2024 March Entries

Topic: OPEN Judge:

(Double Click on any image below to start slide show)

BASIC LEVEL WINNERS

: 1st 7.0 – Good capture of the face expression for me, good exposure and lighting as well as nice focussing on the main subject. I just think of including more of the surroundings in order to show some context.

: 6.0 – Good exposure, especially also for the reflection, and perfect sharpness throughout the image for me. The sense of many given by the numerous windmills is very appealing to my eye. I wonder if the horizon is level? Without the planks in the foreground overlapping the reflection the kind of symmetry would be even stronger in my opinion.

ADVANCED LEVEL WINNERS

: 1st 8.0 – A very creative approach for me, the two heads opposed to the third one makes for an appealing tension while balancing the composition aptly.The selective focus separates the subjects well and shows just enough context to my eye. Good handling of a centred subject.

: 2nd 8.0 – A very creative approach for me and interesting play with colors and shapes. There is a lot of tension that keeps my attention.

: 3rd 7.5 – An impressive dynamic composition to my eye, conveying the majestic scene well. Maybe the crop of the rocks at the bottom is a bit too tight, but this is a minor matter to me.

: HM 7.5 – I like the kind of glance like „looking back“ to he left. All the surfaces are shown in a convincing way to my eye. I just think of a bit more space at both sides.

: 7.0 – Interesting dynamics for me and good b&w processing which helps to concentrate on the shape of the main subject. Maybe the left part could be separated more decisively from the lower left corner.

: 6.0 – The multiple parallel planes and stripes strenghten the impression of dynamics to me well. I just think about a diagonal arrangement that might enhance this impression even more. To my eye there are some signs of oversharpening (halos around the plains) that could easily be avoided.

: 6.0 – The dynamics given by the spiral and the perspective are interesting for me. Yet I think of some simplification, as the upper part is a bit distractingto my eye. Futhermore, going for b&w could strenghten the dynamics of the diverse shapes in my opinion.

: 5.0 – Good exposure and sharpness of the main subject for me. Maybe a more selective focus might help to separate it better. Regarding the composition, the crop could be a bit wider in my opinion. Or getting in even closer on the other hand might show the dynamics of the red parts more directly.

MASTER LEVEL WINNERS

: 1st 8.0 – Good capture of the action, I especially like the parallels and the doubling of the persons and portraits. The passer-by add interesting context. The foot just cutting the left border leads my attention out oft he frame, but this is only a minor matter form.

: 2nd 7.5 – A appealing and interesting interplay of colors and shapes for me. No suggestions from me for improvement, except the wish for more sharpness, yet I am aware it is technically challenging.

: 3rd 7.5 – An appealing dynamic composition for me, nice separation of the main subject by use of selective focus. Maybe focus stacking might have been an option to get all the petals perfectly sharp. The slightly off-centred placement works very well for me make and makes for an appealing tension.

: HM 6.5 – Good concentration on the face and its expression for me. I just wish the background element at the right would be out of focus. This image could also qualify for b&w in my opinion, as all is about gesture and expression.

: HM 6.5 – A goog idea to show a sense of balance in my opinion. I think the three main subjects should be separated by choice of vantage point, as their overlapping with each other and the background elelments is a bit irritating for me.

: HM 6.5 – The panorama format show the sense of expanse impressively to me. My only suggestion would be to get rid of or at least darken the bright foreground elements, the are a bit distracting for me.

: 6.5 – The panorama format fits in well with the majestic scene to my eye. I especially like the kind of crescendo within the composition, from left to right as well as from midground to background. Although the colors are striking, I would give it a try to go for b&w in order to simplify and concentrate on the interesting shapes.

: 6.5 – Impressive capture of a fateful moment, a real story teller for me. There are some technical flaws like chromatic aberration and signs of oversharpening that should be easy to fix. Another matter is the overlap of the foreground elements with the main subject that could only be avoided by change of vantage point, but of course than the moment would have been missed.

: 6.0 – A humorous approach that works well in this case for me. Lighting and exposure of the dog’s head is perfect. Yet the leash leading out of the frame and the bright background distract my attention. This should be easy to fix by changing the vantage point or cropping more tightly.

: 6.0 – The handling of shutter speed fits in well with the subject in my opinion. It is all about colors in this scene, and you brought them out nicely, especially in the foreground in my opinion. I think the colors in the background are competitors in this case and I would try a tight crop selecting just the ship and parts of the dome, excluding the sky.

: 6.0 – The placemt of the main subject together with the rope makes for a dynamic composition to me. The background is a bit distracting to my eye, I would eliminate the sky. Maybe a b&w conversion might help to concentrate on the gesture and dynamics.

: 6.0 – Showing the bridge with ist surroundings is a good idea in my opinion. Exposure is well done for the sunlit scene, and the centred placement of the main subject conveys a sense of stability for me. There is just a minor matter for me, namely the house just visible in the background above the bridge, it is a bit distracting to my eye.

: 5.5 – The juxtapposition of bright and dark as well as of different colors is an appealing idea for me. I would want for a more clear separation of the main subject from the background, maybe by focussing on only some of the blossoms, while leaving the rest and the background blurred.

: 5.5 – Of course a nice presentation of the butterfly and nice juxtaposition of colors. Maybe hard to avoid, but the two fingers are a distraction for me.

: 5.0 – Dividing the composition in three parts is good approach in my opinion. To my eye, the ship as the main subject is a bit too close to the center. Furthermore the scrub at the bottom is a bit distracting for me. The saturation of the sky is over-the-top I think, less could be more in this case.

: 5.0 – The centred and symmetical compostion works well in this case for me. Regarding the lighting, I would make use of reflected light rather than a direct light source in order to avoid distracting highlights.

: 5.0 – The idea of framing the subject this way within its surrounding works well for me. A classical arrangment, consistent with the scene to my eye. There are some technical flaws that could easily be avoided I think, like the lack of resolution and slight blurredness. Furthermore highlights are blown out, I think a more diffused light on an overcast day would be favorable. Finally the bright stripe with the fence at the bottom leads me out of the frame, it could be either darkened or cropped.

: 5.0 – A good idea to show the sense of heaviness in my opinion. I just think about lighting conditions and the background. The face – that would be the main focal point for me – is in the shadow, while the rather bright and extended background leads my attention away from it into the depth. Maybe a closer look might help, together with the use of some reflected light from the ground to brighten the face.

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