Wizard of Oz (who as we all know is a con man). It’s a chewing gum fantasy."

The overall winner of the The Photographic Portrait Prize 2007 was Jonathan Torgovnik for his portrait of Joseline Ingabire. The exhibition is running at the National Portrait Gallery until 24 Feb 2008. For more information, please visit their website - www.npg.org.uk
Man Like Me will be playing at the Amersham Arms on 15 Nov. Find out more about them at www.myspace.com/manlikeme