Steve Nicholls, When the mask slips (PEOPLE 2023)

This portrait of Georgia was captured during a conversation about her struggles with mental health. I was particularly focused on capturing micro expressions; the fleeting, involuntary facial expressions we all make during conversation which can sometimes reveal a suppressed emotion. Here, Georgia was struggling to maintain her usual jovial composure. This photograph captured the moment her mask slipped, betraying the struggle she was facing to keep her countenance in tact.

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