If my images weren't so mediocre I'd call bias!OK, lets start this task off.
@kenoh – You cannot enter your own competition so immediately disqualified for taking holiday snaps and posing them as fine art. Your horizons are wonky, your subject matter is tacky and you use a toy camera.
Jokes over. Now for seriousness. As usual, you guys know I haven’t got a clue so pinch of salt, don’t be offended, don’t be over enthused and most of all. Well done everyone.
@pmxperience – Ooh the Forbidden City. On the bucketlist for me. A most wondrous place with such intrigue and unique architecture. I like this shot for it shows the scale of the place well (if not a tad exaggerated by the angle). I like the muted colours, wonder if maybe dropping the highlights in the sky would give a nicer frame to the top to counter the gorgeous detail at the bottom. The staircase and the carvings are beautiful. Again guys, note, carved by hand. I cant write my signature the same way twice nevermind make that many ornamental pillars for a wall. I like the framing but I do wish the far structures were a little more prominent as they have such stunning beauty. Nice.
@anotherscotsman – What the L is that?!? Ha ha. I like the ambiance of this image a lot. I am going through a moody Black and White phase where I really like images with gritty, dark blacks and some quality misty fogginess. I like how the line and roofs over the platforms form a line that leads the viewer to the skyscrapers in the distance and how the shadows become nicely deeper as you follow that line. A nice composition indeed.
@AlexH – I like the colours of this image. The terracotta of the steps alongside the more general autumnal palette of the image works for me and the way you have captured the symmetry of the railings and stairs is beautifully done. I wonder if the timing of the two people would have enhanced the image more if they were either out of it, or you took it a moment sooner so they were fully in the image. The image also presents a question thus adding some tension… why? Why is it closed after 10pm? Do the Unicorns graze there after 10 pm? Or is it because hordes of zombies gather? Hmm interesting. Nice lighting and a nice vivid colour palette.
@RedOrchestra – When you are ready, we are waiting. Is cool but I would have liked you to put the windows shot in here. Nice lighting, muted colours, bang on trend and good use of the repetitive pattern of the windows and shutters. A nice example. Keep them coming.
@Hughmac – An interesting one that divides my thoughts. I am thinking a step to the right would have just got that jetty in a slightly more photogenic position but then the perfect line of that railing up the middle is interesting. Also the other jetty (think that is what I should call them?) from the right is interesting trying to work out what is on it. There is a lot of interest elements in the image. I think the image maybe could do with the exposure being lifted a tad. It is maybe a little dark but that is a nice dramatic sky.
@oblomow – Nice bright colours. I really like these images that people take from inside hot air balloons as they are being inflated/deflated. I love the colour scheme and the pattern of the lines in the canopy and on the floor. I cant help but wish the highlights were recovered slightly as the bright parts in the middle are a little distracting.
@Alexander.Of.Oz – A nice shopping centre shot. I like the symmetry of the image, the lines of the railings are nicely within the 3rds divisions and it gives a nice feel to the arcade. I like the tonality of the image and the light sources along the lines. Maybe a tad dark but nicely done.
@mlovergaard – I like the urban look of most images from NYC, having had the chance to work there in a previous life, I have an affinity with the place. On this note, the trains and subway cars are something that interest me as they are as NYC as NYC can be. I like the lines and the repetition here of the cars running into the yard. I also like the colour palette. I do feel that the image could be a little more dynamic by moving the horizon a little more off centre and maybe (if it is cropped) open it up a little to not cut off the skyscraper or at least give the dranes in the distance some room to breathe. Maybe to be really controversial, maybe crop it in tight and just have the cars alone? Lots of scope to play here, not necessarily better or worse just an opinion but I do like the cars and more so, if you look close, the little markings pointing in the direction of convergence. Thank you.
@rx7dude – aw man torn here. So much to look at and admire. I am assuming that this is a hotel lobby during the holiday season. Is that a bird cage to the left? And a gingerbread house just beyond? eye candy everywhere! Looks beautiful. That chandelier looks very grand, I wish they had lined up the shades properly though and I wonder if the image may have been better taken from the opposite end with the tree behind in front of the chandelier ? I like the depth, the colours are nice it is a great image to pour over for a while.
