Celebration

While technically proficient with good composition and taken in the context of a wedding, this image feels more like a product shot for the shoes rather than one which communicates the notion of celebration. How much more engaging it could have been to see some adult hands helping a child to fasten their buckles with the two of them interacting in a close and loving way. This image lacks emotion which is the backbone of what it means to celebrate.

This image is on the edge literally and metapahorically as it's not clear if this group of cheery cyclists is saying hi to the camera or celebrating something more significant. While it's a lovely representation of friendship and team spirit, the huge overpowering mountain in the background would seem like an obstacle yet to be conquered. For this to have a stronger message of celebration, it would have been important for us, the viewer, to have a clearer sense of what adversity they have overcome - the terrain, the height, the remoteness, etc., and for the people to be connecting with this awesome moment as much as the camera.

This image just missed the top 10 by a whisker! It's classic in every way - a timeless and universal way to represent graduation with a grandiose background to boot. The strength of this image lies in the fact that the photographer has managed to find the angle and moment when the optimal number of mortar boards could possibly be seen in full flight. Often with images such as this, this crucial moment is missed with the graduates' expressions more focused on catching them than flinging them into the air with abandonment. At other times there may be only a few people in the frame repeating the action that had happened moments earlier, creating a less believable moment.

This is great fun... it immediately stood out as being different and original from all of the wedding images submitted for this competition. I like the fact that it is black and white, simplifying and enhancing the already strongly graphic shot. The photographer has really captured the spirit of the day and wonderfully mischievous moment happening behind closed doors. The fact that they all have their back to the camera helps us to focus on the unique moment rather than the characters who may well have found it difficult not to muck about in front of the camera, though this too might have been a winning shot!

This was by far the strongest of the firework images entered into this competition. The photographer has perfectly combined the mesmerised crowd with the explosive energy of the fireworks by choosing a low viewpoint. The couple embracing peacefully in the centre of the image contrasts nicely with the energy of the explosions above. I rather like the fact that there is some movement and blur in the light trails which helps to soften the mood and reminds us of the transient wonder of the moment.

While not a conventional interpretation of celebration, this image contrasts nicely to the many that usually capture the energy and fun of a ceremony or festival. This one takes us to a very peaceful moment of connection between people. There's a huge sense of mystery surrounding the circumstances of the ritual leaving us to create our own interpretation of what is going on. I like the overall balanced lighting of the room combined with the strong sunlight adding further quiet drama to the situation with the elongated, enigmatic shadows.

There's a stillness in this image that is captivating. Children love to dress up and celebration seems to come naturally to them. The look of wonderment and quiet concentration of this girl, emphasised by the close crop, upward-looking wide eyes and strong composition tell us little other than her fascination for something at that moment during the occasion. The negative space with the trees out of focus in the background to the right hand side helps to isolate the subject from her surroundings, further emphasising her moment of revery.

This is a great picture, full of exuberance and fun. It's an immediate winner having captured the celebratory moment perfectly. The composition is very strong with the action centrally placed, yet the balance of people perfectly weighted to one side to that the viewer feels part of the festivities and jollity. Every person's face shows wonder and engagement and the athletic activity is further enhanced by a sense of movement. I might have been tempted to crop out the rucksac to keep the focus on the performance.

This is a great moment to have captured - sheer delight and joy in the woman's face and body gesture. Her wide eyes, open smiling mouth and wide welcoming arms combined with her colourful clothing absolutely communicate her own personal moment of celebratory enjoyment. It is more common to capture off moments like this with eyes half shut, the mouth in an awkward position and/or other distracting elements creeping into the shot which can lead to a very average snap. To strengthen the image further, I would suggest cropping out a sliver from the left hand side to remove the woman in the background looking towards us and minimising the other woman's swishing hair.

I liked this image for its enigmatic, peaceful and very personal interpretation of celebration. A world away from cheering crowds, loud music and confetti, this beautifully composed and lit image is quiet and spiritual in its recognition and rememberance of natural wonder. To have captured so many key astronomical elements in one image and to have such a wide spectrum of colours in the sky is a feat in itself. The artificially lit boad houses add a certain mystery to the image, and the fact that it was taken at dawn on Christmas Eve brings a further narrative dimension to the image.

Of all the sports-related images entered into this competition, I felt this was the strongest as it captures the classic body language of both those celebrating the win and those suffering defeat. The photographer has used a long lens to take us into the claustrophobic competitive environment, rendering out of focus the potentially distracting audience and instead taking right into the action where we can experience both contrasting emotions at the same time. A well considered composition and rare event to have captured.

This image fits the classic notion of a festive and jovial celebration very well - colourful, lots of smiles , energy and optimism written all over the subjects' faces. In addition to a strong composition and good light, the photographer has managed to separate the performers from the rest of the parade and audience and at the same time capture the moment where we can see both faces with positive and engaging expressions. This type of image is harder to capture than one might imagine as there are endless distracting elements which can get in the way of a strong picture. In an ideal world we'd have seen a little more of the flag billowing on the right hand side.

I can see what the photographer was trying to convey by isolating a festive object, but in the end it remains a rather sad image. There is no sparkle, happiness or joy emanating from the hat; the context is missing. A still liffe subject has to be lit and located such that it becomes more than the sum of its parts, otherwise we are left with a very descriptive picture. The background building is harsh and not in keeping with Christmas cheer with the black wire further distracting our eye as it cuts through the picture.

This image stopped me in my tracks. It has a simplicity and enigmatic quality to it that I found both intrigueing and unsettling... in a positive way! Unfortunately, however, I simply couldn't see how this it could be construed as a representation of celebration. The rather dour lighting doesn't elevate it into the realms of ceremony, festivity or rememberance however laterally I tried to view it. That said, its strength lies elsewhere and could have been more suited to notions of memory, urbanisation, threat, power and comfort amongst others.

This is a lovely representation of Christmas spirit and anticipation with the gold and red really tapping into our notions of luxury. I like the differential focus and interference in the foreground on the right hand side achieved by shooting through a glass using a long lens which additionally helping to give us the intimacy of 'being there' ourselves. With an image such as this, the focus (in this case the spoon and edge of the cracker) needs to be pin sharp, which unfortunately isn't quite the case.