I had initially picked 8 photographs during the first edit, which I choose for a potential winner.
After half an hour of studying these 8 entries further I ended up with 5 remaining photographs, I felt as the strongest.
For my next task of picking the first 3 photographs, I further tried to elaborate of truly technical and image impact wise reasons, why each of these photographs spoke to me.
Let me tell you, that I had struggles, to "eliminate" 2 of the 5 and even pick a sole winner.
This went on hindsight of solely technical aspects.
Picking the winner really was a decision of feeling of a moment.
Would you ask me on another day, it could well be, that another of the three would have been picked.
Here follows a short version of my thoughts to each entry.
flosseR:
Your capture shows a great moment about your child and will induce great memories for sure. You managed, to capture a unique moment regarding light, situation and a great profile, to capture as well.
When I saw your entry post the first time, I knew, this will become a strong competitor.
Your image went not into the first 3 selection because of points, I think, would make this image even stronger: I would try a tighter crop, concentrating even more on the detail of your child's facial expression (a vertical 4:3 might work good for this, leaving the surrounded objects on the floor as a hint of the situation).
freigeist:
Your entry has been one, I at first sight underestimated as a possible contender, I admit. The situation with two playing children is a classic. Your exposure leaves a certain anonymity to their persons, making it even more timeless. The light is beautiful with the sparkling effects in the water and yet a low enough contrast, to give an evenly balanced detail from the subjects to the background. I like the two very different postures, but still a slight juxtaposed detail of lifting one foot with a splash of water by both subjects, to connect. The different heights of both children conform beautifully with the background and yet is the background balanced with adult wanderers, leaving the children not alone and giving a balance in composition and age within the image. A beautiful image, to explore and watch at further sight.
Presha:
A beautiful studio shot with play of shadow and light on a detail shot of your model. For me, the lighting though takes interest here from the model, away to her prominently lit arm. Gesture and expression are nicely chosen, but would strongly benefit, to be in context with other details or scenes for example in a series of shots. I am interested, to see more in this regard from you.
emorydunn:
This is an interesting image, showing a strong backlit effect on hair, even further so with your subjects chosen hair color. I am a fan of candid shots and love to study them. Here I see a subject, that does react on you, taking a photograph. I have no context though, which story it leads to - most likely hinting at passing by with a smile for both of you.
lostinblue:
A very nice profile shot of a boy (I suppose). What does distract me here though is the background structures, leading the eye away form studying your subject. A more selective composition, clearing up the background or even utilizing it in a geometric way would have been more compelling.
techie4life:
Yes, your entry does count. A wonderful moment captured for the young couple and an interesting play with the strobe as well. Initially, I was slightly distracted by the bride's face more hidden by the bare flash, than I would have liked. This is a shot, I would have tried, to make a few more angles from, to have a few selectables. I am sure though, your customers were satisfied. Your entry made it very high up.
JDDavis:
Jeff, your image wins hearts immediately as of the nice moment captured.
What got my attention about your image, elevating it for me, is how well balanced your image is regarding horizon, background and symmetry.
I think though, that a balanced lit subject to the background (artificial lighting) would work better for this capture and the other backlit contenders here prevented your image from coming up high.
pakyooh:
Your image catched my eye immediately, when I saw your placed entry. I knew your photograph would make it up high in my final selection and it did indeed. I was taken by the very symmetric composition with an exposure to the image, as perfectly balanced, as it can be (I suppose mild fill flash was in the mix here?). Your only cue, to brake up a full symmetry was a relaxed posture of your subject, yet cuing to the composed symmetric photograph by holding the guard rail at exactly the same position.
A strong photograph with impact.
bbbbbb:
A wonderful feel of summer, sun and good feel is translated with your capture! It helps for a great mood and benefits also from the strong lens flare, induced by the direct sun just out of the frame.
I only wished for this photograph to show the subjects not entirely from behind. This can be a strong tool in telling a story in a photograph, but does not touch me in this composition as such.
NeverhadaPC:
I really like the subject of your entry - the colors, the effect of the light playing with the boy's hair, the water and the grass.
I like, how the boy seems to reflect, fully cut off of reality, even guided further by his chair positioned on a piece of land, leading into the bright background. A truly strong capture.
