Food and drink

This flash-lit meal gives the viewer a slightly unglamorous yet intriguing insight into the world of fast food. The crude finish has the feel of a Martin Parr or William Eggleston shot. The arrangement of the items, including the opened salt and pepper cases on the bare table, all add to the final result. The bold block colours in the image work well, and the simple shapes of the burger and other items teamed together are highlighted from the top-down view. This quirky entry deserves our third-place spot.

It just goes to show what you can get using an everyday, mundane object and a little creativity! This patterned take on our food and drink theme is a well deserved winner. The black-and-white finish eliminates any distractions, so we can focus on the structure and texture of the bags. The final exposure is well-lit, and the detail is sharp. To finish, the square one-to-one ratio crop works well, and the straight-down bird’s eye view highlights the well-constructed repetitive pattern.

It’s possible to shoot both action and still life at the same time, as our second-place entry shows. Technically this image has been executed to a high standard, and the blurred soft background frames up the sharp action splash nicely. The spray from the glass is evenly distributed, and the bokeh water droplets scattered around the frame add interest. The photographer has used the casting golden light well, and the warm colours in the image make you feel as if you are there on a hot summer’s day! A worthy runner-up.