How to take a portrait

Hussain Alhatem, 21, logistics student at Aston University, from Saudi Arabia

"I took this shot near Marble Arch. I was trying out my new 70mm-200mm lens. I got another nice picture but the woman's face was covered by a flying pigeon."

Click here for Rankin's verdict Photograph: Hussain Alhatem

Alain Rolli, 43, NHS pathology manager from Wolverhampton

"This is my 13-year-old son Joe on holiday in the Dordogne. It was taken on a 60s Mamiya twin-lens camera I bought on eBay. You have to check the light on a meter. It was an overcast day but the sun was trying to shine through. I asked Joe not to smile and to look like a serious swimmer."

Click here for Rankin's verdict Photograph: Alain Rolli

Simon Leak, 34, librarian from south London

"This is Derek Meins, who was compering a Maccabees gig I went to see a couple of weeks ago. I took it on the tour bus outside the venue. I had to clear a lot of DVDs and crisp packets out of the way first."

Click here for Rankin's verdict Photograph: Simon Leak

Deirdre Kutasi, 39, real estate broker from Toronto, Canada

"These are my two whippets, Julius and Leila, enjoying the sun in my parents' backyard. It was just a lucky shot - although it's hard to take a bad picture of my dogs. Leila loves the camera - she's a bit of a poser and she always lies down. Julius couldn't care less."

Click here for Rankin's verdict Photograph: Deirdre Kutasi

Portrait of Jack, by Brian Joughin, from Bradford

Click here for Rankin's verdict Photograph: Brian Joughin

Bini Atkinson, 53, art teacher from Huddersfield "I took this picture of Laurie at his uncle's wedding. He was a nervous young lad so I took him to one side. The setting was tricky as I wanted him to be at one side of the bushes, which were very vibrant. I liked the composition and his quirky little face."

Click here for Rankin's verdict Photograph: Bini Atkinson