This is a very nice example of ‘street photography’, a genre that particularly benefits from being shot in black and white. There’s lots to appreciate here. The person walking by adds a point of interest and has been well-timed for the shadow to fall into the bright area in the foreground. I also like the patterns being reflected onto the pavement and love the way the building tapers away into a deep black sky.
As dark nights set in, vehicle light trails are a great subject for some creative low-light photography. As with most night photography, it works best when the sky is still blue rather than completely black. This example is one of the best I’ve ever seen. The curved road leads you in and through the picture, while the atmospheric mist adds another layer of interest.
This is a great capture of what is probably one of the hardest fields of photography to do really well - wildlife. For a grab shot, it’s sharp and well exposed, something that such a contrasty scene can cause problems with. However, what makes this image really stand out is the neatly balanced reflection and record of unusual animal behaviour.
This superb shot displays many of the qualities required to produce a memorable image. It is expertly framed and has a clear focal point that also provides the sense of scale. The high-key B&W effect works brilliantly for this scene, with the shadows subtly revealing some leading lines and giving the image an abstract quality.
In terms of fulfilling the brief in an imaginative way, this wonderful image just ticks all the boxes. Not only do we have the curves theme in the model’s body and pose, but it’s also reflected in the composition and clever lighting. The B&W treatment adds to the overall graphic effect by focusing the viewer’s attention on the shapes that have been created.
One sure-fire way to make your work stand out is to approach a theme from an angle that no one else may have thought of, such as with this example. Aside from demonstrating a high degree of post-processing expertise, this is a rather clever idea that has been pulled off magnificently. I can just imagine the thought and pre-planning that have gone into visualising the end result before the shot has been taken.
From the many outstanding architecture images submitted fro this competition this one particularly appealed to me. The use of a fisheye lens has accentuated the curves from the straight lines to make an image that leads your eye around the scene. I really like the bright areas too as they add a sense of depth.
Out of the dozens of outstanding images of spiral staircases entered for this competition, this one just edges it for me. While all made great use of the architectural symmetry and leading lines, what particularly appealed to me with this one was the warmth of the colours, the texture of the stairs and walls, and the delicate balance between the shadows and highlights.
This wonderful still-life image achieves what all photographs should aim to do: immediately grab your attention. Despite its apparent simplicity, this is a clever idea that works effectively due to its thoughtful composition and brilliantly executed lighting that falls off from the centre, creating a strong vignette effect that draws the eye to the centre.
6,369 Images entered
2,949 Photographers
276,366 Ratings
Brief
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This celebration of the not-straight is your excuse for many photowalks in the coming weeks. Curves are everywhere, but interesting and exciting imagery of them is not necessarily. Here is your challenge! Leave no stone unturned in your quest, and make sure to take some pictures of the stones whilst you’re at it.
Meet the expert judge
I love the way that telephoto lenses compress the subject and create a wonderful bokeh when used at close quarters. This example stands out particularly for me. The way the foreground vegetation blends beautifully into the blue background of the ocean, with the pin-sharp Gannet positioned nicely just off-centre, is superb.
The bright colours and warm light just pop in this image, with the composition making it almost abstract. There are leading lines everywhere, drawing you into the lone person, which works well as a focal point. The architectural framework does just enough to prevent the sunset from totally overpowering the scene.
