A Single Flame

I like the concept of the story behind this image. It appears, at first, to be a simple candle flame, perfectly captured in centre frame. But, on inspection, it gradually reveals the shape of the technology that replaced it. We have since moved on to other forms of lighting, which might not have been so easy to incorporate, but this version worked for me!

This is such a captivating idea. The title reinforces the subject of the flame but also hints at a more sinister element. At first glance the image looks like a portrait of a young woman but the flame quickly draws attention and becomes the subject. Not only is the camera looking at the flame but so, too, is the model. I like the way the light picks up the fringe of her red hair. The flame has been used to introduce someone who is saying, “Don’t mess with me!”

I’d like to thank all entrants to this Single Flame 🔥 contest. There were many different presentations of flames and most were the primary subject of the image, rather than an incidental presence. Not all could be squeezed into my Top Ten, but those that were close have been Highly Commended. I hope you enjoy reviewing them all as much as I did judging them.

Unsurprisingly, there were many submissions which included a match or a candle and I consider my first choice to be the best of them. There is no doubt that the subject is a single flame here and I agree with the title – it is indeed an “elegant flame”. This one even includes a hint of smoke, without distracting from the primary subject. Congratulations!

I’ve said, before, that the title of an image can elevate it that extra notch. Some titles are more subtle than others but, like a good image, they can be all the more rewarding when you discover a deeper meaning. No doubt this will have been wasted on some, but I got it! As for the image, I can’t fault that either. It had to be in my Top Ten.

This is a most creative idea, both the image and its title. The lit match appears to be sitting on a bed of dormant companions. An original still life (if a flame can be still). The subject may be as much the matchstick as its flame but the flame is an important part of the concept. It is so different from a simple ‘flame shot’. Thank you for stretching the brief a little and introducing some interest to what could have been a rather limited subject.

The stark difference between red and black helped to make this shot stand out. I liked the crisp focus on the flame and the melting wax. There is a delightful warm glow to it, which was exactly the kind of image I had in mind when setting up my contest. “A Single Flame” was the contest's title, and that’s exactly what’s been presented here. Well done!

What a gorgeous candle flame image! I love the faint glow reflected off the wall in the background. After all, the purpose of a candle flame is to shed light. The flame itself is captured in perfect detail and complete with a delightful whisp of smoke. Thank you for entering my “Single Flame” contest and congratulations on your second placing!

I picked this image out because of its excellence. The lighting is perfect, as is the pose. It is more of a portrait than the study of a candle but, then, the subject is doing just that! Ordinarily, I might have expected her to be holding a bed-time drink but the candle provides the suggestion of a light source and was necessary to fit my brief. I like the sepia tones, in keeping with the time that candles were used that way. The image itself conjures thoughts about the subject and what she may be thinking. That’s when one’s imagination can start to run wild… And that’s why I think it is so good.

I like the concept of this submission. It looks as if it might be a real-life photo rather than a composite but, either way, it’s a great idea. The red is striking (and a match struck?) which (together) made this stand out from the crowd. Not quite in my Top Ten, but very close. Hot stuff!

The flame in this image is the brightest component and it sits in the sweet spot of a rule of thirds composition. This is where my eye started its journey, to explore the rest of the image. It describes how light may have been used in darker times, without such information becoming a distraction. Then one can start to wonder about the subject being studied and the credentials of the owner of that hand, holding things steady. The image has a magical warmth, as well as shedding light on a story to consider.

I really liked this image because it is different from the majority. I like the diagonal alignment of the match heads and the fact that the one that’s alight fits with the rule of thirds, resulting in a balanced and interesting arrangement. Having paid so much care and thought into producing this work, it surprises me that you were not inspired enough during that process to provide it with a caption. The addition of a title, particularly an apt one, would have completed the job and elevated it to another level.

I always look at the title of an image (or picture) and this one, I felt, was most apt. Good candles should not emit smoke but I’ll forgive that in this composition. The curls of smoke add interest to what would otherwise be just a lit candle, and it’s that little extra that gained a Highly Commended.