beerguy
Senior Member
First, I want to thank all who entered. We had 72 entries, and choosing the winners was quite difficult.
Second, I want to apologize for my lack of comment during the competition. I've been fighting wrist problems, and compounded the problem by spraining two fingers on my right hand, days away from a paid photo shoot;-( I had to drastically limit my computer time this past week. I will try to make up for it a tiny bit by offering comments on the winners.
First, the Honorable Mentions. In alphabetical order, here they are:
Alexis
"Debut Night"
Lovely bokeh and framing in this one. The deep red tones and framing really make this image work.
annna8888
"Wandering (in a mosque)"
I love the light and atmosphere in this image. The light is soft, yet reveals the details in the stonework. The composition is excellent, and the figure adds a sense of scale to the scene.
Dr. Tom
"Untitled"
Great use of B&W in this image. The unusual angle catches the eye, and the shallow DoF and use of selective focus keep it from being too busy. It also makes me want to reach out and keep the glasses from falling;-)
ePan
"Rainy Day"
Classic composition, and another excellent example of B&W to strengthen an image. The use of monochrome here helps to set the visual feel of the image. The distraction of what lies beyond the window is also lessened, helping to isolate and emphasize the subject.
Jacques Cloutier
"Montréal Auto Show"
Fantastic use of color and form. The lines of the car are emphasized by the reflections of the sign, and also add a splash of color to a black car.
Like M. Fords
"Golf Balls"
Nice use of selective focus and shallow DoF. The lighting angle really brings out the shape and texture of the golf balls. Very well seen.
Sueanne
"Jellyfish"
I absolutely love the color in this. The jellyfish almost glows against the deep blue background, and the angle in the frame is quite pleasing to the eye. I just wish it were posted a bit bigger...
And now for the winners. Very difficult choices indeed.
Third place:
Emphyrio
"Divine Light"
Divine indeed. Beautiful light and composition, and good use of B&W. Color would be distracting here, and cause the stained glass window to compete with the statue in the foreground. Here, the face is the focus of the image.
Second:
annna8888
"Red on Grey"
I love this shot. The red paint literally jumps off the screen at you. Great composition, and good use of selective focus to keep the background from distracting.
Ana - it's always a pleasure to view your work. You have such a wonderful eye!
And finally, our first place winner:
stephaneonline
"Arc de Triomphe stairs, Paris "
An amazing image. The stairs look nearly translucent, and it's difficult to tell whether you are looking up or down. (I think up?) The blurred figure at the lower right really adds to the image. The sense of movement keeps this from being a completely static image, and adds a visual tension that makes the image. Excellent framing/croppping as well.
Well, stephaneonline, it's now up to you. Where will you take us next?
--
Cheers,
bg
'I have always wished that my computer would be as easy to use as my telephone. My wish has come true. I no longer know how to use my telephone.'
(See profile for the gear collection)
Second, I want to apologize for my lack of comment during the competition. I've been fighting wrist problems, and compounded the problem by spraining two fingers on my right hand, days away from a paid photo shoot;-( I had to drastically limit my computer time this past week. I will try to make up for it a tiny bit by offering comments on the winners.
First, the Honorable Mentions. In alphabetical order, here they are:
Alexis
"Debut Night"
Lovely bokeh and framing in this one. The deep red tones and framing really make this image work.
annna8888
"Wandering (in a mosque)"
I love the light and atmosphere in this image. The light is soft, yet reveals the details in the stonework. The composition is excellent, and the figure adds a sense of scale to the scene.
Dr. Tom
"Untitled"
Great use of B&W in this image. The unusual angle catches the eye, and the shallow DoF and use of selective focus keep it from being too busy. It also makes me want to reach out and keep the glasses from falling;-)
ePan
"Rainy Day"
Classic composition, and another excellent example of B&W to strengthen an image. The use of monochrome here helps to set the visual feel of the image. The distraction of what lies beyond the window is also lessened, helping to isolate and emphasize the subject.
Jacques Cloutier
"Montréal Auto Show"
Fantastic use of color and form. The lines of the car are emphasized by the reflections of the sign, and also add a splash of color to a black car.
Like M. Fords
"Golf Balls"
Nice use of selective focus and shallow DoF. The lighting angle really brings out the shape and texture of the golf balls. Very well seen.
Sueanne
"Jellyfish"
I absolutely love the color in this. The jellyfish almost glows against the deep blue background, and the angle in the frame is quite pleasing to the eye. I just wish it were posted a bit bigger...
And now for the winners. Very difficult choices indeed.
Third place:
Emphyrio
"Divine Light"
Divine indeed. Beautiful light and composition, and good use of B&W. Color would be distracting here, and cause the stained glass window to compete with the statue in the foreground. Here, the face is the focus of the image.
Second:
annna8888
"Red on Grey"
I love this shot. The red paint literally jumps off the screen at you. Great composition, and good use of selective focus to keep the background from distracting.
Ana - it's always a pleasure to view your work. You have such a wonderful eye!
And finally, our first place winner:
stephaneonline
"Arc de Triomphe stairs, Paris "
An amazing image. The stairs look nearly translucent, and it's difficult to tell whether you are looking up or down. (I think up?) The blurred figure at the lower right really adds to the image. The sense of movement keeps this from being a completely static image, and adds a visual tension that makes the image. Excellent framing/croppping as well.
Well, stephaneonline, it's now up to you. Where will you take us next?
--
Cheers,
bg
'I have always wished that my computer would be as easy to use as my telephone. My wish has come true. I no longer know how to use my telephone.'
- Bjarne Stroustrup, inventor of the C++ programming language
(See profile for the gear collection)