Only one point prevented this photograph for me from entering the last round - the not leveled horizon. I am a strong believer of tilted horizons and any good reason, to fight the rule, shooting myself many of images with faulty samples. I do not feel here though, that the tilt does add to the context, nor does it make the viewer explore a reason for it, being tilted.
luminosity:
The perfect light! this is, what I thought, when seeing your entry - and I am still still in loss of words about what exactly strikes me about your capture.
The backlit effect with the perfect golden light here seems flawless. Your subjects slightly tilted head and expression seems to show a timeless loss in thoughts par example. I truly like this image. Composition on second thought is well made as well, positioning your subject just between two pillars of the wall, having the foreground pillar dominated in size, cut off and focus, helps to convey dimension and leading even more to your subject.
The background separation due to the fast aperture used works beautifully your subject, the light and helps to focus the subject more.
Perfect light!
Hitrate:
A unique self portrait, concentrated on the music (plane of focus), rather than the person. It did not make it up high though due to the very strong competition.
runlsd:
Your entry does show a backlit subject. Here are a few thoughts, I had, when approaching the image: The bright car does immediately take attention from your actual subject. Even though, the car is not your actual subject, it is also cropped by your frame, leaving no direction to the eye. The same goes for the the path in the right of the image. It does look like an intimate moment between the photographer and the subject. A small wait for another moment and angle might have left the car out or much suppressed and your subject more dominating.
OrangeCuse44:
Your image really made me thing long about. I like your black and white processing on this. The flare from the direct sun in the frame does beautifully work with wrapping around the subject. The cloudy sky at the time of capture has been beautifully utilized by your low angle and yet did you compose carefully with this wide angle lens in regard of the fence.Your photo is high up and made my selection in the end not an easy one.
mattyb240:
A nice entry with showing a beautiful light and a moment together.
It has been not in the higher up ranks during editing though as of the strong contenders.
ipodtoucher:
Your entry does have a lot to like! The eye contact with your subject, the use of the fence, leading into the sun, your placement of your subject within the frame. Nevertheless though, what distracted me, was the long way into the distant fence - an even brighter sun here could have helped, to bridge this distance.
OutThere:
A wonderfully carried out capture! Your composition with the horizon, sun and fisherman is very compelling. The action of your subject and the water in front do induce energy in normally more silent images. I really only wish, you could have made half a step more forward, to get this plank out of the frame.
acearchie:
You have here beautiful colors, a great sky, clouds and play of the sun with your backlit subject. Even more beatuiful is the metallic colored reflections in the water. Very beautiful.
Another moment with your subject in action would add even more to this photograph!
Razeus:
I really like your entry for the lighting and your chosen exposure, leaving the image darken to the frame edges.
The viewer is concentrated strongly to the center, also led strongly by the symmetry in your composition. It was a tough decision making process, involving also your entry up into the latest selection.
Juanbond:
A very sweet moment!
jpfisher:
I did not include you within the contest, as I announced already the end. I wish, you would have made it in time, which is why I share some thoughts.
I like your photograph as for several characteristics - the exposure is just beautiful, even further helped by your processing in regards of the colors - the green and red does have a tone, I really like.
I nice moment, you had there with the two ladies at the wedding (I suppose) and I think, the sign and persons, breaking the rules do a nice inside joke justice between the bride and friends.
So here are the chosen first three places then:
3rd place goes to: pakyooh
Initially, I eyed your entry as a clear contender for the first place. Your lighting just fits the contest "backlit people" perfectly. Technically, your image is very compelling to me as well, as of careful composition of geometric elements and placing human subjects in context with these.
I am a strong practicer in black and white imaging as well and really dig your exposure and lighting with detail on the subject. I think, everyone has taken escalator shots - this is one of the best, I have seen lately!
2nd place goes to: techie4life
Your image shows a technical compelling photograph with an even more important feature - the mood and feeling of the bride, translated in your shot. I like this.
1st place goes to: freigeist
As I said, I did not have you initially in my sight for this. Only closer study and thinking convinced me on your first place with your entry.
The two contenders, I unfortunately had to eliminate from my last pick of 5 were luminosity's entry and Razeus' entry.
I am sorry about this, as I feel, that both of these images had a lot to give.
One of my personal strong picks would be especially luminosity's entry for the reasons, I gave above.
Would this judgement be on another day, it could well be different, such close (I feel), it is.
