Richard McClure is a freelance journalist.

Selected from over 6,700 submissions, this book offers a unique opportunity to see an inspiring range of portraits from contemporary photographers. The works included are not only about the subjects - people who appear intriguing, defiant or relaxed - but also reveal the outstanding skills of the photographers, whose intelligence and diligence enables them to capture both a moment in time, and to convey something of the spirit of those photographed. Fully illustrated in colour throughout, the book features all the selected entries from this year's competition as well as comments and insights from the judges. The 2009 judging panel will comprise of Sandy Nairne, Director and Terence Pepper, Curator of Photographs at the National Portrait Gallery, London, plus three well-known individuals who will be invited to judge the prize by the Gallery who work in the field of photography. The catalogue will include a short essay on or relating to photographic portraiture and interviews with the prize winners by Richard McClure give further insight into the photographers behind these outstanding images.