Judging is more difficult than I imagined!
malofx - Los Angeles
The color tells the story here, and I like that you filled a majority of the frame with sky. You were at an elevated position, so the perspective is natural and without distortion. Images like this are difficult because you need enough clarity to make the image appear crisp but still need to maintain a sense of atmosphere. I think you struck a nice balance. A classic documentary image that I might expect to see in the newspaper.
Stillcrazyhan - Rust
Tough exposure due to backlighting and subject in shade. Low vantage point offers an interesting perspective. How long will our creations remain after we’re gone?
Someoldguy - Damaged house
Interesting subject! Not only is the second floor falling off the right side of the house, but the entire second story split in half!
Apple fanboy - Stormtroopers
Quirky. It’s an image that begs questions from the viewer. The high contrast monochrome works well. It's awkward in a good way that reminds me of a Diane Arbus photograph.
Deep diver - Sugar Mill Blade
There is interest in both geometry and color here. Warm and cool colors on the blade clash while repeated triangles and diagonal lines compete. You’ve created some tension here. If you look closely there are actually four repeated rows of triangles. Good aperture choice that gives a bit of isolation but enough to completely retain the pattern/context.
Darmok N Jalad - Storm Cloud
The wide angle of view gives you the sense that the cloud is hanging over you even though you’re looking at it. I like that you cut it off at the top; it makes me wonder how much longer it goes.
Hughmac - Explosion
You caught the demolition at just the right moment. The tower is still visible above the tree line, but you can see from the debris trail how far it has dropped. The off-center framing is nice, and the power lines add visual interest to that side of the frame. I wish you were a bit closer, but I imagine that wasn't a possibility.
Giuanniello - Barber Chair
Given the history of your subject this absolutely fits the theme. Outstanding use of sub framing. I like that you’ve left the rocks in the foreground black with the exception of some highlights and were not tempted to go crazy with the shadow slider. The negative space draws your eye in, and gives the subject some room to breathe. The high contrast works very well in monochrome, and I like that you have a full range of tones from pure white all the way to pure black.
Bruinsrme - Sleepy Best Friend
As a fellow dog owner I can testify to the destructive nature of our best friends. I like your framing with the paws taking up the entire foreground space. Beautiful dog!
CmdrLaForge - Tree
This is a photograph that if you explained it I think I’d shrug my shoulders, but it actually works. Your plane of focus is well in front of the subject, but I think this is one of those rare cases where that slight defocus adds something. Extra points for going out and taking an image specifically for the contest!
Oblomow - Helmet Light
There is more meaning in this image than initially meets the eye. Nothing really grabs your attention...until you recognize the shape of the helmet and are reminded of the nasty historical baggage associated with it.
Janichsan - Ruin
Images of ruins always make my mind run wild. What did the structure look like in its prime? The excellent craftsmanship of the remaining wall hints at something grand.
Tcphoto1 - Antebellum Fire
I hope that was able to be saved! They haven’t made homes with that attention to detail in decades. Any slight distortion is immediately visible in photographs of interiors with wide lenses, and you clearly took care to keep the camera level.
Tizeye - Dungeness Mansion
Part of what makes this so interesting is the greenery that is working to slowly reclaim the ruins. The organic lines of nature meet and begin to take on the precise angles of the house as if becoming impeccably maintained shrubs. The ruin has really retained an uncannily strong sense of pattern and regular form. Interesting capture.
1st Place - malofx
2nd Place - Giuanniello
3rd Place - Apple fanboy
