Homemade

Whether the bread was really Homemade or not may be open to question, but it was the pleasing colour tones that drew me to this entry. This is a simple image, nicely framed and in perfect focus. I like the addition of a few judiciously placed crumbs but would have offered a title of “Bread”, or even “Homemade Bread”, to maintain the simplicity of the image and become less documentary.

I had an open mind regarding the subject matter when I set the brief for this contest but I had hoped for something less than perfect (although I’m not describing the photography now) and my first choice is one that “ticked that particular box”. How could this vibrant shot not turn a head? Whoever made this bench did so with love and care and, although their carpentry skills might leave something to desire, they certainly had an artistic flair! The photo is well composed and retains enough of the background to set the scene (proudly presented in a garden for everyone to enjoy). A great subject that stood out from the crowd. Congratulations on gaining my first choice!

I could spend more time studying this image, as it exudes “homemade-ness”. The contrasting colours help to make it stand out and, no doubt, why the image was captured. A little more preparation before taking the shot and care to include both corners of the blanket would have improved it more.

I enjoyed the matching tones of this image, the background blending well with the knitted items on display. The items have been laid out in a balanced way and with a considered crop. I like the detail captured in the stitching, enough to appreciate the care taken in their making.

I love this portrait of a potter in his studio. The detail is remarkable and I like the presence of clay and thrown items in the background to complete the scene. Somehow, I felt that the setting was not typical of a “home” pottery and the absence of a title dissuaded me from giving this the commendation it would otherwise deserve.

This image caught my imagination as I dwelt on its content. I’m fascinated by how a ‘T’-shirt can be made into a suitable yarn to crochet with, and was left wondering about their original colour (or even if they had been washed). Without the descriptive title, I would easily have overlooked this one. Thank you for completing the picture with a descriptive title.

Food was bound to be a common subject for a “homemade” contest. Fresh subjects appear every day of the week with a little more effort being taken on special occasions. As the home setting blurs into the background the centre stage should shout “Eat me!” – and it does. A tasty shot!

I loved the simplicity of this image and the fact that it was still in the process of being knitted when captured. There is a story on offer, either to be given by a proud Grandmother or to be imagined by the viewer. My only hope is that the photography did not delay things for too long, such that the grandson had already out-grown them!

A good image must attract the eye and then occupy the mind to succeed. The vibrant colours certainly caught my eye and then I started to inspect the work in the two items on display. This is nicely set out on a reflective surface, nicely balanced and nicely cropped. I also liked the fact that you had included a crochet hook to complete the documentary. Maybe the pink ball was still attached to the workpiece? If not, I’d have tried swapping it with the red one to break up the colours. This is a crisp and pleasing image.

study, with its vignetting, is complemented well with the slender white surround. This is a lovely study of hands at work. I would try to find a little more contrast in the item being created, however, as I feel that the focus is more on the hands. A very pretty picture.

Ha! The smell of homemade bread baking is hard to beat (but hard to capture). Here we have a shot of a finished loaf being removed from a breadmaker. The focus is on the tasty crust (it has risen well) but there is enough of the surroundings (including the glimpse of a hand and protective holder) to see what is going on. Thank you for submitting what might otherwise seem a mundane image and conveying the wonderful smell of fresh bread!

You have taken time to compose this portrait of an older model maker and his pieces around him to set an interesting scene. I am led to wonder what the quizzical look on the model maker’s face was for. Perhaps he had found a piece left over and was wondering where it should have gone? A good piece of story-telling!

I do believe I can taste this cake, although I suspect it has long-since been devoured! To me, this is a most credible image of something homemade. It may not be perfect, but I can’t imagine anyone refusing a slice. Whilst the cake is the clear subject of this image, there are hints of the occasion to be deciphered in the background, giving the viewer plenty to think about.

What could be more “Homemade” than a pot of Marmalade? Well done or being spot-on for the brief. Most households must surely have made a preserve at some time and this image captures that moment well. The orange is a nice reminder of the prime ingredient whilst balancing the dimensions of the image (I almost always shoot in landscape, myself, and vertical images can be a challenge in that format). The orange’s colour adds extra ‘zing’ to the picture and I guess there was plenty of that in the jar. (- I don’t suppose there’s any left ?-)

This is a fine image from a home-made preservative competition, so clearly very much on brief. A crisp and interesting shot. I am left wondering of the different classifications, the number of runners-up and so much more. A good shot need not tell you everything but does need to occupy the mind as you study it, and I studied this one a lot.

This is such a charming little Chappie that I’m not surprised you felt the need to capture it. You have done it justice, though. The lighting sets it off perfectly against the black background and the pose suggests there could be more to the situation than the simple title suggests. The doll appears to have been skilfully produced, yet retains a degree of primitiveness that I like to find in a homemade item. Congratulations to its maker as well as yourself; they are both beautiful creations. Will anyone be allowed to play with him now, I wonder?

I was struck by these leg-less fellas, largely because of their colourful clothing. Credit should be given to their creator for that, but the photography is also good: There is plenty of detail to entertain the eye and the result has been cropped well. I’m left wondering what may be inside them.

Both the piece of work and the image of it are ones to be proud of. I might easily have passed over this, had it not been for the artistic flow of the brim and its gorgeous colouring. You clearly have artistic talent. The item did not have to have been made by yourself, though, my commendation is for the quality of your photograph.

This vibrant shot cannot fail to be noticed. I like the sentiment in the title – this is exactly what is behind a homemade item. Having caught my attention, I am left wondering what it is, what it’s made from and how large it is? There seem to be symbols on a label which indicate something. An intriguing item and a lovely shot.

Anyone who loves chocolate is likely to be drawn towards this image. Even the colour palette is chocolatey! There is plenty of detail to ‘chew over’ (although I’m sure that this product would melt in my mouth) and it has an almost dreamy quality about it as focus drifts from the cake. If this is of your own hand, I can imagine the quality to be as good as your photography and that it would be well worth my trouble to visit next time you're baking!