Amateur Photographer Magazine

Dear Forum members

I’ve been looking forward to this round since I wrote the brief, and I’m glad to say I’m not disappointed with the results. Shooting from new angles is a key element that keeps our images looking different to those other people take, plus ensuring pictures show an alternative view from that which eyes generally receive gives pictures impact.

I know that many of you do already shoot from unusual angles as a matter of course, but I hope that for those that didn’t this round has opened a new way of thinking about your photography. Certainly, looking through the results will be inspiration enough to try this method more often.

The shortlist this month is the biggest for some time, at 24 images, which either reflects me going soft in the head, you making more effort than usual or the success of the low angle method in producing exciting images. I’ll let you decide which.

Special mentions this month go to PCP again, for ‘Pillars’, to f0t0fan for ‘The cat’s Whiskers’, Trurosurfer26 for the scary ‘Incy-Wincy’ (just too dark) and to OneTen for ‘Red Squirrel Airways’. I also like DaftBiker’s ‘On the bog’, but hate to think what it actually might be. Nice colour, but I think you should see a vet. You and MartyG must be related. Sorry to go on, but I also loved Fen and Miked’s figurine pictures.

Just to remind you of the prizes: the first placed image wins a wonderful Nikon Coolpix S210 compact camera – kindly donated by Nikon UK, and second and third placed pictures win a highly coveted ‘AP Loves My Pictures’ mug.

So on to the winners:

3rd place: GDN

In third place this month is GDN’s ‘The busy ant’. It could have made a higher ranking, but it’s just not obviously at ground level. I love ants, their antics amaze me, and this guy windsurfing up a tree makes quite a spectacle. As you all know though, a good subject is only 1/3rd of the battle, and GDN has done a brilliant job of making an interesting shot. The lighting is very natural and the contrast is perfect for showing the details, plus the composition and crop add excitement.

2nd place: Kharman

Second place goes to Kharman for ‘Up and Over’. I don’t know whether he/she got inside the bin, cut a hole in a bin or just set the self-timer and got on the skate board him/her self – but that really doesn’t matter. The end result shows excellent timing and great attention to the background as well as the concept. The skater is perfectly framed, and if it’s a cheat it’s fooled me. The sun poking over the edge is a great touch too, as it lends the shadow interest to the inside of the bin. A great idea and that’s bin well executed.

1st place: peterf

I prefer ants to dogs, I have to say. They look after themselves, and you can tread a whole ant into the carpet without making the house smell. BUT who can resist the charms of peterf’s ‘Dogone’? This is a perfect example of how ground level photography can deliver something normal viewing angles simply fail to come close to. Pets, like small humans, are best photographed from their own level, and this picture shows why. We feel so much closer to the creature when we are down on the ground too, and the full impact of those glassy eyes and all-chased-out expression can be really appreciated. The ‘ahhh’ factor has played a part in this choice, but more importantly it is a really well taken picture. The focus is where it should be – on the eyes – and the depth of field is perfect for keeping the nose and ears as sharp details rather than blurry distractions. It’s a little high in the frame, but that avoids including the background, and so our eyes are concentrated where they are supposed to be. Brilliant.

Conclusion:

I’m glad so many of you took part this month, and I hope you have enjoyed it. Perhaps you’ll be down on all fours more often now when out with your camera – it’s a much more relaxing way to take pictures and the results are often really eye catching. Well done to everyone, and I’m looking forward to seeing your November submissions.

Damien Demolder