Blue

This is a really charming portrait of a young woman. The colours in the photo are fantastic, with the complementary combination of blues and yellows being particularly striking. The one thing that for me would improve the photo would have been if the woman had been looking directly at the camera. That would have created a stronger impression and connection with the subject. But, this perfection is often difficult to achieve in documentary/street photography!

One of the hardest tasks for a photographer is finding an original take on a familiar subject. This photo succeeds for me due to its unusual perspective on Helsinki's Sibelius Monument, a much-photographed piece. I particularly like the dynamism conveyed by the lines converging towards a vanishing point, and the way the metal of the pipes reflects the blue of the sky.

A touching, well-seen shot that captures a fleeting moment in time. What I particularly like about the photo is the use of blue. It would have all too tempting to shoot using a warmer white balance. However, by keeping the overall colour cool, I think this has far more atmosphere and emotion. It's possible to write your own story into the picture. It could even be a melancholy shot if you didn't know the circumstances behind the moment. (Has the child been separated from his parent, for example). A worthy winner on the theme of blue!

Timing on the part of the photographer is often key to success when photographing people. The timing of this shot is perfect, with the running figure in just the right part of the frame to add a sense of mystery to the image. The eye-line of the mother (?) helps to direct the viewer's gaze up to space where the moving figure is running to. The colour combination of blue and red is wonderful too. The rich colours adding a sumptuousness to the scene.

There are many things that contribute to this being a very successful photo. The focusing is perfect, complemented by the use of a very shallow depth of field. (The shallow DOF has both helped to simplify the background and focus attention on the subject.) The dominant cool blue of the background is also a great support to the yellows and reds of the butterfly, with the proportion of cool and warm being just right.