Flooding

There is a beauty in the simplicity of this image, enhanced by the absence of colour. The unusual circumstances of flood water and time of year have provided the opportunity to capture this wonderful reflection, which has been accomplished in a masterful way. The fortuitous rise and fall of the tree-line gives it a pleasing balance with the peak being placed 2/3 of the way across.

This is a fine documentary shot of how ordinary people continue their lives in spite of difficulty. It’s an interesting display of how some adapt to overcome adversity without apparent regard for safety (or overloading a truck). I wonder what “H&S” would have to say about this?

I love the dreamy Autumnal colours in this image and the way that the ripples in the water provide a surreal effect in the reflection. The gate provides a central focus, from which the eye can wander to enjoy the other elements of this scene and finally to wonder about the depth of the water and where the path through the gate may lead… Well done and thank you for submitting such a wonderful image.

I like a bit of humour and floodwater often provides an image like this, with a sign incongruously surrounded by water. The red and yellow are intended to catch the eye and they draw attention to the danger of swimming here. If there was any doubt, the capture of the violent current should confirm such danger. In the meantime, we can chuckle that it was even considered necessary.

As if the sign needed to say so, the dangers are self-evident! I like a bit of humour and scenes like this often deliver – providing you have a camera to hand to capture the occasion. I was bemused by the image of a man with four arms falling from a pole. It goes to show that that images and symbols do not always convey the same meaning to everyone. The words clarify any ambiguity, provided that you understand English, of course.

I’d like to thank everyone who submitted an entry to this contest about flooding. It encouraged a wide range of interesting aspects, from dramatic through humorous and even the beautiful. I’ve tried to select from that full range, not necessarily the best in pure photographical terms but those that I felt captured the brief in an interesting way. The standard was very high, considering that the weather may not have been particularly favourable in many cases. The selection of my top ten was a lengthy but enjoyable process and here are the results.

I love the simplicity of my first choice, and even the central placement of a partially submerged gate. The chance discovery of the pleasing angles provided by the propped-up gate and its complementary reflection has been beautifully captured. Given time to view it, there are subtle colours, grain and ripples to explore within what, at first, appears to be a rather glum shot of part of a boundary. It stood out sufficiently for me to rise above the others. Congratulations, and Well Done!

I like the gentleman to the right, looking to assess the situation whilst consuming a snack while he waits. This invites you to guess the story behind the shot, although the title gives you a hint. There’s plenty of detail here, and plenty to set you thinking. Good shots should do that and that’s why it reached my Top Ten.

I love the documentary style of this image. I tend to avoid a portrait crop for my images but this one lends itself to a vertical aspect. The wake of the motorbike’s passage along a flooded street draws you to look ahead to where it’s going. Life must go on and this scene almost looks ‘normal’ for those involved. A great example of how others can adapt.

The rain-splattered windscreen helps to add atmosphere to this image. A moment in time well-captured by the passenger in this car, showing water spray from an on-coming vehicle. It’s wet! The greyness of it all suggests that this would have been time better spent where it’s nice and dry but at least it provided the opportunity to capture memories of an important journey for later.

I was taken by the colour of the Abbey in this water-scape image. Even the sky has interest, whilst the fencing encourages the viewer to scan the full breadth of the scene whist considering where the waterline might usually be. Rather than devastation, here, the flood water has added calmness and beauty to the occasion to provide a lovely shot.

I like this shot because it has captured almost everything I associate with flooding. The grey skies hint of the recent wey weather, whilst the water level is clearly above what was expected when the property was constructed. The depth gauge also the degree of flooding at that time (although the unit of measure is uncertain). A great documentary record.

I expected shots like this, so was not disappointed. The image is taken from a viewpoint that enables us to enjoy the scene without getting wet, and then to consider where the natural water-line may have been. The inclusion of the seat provides focus and a good reference point from which to observe the differences on other occasions. A good piece of documentary evidence. I’d like to see this scene on a Summer’s day. That’s what the seat is for, of course.

This wasn’t exactly the kind of flooding I had expected but it’s a stark reminder of the precarious state of Venice as it sinks slowly into a rising sea. The square is usually full of Pigeons, but none at this time. As I admire the architecture (and the people who seem to be taking it all in their stride) I wonder if the Pigeons may be replaced by Gulls in time or will it start sinking more rapidly? This is a very photogenic area, but the presence of floodwater has provided a special addition.

This is a nicely composed image which addresses the brief well. I like the view through the bridge arch which completes the setting. The focus on the seats in the foreground alerts the viewer to the unusual circumstances with the grey skies behind threatening the level with even more rain.

This is a great aerial shot. It documents the extent of widespread flooding around a farm. There’s not much else to see, but water and field boundaries. It’s a fascinating, map-like scene. You can assume a road or track running across the centre, study the detail in the leafless trees and even discover a string of telegraph poles (going somewhere). The subtle colours lift it another notch.

I love the story behind this image: A couple of walkers trying to make their way across a partially flooded field. Floods do not need to be deep or raging to make their presence felt. What had been an easy stroll across a pleasant landscape has been blocked by a challenging body of water. I hope they complete their intended journey but I fear damp socks as a consequence. (- Please don’t tell me that the photograph was taken from an adjacent bridge !-)

Flooding in towns with rivers is becoming more frequent an experience and this image captures an example. There is no drama here, but an uneasy tranquilness. As we ‘manage’ our landscape to suit other purposes, we seem to simply push the problem from one place to another! This is a problem that I fear is not about to go away.

I’ve picked this image because it portrays the typical consequence of unwelcome floods so well: Mud and the cleaning-up. The colourful brush heads draw attention to this unenviable moment and there is an energy in the splashing water that adds emphasis to the scene. For my money, I’d have cropped the bottom and right-hand side a little, so that the action became more central. Never-the-less, it caught my eye and it portrays the impact of flooding very well indeed.

Bright colours draw attention, and that’s the intention behind this sign. What gives this image more interest is that it has been taken just at the moment the level was along the base of the lettering. Having had my attention drawn to it, I’m led to wonder what other wording might be below the water-line (“… unsuitable for drinking”, perhaps?) and why it is there? It is well-weathered, so would appear to be a permanent sign. A great capture.

This image brings home what flooding can mean. The houses could so easily belong to someone we know and also the vehicle. It is easy to imagine the discomfort and devastation created by flooding, especially if the waterline reached as high as the ‘tide-mark’ suggests. This is not the kind of situation you’d wish on anyone.