Amateur Photographer Magazine

Dear Forum Members

Here are the results of the Forum’s April photographic competition.

This month the theme was “Candid/Street” and it was great to see that so many of you have entered this month. So what exactly do we mean by ‘Candid/Street?’ Well, I guess we are essentially talking about outside pictures of people being themselves and yet in such a way as to make an engaging subject. This makes the selection of images harder than usual, because I think this genre in particular communicates different things to different folk. To make a Candid/Street picture work, it must engender an emotion or create an artistic, pleasing shape. Some of the images here probably meant more to the photographer than the potential viewer and that is what makes this such a hard genre both to capture and judge. However, you lot have managed to offer some really nice stuff — so well done!

This time I have chosen five Highly Commended and two Joint Winners. They are as follows:

Highly Commended: Stevet — Mixed reactions

This picture works because of the oddity of the central character’s position and the reactions of those facing the camera. I guess the girl is part of the act, but her reaction gives movement in amusing contrast to the old couple who are clearly under-whelmed. If it was shot on square format, it is good use of the frame.

Highly Commended: Ian G — Little Polish lady

I like the composition and the way the arches are incorporated. It is a shame there isn’t a little more movement in the old dear, but I do find it pleasing to look at.

Highly Commended: Fusion — Please give generously

It almost looks as though she thinks the photographer has stolen her false teeth. Good framing, strong image, almost didn’t chose it because it felt a little hackneyed, but actually it is a strong shot.

Highly Commended: Ian A — Watching

Whilst the background is a little distracting and it is a popular construct for street pictures, I did think that there was a real tension here. It works as both a composition and on the emotional front. I would certainly have turned my head if she walked past me.

Highly Commended: Mertonia — Man in a hat

Perhaps it’s the hat and the sepia treatment, but there is something ‘turn of the century’ in the feel of this image. Of course the Styrofoam cup gives it away, but this is a very pleasant composition.

Joint Winner: TarquinBiscuit — Different lives

This style of image is very much what street photography is about. Here we have the contrast between two happy-looking young people walking down the high street and someone for whom life may not have been as kind. Neither party appears to know of the other’s existence. The happiness of youth blithely strides past another human failure and yet that may be their future.

Joint Winner: Mr Geoff — Really?

Another element of street photography is humour and here a nicely framed shape that makes an amusing statement. I guess this sort of picture is all about cropping and being able to see how that crop would create the humour. Waiting for a person to walk into the frame gave the picture some movement, rather than being simply one-dimensional.

Conclusion:

All the best

Garry C-W

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