Industrial and Commercial Architecture Exteriors

It can often be very difficult when photographing some buildings to find an interesting or creative viewpoint which makes an image just that little bit different and gives it that edge. Here however, by peering up through a natural frame created by some of the structure closer to the ground, we get a wonderful view of the looming towers. All the different contrasts work well; deep shadow areas and bright daylight; smooth curves, angles and straight lines; bold colour contrasts of yellow and blue. Great image, congratulations on your second place finish.

There were many entries in this contest of the rather iconic Lloyd's of London insurance building, but this was my favourite. What I especially like is the level of detail which has been captured. Photographically very well executed with regard to focus, composition, exposure etc, and the black and white conversion has been done well too. The use of the extreme wide angle gives an exaggerated perspective which works well with a subject and viewpoint such as this. Congratulations on your third place finish.

There is something about this image which I love, but find it quite difficult to exactly put my finger on. Typical architecture of the art deco era, when the increase in trips to the seaside would no doubt have made this promendae cafe rather exotic, some way away from the mood of the day when your image was captured. With the limited colour palette and low saturation, the image is dreary and rather mundane (in a good way!), but the signs on the outside of the building tempt us to the delights within. The slightly wider viewpoint gives some context to the setting as we see some of the promendae stretching beyond. Great image, well done on your top ten placing.

What I really like here is the contrast between the gentle curves of the foreground architecture and the straight lines of the building beyond. Great viewpoint, using the curved structure to semi-frame the main subject. Conversion to black and white has been done very well with a good range of tones from black through to white. Being picky, it is a shame tbe curve on tbe upper left is cut into, but still a great image. Well done on your top ten placing.

I really like the simple graphics and abstract nature of this image, with no gimmicks or fancy processing effects, just a well composed and well executed image. The contrast between the blue sky and the orange of the building works really well, and by retaining the underside of the jutting architecture as darker shadow areas, we get more of a sense of blocks and shapes to add to the abstract feel. The subject has been well placed within the frame, with just enough space (and equal amounts of space) between the corners of the building and the edges of the frame. Simple but very effective, well done on your top ten placing.

There were quite a number of night time shots in this contest, but sadly many of them tended to hide the architecture under the cover of darkness, so the subject could not easily be seen. Here however we see an industrial plant, captured at night, but with sufficient illumination to have a good view of the subject. The black and white conversion has been especially well done, with great tones and contrasts. The long exposure time has attractively softened the surface of the water, and the narrow aperture has created the lovely starburst effect around the lamps which brings some sparkle to the shot. Great image, well done on your top ten placing.

For such as static subject, your image creates much fluidity and dynamism through use of an extreme wide angle lens and a creative viewpoint. By taking a viewpoint so close to the building has enabled the building itself to become the foreground, and the viewers eye is dragged around the curves into the image and to the top of the tower. Geometry was never a strong point of mine, but I wonder if there is a fibonacci spiral at work here, which aids the dynamic of the shot? What I also like is that the image looks quite natural, with no special processing effects looking to have been added, just a very well executed photographic image. Congratulations on your winning image.

The use of heavy editing on an image is not to everyone's taste, but when well executed and done in a way that is not immediately obvious, I think there is a clear place for such "art". The applied effects here are very successful, especially in an architectural image, as it has stripped away any distractions and places the entire focus on the lines and form of the building. Everything is in clear focus with the lines clean and sharp, adding an abstract feel to the shot. Well done on your top ten placing.

The design of some Travelodge hotels is often criticised as unimaginative and bland, but as you have demonstrated here, they can make a great photographic subject. I was initially puzzled by the figure, but assume it is a statue? I especially like the perspective which is directly head on to the building, and you have been careful to make sure the verticals and horizontals are perfect, which I think is important to the success of a graphic image such as this. Nicely contrasting colours of the Travelodge livery, I also like that you have included part of the tree which brings a little softness to the shot. Well done on your top ten placing.

A captivating image with a viewpoint which gives a strong dynamic to the shot, set off by the upper lamp protruding into the sky to break up the empty space. I like the inclusion of the hotel sign which gives context, and especially in a contest theme such as this, to confirm the purpose of the building as being a commercial one. The image looks to have been fairly heavily but creatively edited post-capture but it has been well done and gives a certain feel to the shot which compliments the overall composition. The selection of colours is harmonious and the night-time effect also works well. A creative architectural image, well done on your top ten placing.