Congratulations freigeist - please start a new challenge. I am looking forward to it.
After half an hour of studying these 8 entries further I ended up with 5 remaining photographs, I felt as the strongest.
For my next task of picking the first 3 photographs, I further tried to elaborate of truly technical and image impact wise reasons, why each of these photographs spoke to me.
Let me tell you, that I had struggles, to "eliminate" 2 of the 5 and even pick a sole winner.
This went on hindsight of solely technical aspects.
Picking the winner really was a decision of feeling of a moment.
Would you ask me on another day, it could well be, that another of the three would have been picked.
Here follows a short version of my thoughts to each entry.
flosseR:
Your capture shows a great moment about your child and will induce great memories for sure. You managed, to capture a unique moment regarding light, situation and a great profile, to capture as well.
When I saw your entry post the first time, I knew, this will become a strong competitor.
Your image went not into the first 3 selection because of points, I think, would make this image even stronger: I would try a tighter crop, concentrating even more on the detail of your child's facial expression (a vertical 4:3 might work good for this, leaving the surrounded objects on the floor as a hint of the situation).
freigeist:
Your entry has been one, I at first sight underestimated as a possible contender, I admit. The situation with two playing children is a classic. Your exposure leaves a certain anonymity to their persons, making it even more timeless. The light is beautiful with the sparkling effects in the water and yet a low enough contrast, to give an evenly balanced detail from the subjects to the background. I like the two very different postures, but still a slight juxtaposed detail of lifting one foot with a splash of water by both subjects, to connect. The different heights of both children conform beautifully with the background and yet is the background balanced with adult wanderers, leaving the children not alone and giving a balance in composition and age within the image. A beautiful image, to explore and watch at further sight.
Presha:
A beautiful studio shot with play of shadow and light on a detail shot of your model. For me, the lighting though takes interest here from the model, away to her prominently lit arm. Gesture and expression are nicely chosen, but would strongly benefit, to be in context with other details or scenes for example in a series of shots. I am interested, to see more in this regard from you.
emorydunn:
This is an interesting image, showing a strong backlit effect on hair, even further so with your subjects chosen hair color. I am a fan of candid shots and love to study them. Here I see a subject, that does react on you, taking a photograph. I have no context though, which story it leads to - most likely hinting at passing by with a smile for both of you.
lostinblue:
A very nice profile shot of a boy (I suppose). What does distract me here though is the background structures, leading the eye away form studying your subject. A more selective composition, clearing up the background or even utilizing it in a geometric way would have been more compelling.
techie4life:
Yes, your entry does count. A wonderful moment captured for the young couple and an interesting play with the strobe as well. Initially, I was slightly distracted by the bride's face more hidden by the bare flash, than I would have liked. This is a shot, I would have tried, to make a few more angles from, to have a few selectables. I am sure though, your customers were satisfied. Your entry made it very high up.
JDDavis:
Jeff, your image wins hearts immediately as of the nice moment captured.
What got my attention about your image, elevating it for me, is how well balanced your image is regarding horizon, background and symmetry.
I think though, that a balanced lit subject to the background (artificial lighting) would work better for this capture and the other backlit contenders here prevented your image from coming up high.
pakyooh:
Your image catched my eye immediately, when I saw your placed entry. I knew your photograph would make it up high in my final selection and it did indeed. I was taken by the very symmetric composition with an exposure to the image, as perfectly balanced, as it can be (I suppose mild fill flash was in the mix here?). Your only cue, to brake up a full symmetry was a relaxed posture of your subject, yet cuing to the composed symmetric photograph by holding the guard rail at exactly the same position.
A strong photograph with impact.
bbbbbb:
A wonderful feel of summer, sun and good feel is translated with your capture! It helps for a great mood and benefits also from the strong lens flare, induced by the direct sun just out of the frame.
I only wished for this photograph to show the subjects not entirely from behind. This can be a strong tool in telling a story in a photograph, but does not touch me in this composition as such.
NeverhadaPC:
I really like the subject of your entry - the colors, the effect of the light playing with the boy's hair, the water and the grass.
I like, how the boy seems to reflect, fully cut off of reality, even guided further by his chair positioned on a piece of land, leading into the bright background. A truly strong capture.
