Corners

A simple subject which few would think to capture, but for me this is a great image, all the more so by the appreciation of the mundane and that the showy and exotic locations are not an essential requirement to get a good shot. The paving and cobbles look to be wet, giving a lovely gleam to the surfaces, without being over-bright. Well composed, with the lines dragging the eye into the image, passing the street corners on the way to the back of the frame. The filters used in editing have been appropriately applied, as a bleach bypass filter will not suit every subject, but here it adds to the image. You have avoided any temptation to ramp up the saturation on the yellow lines, instead leaving the yellow rich and bold, but not over dominant. Great image, well done on your top ten placing.

There is a beautiful naturalness about this image. From the composition, to capturing 'the moment' as the little girl hurtles into the frame, nothing looks staged or forced. The image is full of atmosphere, and the shot of the corner, getting a little view up the streets in two directions gives a real sense of the place. The tones and colours are lovely, and the processing has been done very effectively. The inclusion of the three figures gives good balance, but the star of the show remains the young girl, looking to be in her school uniform with her skirt billowing out, matching the exhuberance of her gleeful running. Congratulations on your winning image.

This is a rather iconic location in London for architectural potography, and this image shows why. There is such wonderful contrast in angles and so many shapes and lines that it takes a skilled eye to not become overwhelmed by the architecture, and instead compose the shot to use these components to best effect. What I especially like in this image are the tones and hues, with the rather muted colour palette emphasising the textures and structure of the architecture, especially the reflective surfaces, which have been captured with a soft glow rather than a harsh glare. The inclusion of the two pairs of people gives a sense of scale and adds life to the shot. Great work, well done on your top ten placing.

There were understandably a number of entries in this contest which were captured from a corner of some cathedral cloisters, but this one really stood out for me. There is an HDR look, but it is not over-done. What I especially like is the rich tones which add to the splendour of the setting and the magnificent architecture. The wide angle lens has been well utilised, as we have an extensive views both from floor to ceiling and down the two corridors. Care has been taken however, likely through a combination of camera angle and angle correction in editing, to avoid distortion of uprights which could mar a shot such as this and detract from the fine structures. Well done on your top ten placing.

I love the simplicity of this image, which is minimal by its subject and composition, but has not been over-edited or processed in a way to try to falsely accentuate that minimalist effect. I was going to give credit for you crouching down into uncomfortable positions to shoot the subject from a chair-level viewpoint, but then read the image description which told that the chair was on a stairway landing! Credit however for appreciating that the viewpoint for an image like this does matter, and you selected the correct step on which to stand to get your shot! The simple white and aqua colours are very effective, and the simplicity and naturalness have greal appeal. Well done on your top ten placing.

This image was in and out of my top ten a couple of times as I was undecided about the figue on the balcony, but eventually decided that was a key element of the composition and the image dererved to be placed. The composition of the image is very strong without looking forced. No elements are chopped off or too close to the edge of the frame, and all verticals and horizontals are true, which for me is key in a shot such as this. The slightly grungy processing suits the subject, and the blue shirt of the figure contrasts nicely with the yellow on the building. Well done on your top ten placing.

What I especially like about this image is the look of discord created by the frame being virtually split in half by the different architecture, and the sense of two photos in one The high contrast lighting helps create that look, along with the viewpoint, but the shadows have been lifted just enough to allow some detail to be seen in those much darker areas. Exposure has also been handled well to prevent the white walls under direct sunlight from becoming blown out and featureless. It is the sort of image that needs time to be really appreciated, and the more I look, the more there is to see. Congratulations on your third place finish.

It is not until positioned appropriately and looking directly upwards that the potential for, and success of images such as this can be realised, and that can take a lot of sore necks and dizzying head tilts before 'the' shot is found. Everything is spot on here in my opinion, from the architecture, the viewpoint, the sky etc. I especially like the inclusion of the cable and lamp, which links the structures diagonally and gives a sense of reality to the scene, and indicates we are at a real junction, and not looking up at four random buildings stitched together in post-processing. The clear blue sky works well here, as it provides a plain backdrop to allow the contrasting earthy golden hues of the buildings to really stand out. Lighting is never easy when shooting in such contrasty conditions as found amongst high buildings on bright days, but the facades of the buildings in shade have been lifted sufficiently to expose all their colour and detail. Great work, well done on your top ten placing.

Such as simple image on one level, but the longer the image is viewed, the more there is to see and appreciate. Initially what drew my attention was the capture of the lighting, with the pools of golden light spilling around the corners of the gallery walls, illuminating the floor and picking out the form of the middle corner, and creating a mood of mystery and intrigue. Beyond the lighting, the image looks to have been very carefully composed, with the view through the gap of the nearest walls being lined up carefully with the structures beyond. The verticals are true, which adds to the impact of the image, and even as I am writing this review, the image is moving up the placings, as the closer I look the more I appreciate the subtlties of the image. Congratulation on your second place finish.

The second image in my top ten from this London location, this time captured from a higher vantage point and displaying an entirely different mood. Captured at night, the glow of the lights brings a great feel to the shot. There is good balance in the lighting, as neither the darkness or the artificial lights dominate, and even the little strip of sky beyond the far building has retained some light, which gives further depth to the scene, rather than the distant view being blocked by blackness. The foreground structure has been well positioned in the composition to be both a key feature, but avoids blocking the view beyond, instead acting as a frame for the shapes and patterns in the rest of the scene. Great work, well done on your top ten placing.