@someoldguy – oh my, clean, elegance, simplicity. A lovely example of a reflected image. Beautiful capture of New verses old. Classic architecture reflected in the eyes of the youngling building. Nice exposure and almost perfect framing – the trees are a tad distracting. Nicely done.
@needfx – Well this bottom dweller is lovely. I especially like the tones of the steps and the spiral is captured lovely. I am undecided on the 3 black spars and their placement. Do they add dynamicism or throw the balance off or do they throw off the balance thus causing contention? Hmm, uncertainty at what is that at the bottom. Mystery and intrigue. Nice.
@dwfaust – A beautiful monument to conflict. I will refrain from comment on the subject matter out of respect of that very subject matter. A lovely image depicting the length of wars, these are not short term events they are drawn out costly events. Costly both financially and, more upsetting, in souls. I wish we lived in a world without a need for war. I wish we could resolve all conflicts without violence. Unfortunately too many feel the need to resort to violence as the last means of getting their point across. Sorry, this is about the picture not politics. I like the framing, the composition shows the path curve beautifully. I am a little distracted by the trash can in the distance maybe would have cloned that out. I also wonder if there is a significance to 1952? A year of a milestone or some other event meaningful to the photographer? Nice colours and nice context setting.
@inkmich – Wow that looks cold! Muted colours, and bright cranes. An interesting image with a lot to look at. I really like how the lights could have worked but the ship in the background drowns them out too much for my liking. I wonder if maybe going back at night when the lights are on, capture the cones of light from them illuminating the dockside. I think you did an admirable job of making a nice image from an otherwise intolerant weathered day.
@Indydenny – I have to be honest, scrolling down the thread over the past week I have been enjoying the entries. When you posted this on Tuesday, I saw it and my first thought was “nice…”. I like the colour palette. I prefer the colour version to the B&W version on Flickr btw. I really admire how you have captured the aged materials that the soldiers are made from and the use of DoF has added to the effect of them being all lined up. Very nice.
@CmdrLaForge – Lol. I am going to be careful here as anything negative could be seen as petty revenge for commentary of late. It isn’t. However, I am being honest and I am struggling to isolate the subject of focus in the image. I like beach shots and dunes offer a lot of texture to capture but I really cannot decide if this is a picture of the grass, the walkway or the boat in the distance. I want to give a good commentary but I am honestly struggling suspecting you have not put a real contender in this week to avoid heavy critique. I hope I am wrong. Sorry. This would maybe have been a good shot if you had moved to the right, got low between the rails on the walkway and captured the boat within the gap framed either side by the tall grass? I hope this isn’t too disappointing sorry.
@Apple fanboy – nice, I like a nice English garden. Nice capture of the hedge balls though maybe needed to have a word with the groundskeeper as he is slipping in the hedge cutting. I like the symmetry of the image and the contention that the alternating position of the balls on each side of the path. It adds some tension. I cant help but be distracted by the shadows on the right hand balls and maybe a lower angle to feel IN the balls would help. Otherwise a nice depth to the image and a nice sky in the background. Like it.
@JohnDS – Wow! I like the colours and the line running to the feature at the end of the pier (?). The colours are lively and vibrant, though I wonder if it has been brightened a smidge too much? Would a slightly lower exposure just make those gorgeous colours pop? But the nyou would likely lose the effect of the lens flares from the high level lights. Tough call. Overall I think I really like this image as it fits the brief lovely.
OK, wow, thank you for the entries everyone. I think this was a great competition this week. We got some great entries and some good diversity in content and subject matter. Thank you. So now the podium places…
3rd place: Indydenny
2nd place: needfx
1st place: Someoldguy
Thank you all.
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Yeah well you shoot Nikon so we are even....
Great feedback for everyone Ken. Makes it worthwhile for all.
Lots of great images. Like many I really couldn't decide what to post this week. Had several to choose from.
Congrats to the winners. I'm glad I didn't have to pick!
