Thank you everyone for submitting your entries. Wow, 15 of them.
I have had fun with this contest and hope you all did too.
Disclaimer: I have no photographic training and what I'm offering here are just my impressions from viewing the photos. Feel free to take all comments with a grain of salt, or ignore them completely.
goldmac2006
A roofing hammer(?) on the wall, a suggestion of potential danger, possible murder weapon?
While having high contrast often found in noir images, the stark white background doesn't lend to the dark, shadowy noir feel.
But it still gives me an uncertain sense of the ominous.
_timo_redux_
Very nice color neo noir.
Fading light, smoky clouds on last remains of blue sky, all funneled into thedarkness and shadows of dusk. The multiple and varied angles of the power lines also give a subtle sense of disarray.
oblomow
Compelling shot, love the lighting and focus on the mask. I can see this as depicting the eventual fall that awaits classic noir characters.
mtbdudex
Bottle and glass of pinot NOIR ?
I like the overall affect from the shallow depth of field fading out the rest of the restaurant.
C0ncreteBl0nde
Spot on noir photo.
This looks like it could be taken from a 1940's film. Love the grainyness and tone.
meetree
I like the strong light contrast on the waves. They almost look solid, like shale lava.
coolguy4747
Ah, the feline femme fatal!
Purrfect innocently seductive pose and facial expression edging into the shadows.
StrollerEd
Nice strong contrast on the bridge gives a deliciously dark, ominous feel.
mollyc
I like the strong interplay between the dark and light of the hallway and bedroom - the way the light creeps into the hallway.
GeneticBloom
Nice capture of a soft noir feel. I like the combination of linear and atmospheric perspective as you move left to right down the beach.
kendallm
I love the deep blacks with all the bright lights, headlight stars, and light reflections on the wet street and flagstones.
I think I would have framed the shot looking down the street to the left side more with central focus on the back of the man. To me, that would give a more mysterious feel to the photo than focus on the woman with the umbrella. If you do a vertical crop at the left edge of the umbrella you will see what I mean.
Anyways, very nice noir photo with wonderful synergy between light and darkness.
Janichsan
Absolutely love the dark to light vertical gradient - with the streetlamp light source right in the center. This feels like it could be right out of "Ripley".
arkitect
Dark mysterious alley with very strong contrast - looks like something nefarious could be about to happen. Great overal noir feel.
At first the two lights were a bit bright for my eyes, but I got used to them.
iPhone-Guy
Black and white shot of flower blooming. The bare stalks and fence want to take my focus. I would have probably cropped this down more around the lovely bloom itself.
thirsty_monk
Nice. I like the unkempt (peeling) paint, the left to right perspective, and how I am drawn to look through the windows to the outside scene behind the building. There is alot more to take in here than one can see at first glance.
Ok, that was alot. After much deliberation and a shot of brandy, here are the results:
Third - arkitect
Second - C0ncreteBl0nde
First - Janichsan
