Amateur Photographer Magazine

Amateur Photographer monthly forum photo competition results for May 2010

Friday 2nd July 2010

Damien Demolder

Built

The great thing about architecture is that we have so much to choose from. No matter where you live there are buildings of some sort, as well as structures that are built – either by man or by nature. Modern buildings are all sheets of glass and metal panels, while stone age man chipped rocks from cliff faces, but with every rivet, every hammer on the end of a flint, and every slab that fits perfectly against another, there is evidence of the intension of someone or something to create some standing creation – hovel or edifice - to use and to admire. For photographers the stories that lie dormant in these constructions make great fodder, but drawing the gist in light and shade, with inclusion and exclusion of matter, is no easy feat. As always, thought, reflection, intellect, creativity and style make the job achievable, and here, below, and in the thread that holds the images of this month, there is evidence of all these elements.



This year's competition is being supported by Samsung, and this month's first prize is the Samsung ST550 compact camera with dual LCD screens - one on the front as well as the back, and 12 million pixels. This is the Amateur Photographer Compact Camera of the Year 2010. The second and third placed winners will receive a wonderful Amateur Photographer Loves My Pictures mug.





My shortlist once again defies its name, including the work of over 40 photographers. Images range from factual to abstract, detailed to minimal, but all are interesting, inspiring and great examples.

Those who didn't quite make the top three but who deserve some special recognition include Rogue_Robot, bench_ubbster, JonMcGovern, Ian_A and Zou – though to be fair, there are very many others who came very close.

3rd Place

ChrisByrne for Clyde View

This is a very stately picture with a grand sense of scale and an attention-grabbing composition. We are left in no doubt just how big that crane is, as the buildings around it – buildings we'd normally think gigantic – are dwarfed completely. The contrasting shapes become almost abstract here, and it took me a second or two to realise what I was looking at.

The reflection is a very powerful device, and Chris has used is very well. The framing is tight, but there's enough space around the subjects to make them feel comfortable and to give them room to breath. The monochromatic sky adds drama and a mild undercurrent of fear and doom. I have a feeling some darkening has gone on, and perhaps Chris could have been more careful to ensure he didn't get halos around the crane, but I don't mind this too much. The picture is good, and the processing can be fixed.

2nd Place

nycmarcos for cross-over

There is something very appealing about this picture. It comes down to Marco's use of colour, of contrast and of viewpoint. The scene is very exciting in itself, and looking from below at the buildings reaching up into the sky, and seeing the underside of the walkway, makes for a picture that is unusual from the start. I love the sun and the shade splitting the lower section in two, the moderated contrast of the cyanotype effect and how the whole composition is divided into three parts with the walkway linking them all together.

Again there seems to be a halo around the walkway that perhaps shouldn't be there, but the picture as a whole is still very good. It's a very simple and well-designed image, and is really pleasing to watch.

1st Place

AGW for Stairs

I'm a great admirer of good woodwork, mainly because I am so hopeless at putting planks together myself. Wood is beautiful, and when taken and made into something that is beautiful in itself, and which celebrates the qualities of the material, we have a spectacle for all the senses. This curving stairway is clearly a masterpiece of craftsmanship and nature in one, but as we all know it is easy enough to take a bad picture whatever the subject. Here AGW demonstrates that he understands the qualities of the piece, and the characteristics that will appeal to the viewer. His framing and viewpoint accentuate the shape of the staircase, and his angle allows us to see the carefully spaced treads, the different shades of the wood and the art that has gone into the smooth and sweeping lines. The colour of the light is neutral but we still see the warmth of the wood, and the soft side-lighting helps us to see the shapes.

Not everyone would think that staircases make interesting subjects for a picture, and in general they don't. But AGW hasn't taken a picture of a staircase – he has photographed light, shade, lines, patterns and colour. And he has done it with a great deal of skill.

Another excellent round, filled with inspiring images, imagination and creativity. You're a clever bunch, you know!

Thanks to everyone who entered, and to those who thought about it but never quite got round to it.

Damien

Just to remind you - we have an excellent Gallery section in the magazine every week and you should be sending in your pictures for publication in it. If the standard of many of the shortlisted this and most months is anything to go by you will be more than capable of getting a place. We pay, and you could win a prize!!

Have a look here to find out how to submit

I hope you can all find the time to enter the July 2010 round too.

Click the links to see all the Amateur Photographer forum photographic competition entries for May and here to read the May forum photographic competition discussion thread.

This is where you'll find all the rest of the year's Amateur Photographer forum photographic competitions and discussion threads.

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