Gothic

'Media vita in morte sumus' [In the midst of life we are in death] is a concept that the builders of the great gothic cathedrals would have been very familiar with. The modern world likes to ignore it but the covid pandemic has been a forcible reminder. This image sums up that idea really well. It is a perfectly crafted image embodying the elements of life and death. The use of a gothic shaped gravestone is a neat touch. I liked the subtle use of desaturated colour and the well thought out composition. A clever and creative image. Congratulations on winning the Gothic contest.

In this day and age it is easy to forget that one of the key defining principles of gothic architecture was to admit light; the light of heaven, and to create open spaces in contrast to the dark interiors of the thick walled low roofed Romanesque buildings that went before. This image really demonstrates how gothic architects used the new form to admit light and create a sense of space. As an image it has been beautifully edited and processed into black and white, enabling us to appreciate the sublime beauty of the style. Congratulations on gaining 5th place in the Gothic contest.

This is an interesting and nicely composed take on a more modern interpretaion of gothic. You have creatively alluded to the themes of death and vampires without overemphasising them. A colourful moon and a fiery sky make for good supporting elements. Congratulations on gaining 9th place in the Gothic contest.

This image was another for me that expresses the medieval gothic use of light and space within the context of a religious building. Whilst the viewpoint is fairly standard for a cathedral I liked the way that you have captured and accentuated the light, and used areas of shadow to give depth to the image. I also particularly liked the slightly subdued colour of the image which enables more of the details to be seen. Congratulations on gaining 7th place in the Gothic contest.

This image illustrates the great achievement of medieval architects and masons in creating large and light spaces for the religious and lay congregations of the period. Your image shows the relatively slender proportions of the columns and the pointed arches which allowed for greater spans. We see also the fan vaulting which emabled the masons to create stone soffits; fires in the timber roofs of Romanesque churches and cathedrals being a major problem. Being very picky it would be good to remove the edge distraction just above the lower right corner. Congratulations on gaining 10th place in the Gothic contest.

An interesting and imaginative twist on the modern ideas of gothic and its connection with Bram Stokers Vampire story. I liked the composition and the way you have made the bat crossing the edge of the moon the area of greatest contrrast to which the eye naturally gravitates. Whilst Europeans would likely have chosen a gothic style building as a supporting element, you have used what was available to you. For me the sharply pointed leaves of the plant are a symbolic echo of the lancet window so often found in gothic buildings. Congratulations on gaining 4th place in the Gothic contest.

A terrific portrait of a model in a modern gothic style. Although modern goths tend to embrace black clothes and accessories for the most part, here there is a nice balance between the lighter and darker elements of the image. Focus on the eyes is spot on and it's one of those images where the models eyes seem to follow the viewer. There are nice catchlights too. Lighting is generally good since there has to be enough to bring out the shapes and textures of the wings of the headress but not so much as to blow out the highlights. Congratulations on gaining 3rd place in the Gothic contest.

This is a very nicely captured image of a devotional sculpture. As well as the introduction of a radical new style of architecture, the medieval gothic period saw the re-introduction of life like sculptures. Sculptures had largely disappeared with the fall of the Roman empire but were brought back by architects and masons in the 12th century. Gothic architecture created numerous niches and other locations where sculptures and statues could be placed, to illustrate religious teachings, encourage devotion and commemorate benefactors. I liked the point of view of the image and the subtle use of light which separates the figures from the background. It is very nicely processed in black and white, enabling the textures and details to be seen. Congratulations on gaining 8th place in the Gothic contest.