Fruit and Vegetables

An interesting perspective looking down on these market stalls overflowing with wonderful fresh produce. You have captured so much detail it is a joy to spend time exploring the fascinating scene, comparing and contrasting the two opposing stalls. I can understand why the background edges look to have been darkened, as it helps isolate the produce to allow them to stand out, but I may have been tempted to allow a little more lightness at the sides to give a bit more context of the surroundings. Still a great image, well done on your top ten placing.

(Overall note on the contest judging: I have included in my judging food items commonly sold, cooked and eaten as fruit and vegetables, even if not everywhere technically classified as such. Eg. legumes such as peas, and fungi such as mushrooms) On to the winning image: A strong composition can be extremely difficult in any still-life, but when all you have to work with is three pears the task is all the more challenging. Here however you have achieved a lovely set up which gives a great balance to the shot which is very pleasing on the eye. Lighting has been well controlled and the backdrop selected mimics the tones and texture of the fruit. Congratulations on your winning image.

A beautiful still-life image which has been very carefully set up and well captured. There is a lovely balance to the composition and through careful placement of accessories such as the scissors angled in the basket, and the roll of twine, you have avoided any area being too blank, but at the same time the scene does not look over busy. The choice of background works really well, with the limited colour palette of soft browns nicely complimenting the natural green of the asparagus. Super image, well done on your top ten placing.

Anyone who has eaten rambutan will know the rather ugly appearance of the exterior of the fruit is in direct contrast to the smooth pearly interior and delicious flavour. Well executed photographically in relation to composition, lighting, focus etc. The capture of the textures is especially good. Lovely colour contrasts, bright without being over-saturated, and a background and base which is pleasing but does not dominate. Great image, well done on your top ten placing.

Peas in pods may not be the most showy of foods, but you have created a beautiful still-life image of this simple subject. Lighting is spot on, with what looks to be natural side-lighting creating shadows and highlights to reveal the form and texture of the peas and pods. Green can be a difficult colour to reproduce accurately in a photo, but colouring is natural and emphasises the freshness of the produce. Well balanced set up, with plenty of interest without being too fussy. Congratulations on your second place finish.

This is a very stylish but rather unusual still life image. In direct contrast to many classic compositions in the style of the Dutch masters, which can sometimes seem rather heavy and oppressive, here we have a wonderful airy lightness. The predominance of soft whites gives a lovely mood of calm, with the grapes providing the only colour and the main focal point. The slight crumples on the cloth add further softness and prevent the image looking too stark. Great work, well done on your top ten placing.

I imagine this was a set up shot rather than a candid grabbed capture in the street, but it is a great image of a small citrus fruit being delicately peeled. Composition and framing works well with the frame being filled by the subject, and the bright snaking tail of peel creating interest. Lovely lighting and natural colours too. I especially like the capture of the texture on the orange and skin. Well done on your top ten placing.

The beautiful dappled lighting was an immediate draw to this image. The warm sunlight shining through the translucent leaves is wonderful and creates a lovely mood. The composition works really well, with the pears nestled within the layers of hessian cloth. The main subject is in sharp focus, with the rest of the scene falling gently out of focus through the relatively shallow depth of field, which also helps create a delicate softness to the image. Congratulations on your third place finish.

There were a good number of entries showing prepared fruit and vegetables, but none looked more delicious to eat than this. Great set up and framing of the different elements; knowing where to place items crossing the edge of the frame is never easy, with just a fraction either way either making or breaking the shot. The colours are fantastic, bold and bright, but still natural, and contrasting nicely with the bluey-grey of the bowls. The addition of the fork, angled across the shot on a pleasing diagonal, is a perfect invitation to tuck in! Well done on your top ten placing.

What I especially like here is that there is so much detail for the eye to explore, all of which has been well captured. The hdr-style of image processing also accentuates the form and textures of these corns with their dried tops. The range of colours of the different corn is very photogenic and your capture has made the most of the display. Great work, well done on your top ten placing.