Only one point prevented this photograph for me from entering the last round - the not leveled horizon. I am a strong believer of tilted horizons and any good reason, to fight the rule, shooting myself many of images with faulty samples. I do not feel here though, that the tilt does add to the context, nor does it make the viewer explore a reason for it, being tilted.
luminosity:
The perfect light! this is, what I thought, when seeing your entry - and I am still still in loss of words about what exactly strikes me about your capture.
The backlit effect with the perfect golden light here seems flawless. Your subjects slightly tilted head and expression seems to show a timeless loss in thoughts par example. I truly like this image. Composition on second thought is well made as well, positioning your subject just between two pillars of the wall, having the foreground pillar dominated in size, cut off and focus, helps to convey dimension and leading even more to your subject.
The background separation due to the fast aperture used works beautifully your subject, the light and helps to focus the subject more.
Perfect light!
Hitrate:
A unique self portrait, concentrated on the music (plane of focus), rather than the person. It did not make it up high though due to the very strong competition.
runlsd:
Your entry does show a backlit subject. Here are a few thoughts, I had, when approaching the image: The bright car does immediately take attention from your actual subject. Even though, the car is not your actual subject, it is also cropped by your frame, leaving no direction to the eye. The same goes for the the path in the right of the image. It does look like an intimate moment between the photographer and the subject. A small wait for another moment and angle might have left the car out or much suppressed and your subject more dominating.
OrangeCuse44:
Your image really made me thing long about. I like your black and white processing on this. The flare from the direct sun in the frame does beautifully work with wrapping around the subject. The cloudy sky at the time of capture has been beautifully utilized by your low angle and yet did you compose carefully with this wide angle lens in regard of the fence.Your photo is high up and made my selection in the end not an easy one.
mattyb240:
A nice entry with showing a beautiful light and a moment together.
It has been not in the higher up ranks during editing though as of the strong contenders.
ipodtoucher:
Your entry does have a lot to like! The eye contact with your subject, the use of the fence, leading into the sun, your placement of your subject within the frame. Nevertheless though, what distracted me, was the long way into the distant fence - an even brighter sun here could have helped, to bridge this distance.
OutThere:
A wonderfully carried out capture! Your composition with the horizon, sun and fisherman is very compelling. The action of your subject and the water in front do induce energy in normally more silent images. I really only wish, you could have made half a step more forward, to get this plank out of the frame.
acearchie:
You have here beautiful colors, a great sky, clouds and play of the sun with your backlit subject. Even more beatuiful is the metallic colored reflections in the water. Very beautiful.
Another moment with your subject in action would add even more to this photograph!
Razeus:
I really like your entry for the lighting and your chosen exposure, leaving the image darken to the frame edges.
The viewer is concentrated strongly to the center, also led strongly by the symmetry in your composition. It was a tough decision making process, involving also your entry up into the latest selection.
Juanbond:
A very sweet moment!
jpfisher:
I did not include you within the contest, as I announced already the end. I wish, you would have made it in time, which is why I share some thoughts.
I like your photograph as for several characteristics - the exposure is just beautiful, even further helped by your processing in regards of the colors - the green and red does have a tone, I really like.
I nice moment, you had there with the two ladies at the wedding (I suppose) and I think, the sign and persons, breaking the rules do a nice inside joke justice between the bride and friends.
So here are the chosen first three places then:
3rd place goes to: pakyooh
Initially, I eyed your entry as a clear contender for the first place. Your lighting just fits the contest "backlit people" perfectly. Technically, your image is very compelling to me as well, as of careful composition of geometric elements and placing human subjects in context with these.
I am a strong practicer in black and white imaging as well and really dig your exposure and lighting with detail on the subject. I think, everyone has taken escalator shots - this is one of the best, I have seen lately!
2nd place goes to: techie4life
Your image shows a technical compelling photograph with an even more important feature - the mood and feeling of the bride, translated in your shot. I like this.
1st place goes to: freigeist
As I said, I did not have you initially in my sight for this. Only closer study and thinking convinced me on your first place with your entry.
The two contenders, I unfortunately had to eliminate from my last pick of 5 were luminosity's entry and Razeus' entry.
I am sorry about this, as I feel, that both of these images had a lot to give.
One of my personal strong picks would be especially luminosity's entry for the reasons, I gave above.
Would this judgement be on another day, it could well be different, such close (I feel), it is.
Congratulations freigeist - please start a new challenge. I am looking forward to it.
