Looking down

This is a really good shot from a balloon. And there were loads of entries of shots from balloons. Just a photo of an amazing thing isn't enough (anyone can photograph a sunset), you have to go further with composition and content to make it special. And this photo does that. The combination of colours - brown and blue - contrast beautifully, compositionally where the road is, where the other balloons are, where the van is, how the whole thing is cropped - it's lovely. I like to think you waited and looked and seized a brilliant moment, I don't think it was pure fluke. Also, what's that crop circle-type-thing up in the left top corner?! Or is it a watermark?

There were a lot of shots taken from balloon rides in this competition. This one stood out because of it's striking composition and graphic plus the spectacular location. Compositionally, it works because of the very straight line of the basket, combined with the strong curvy line of the road and the strong crop - your eye travels through and around the photo. And the road occupies 'The Golden Section' - that classic phrase which describes composition using the two thirds rule. It's also the colours that work here: red and white with the black road. Those mountains look incredible, like crumpled fabric.

This is a powerful photo. I'm terrified for the man, and being a mother and someone who shoots on construction sites, I'm also cross that he's put himself in that position ! The more I look at it, the more scared and cross I am - is he incredible and brave and strong, or stupid?! I didn't award this in the top ten because it's a photo of an amazing thing, not an amazing photo. But I do credit the photographer and the model for getting to that position to take it. I have to assume the blue light was conveniently there, which really helps the photo zing a bit. Unlike lots of other entries, this does answer the brief of "Looking down" very well. The camera is looking down and so is the person in the shot. However, it's a shame his left hand isn't sharp (sorry to be picky !)

This is a lovely graphic with sharp and crisp shapes, movement and life. I want to know where they're going - which is a good quality in a photo - something to make you think, wonder or question. But (sorry there's a "but") I want to see it the right way round. The shadow is great but I think you can only flip a shadow if the subject of the shadow isn't in shot. Otherwise it's too visually confusing in my opinion.

I love this - it's simple but powerful. She's got purpose, she's wearing yellow which is great for this shot, she looks worried, she's probably late - so it's interesting. But - sorry for the but - I can't help thinking the shot would be a total winner if she'd been in a different place in the shot. I can't say where would have the right place - just before this exposure, just after, coming into shot, going out of shot, totally in the the grey area - I don't know. But, I do think the two subjects are conflicting too much. I'm being very picky, such is the high standard of entries to this competition. Nicely seen shot though.

This is a nice shot; not your standard holiday shot of the kids. The composition of the bridge, the boy, the sunrise and skyline are very strong together. He's really caught up in looking at the river, so it's a nice, real pose. I'm interested and I'm also feeling the cold! I see you did do some post processing but I'm also pleased to see that you didn't overdo it. I'm not a fan of over-processed photos where the shadows and highlights have so much detail; they look unrealistic and the odd contrast is distracting, This balance is nice and it's well composed.

I love this because it's a nicely composed moment in time. It stood out because of its unusual subject matter and its element of humour. The composition is strong; the higgeldy piggedly-ness of the chairs, they look like summer chairs in winter time; one blown over in a cold wind and the others huddled together like penguins. It's a moment in time that could be ruined any minute now - someone walks into it, leaving footprints, or it starts to melt, messing with the virgin snow. It's a nicely seen shot, it interested me and made me smile - well done !

This is eye catching, that's for sure. Like I've said elsewhere, being a mother and a commercial photographer, I'm cross that you put yourself in such danger. Sorry for my middle aged attitude but if you fall, that's a lot of people who'll be upset - friends and family aside, all the people on the scene who witness it, the building owners, occupiers, the security downstairs etc.

All that upset for a selfie photo.

For a selfie it's great, but I can't encourage this trend for danger photography and that's why it doesn't get a prize. It is however a better example of the current trend of 'look at me doing an amazing thing' photo - a good shot and a very impressive thing to do.

It could have been improved by straightening it up so the blue frame is absolutely square and centred, if you have Photoshop. As it's a selfie, it's completely forgivable that you didn't get it bang on at the shoot, and so it's fine just to tweak it afterwards in Photoshop.

Don't do it again!

I have to admit to liking tilt focus shots and this one did jump out at me. I wonder if this is done in Photoshop or if you used a tilt shift lens? The technique makes things look like they're in miniature and focus the attention. A blurred foreground by it's very nature, makes you look into the shot, into the scene. And it's a nice quaint english town scene, that's dominated by the pattern of roofs without too much road and car. It's beautiful without being too pretty, a nice viewpoint.

I love this. It's reminiscent of documentary photgoraphy of the 1930s. I can't explain why; it's not just the black and white. This is a very striking image, and completely answers the brief. She's placed nicely in the frame, there's enough city to not detract from her, the contrast is nice and strong and I like seeing through the little gaps under the big window - but I really don't like the watermarked logo in the photo. I'm all for protected rights of photos -I earn a living by it - but my advice would be that if you're entering an online photography competition, one which doesn't involve any rights grabbing (like here at Photocrowd), please don't watermark them.

Great photo, though.

This is an interesting view of the skyline of London because it's a little odd and odd is good - it makes you want to look further. It would be nothing without the couple who are standing so perfectly, with perfect stances for the photo. You can tell it's not a Photoshop'd or manufactured scene, it was nicely seen and captured. I dare say in colour it doesn't work at all, but in black and white and high contrast, I think it works really nicely. It gets an award from me because it's different and interesting. However, I personally don't like seeing watermarks when judging. I'm all for protecting rights, but it's distracting.

This is a nicely composed shot. There's a symmetry and an asymmetry that works really well. Strong lines and a strong crop, colour and contrast, sharpness - all great. And it answers the brief very well. To improve it, I want to see something more interesting happening. There are some good people to see. I like the woman resting on the rail and looking over, and the guy using a mobile on the escalator. I wonder if it's inspired by Andreas Gursky?

If you could wait a few minutes, see what happens, things will change and there might be a better moment. It could be people doing just the right thing in the right place in shot, or perhaps the place might empty entirely for a moment, and that could be the shot. Keep looking for the perfect moment.

I've included this one in the reviews because there were a lot of entries like this - a bloke's trainers and the view below, aka 'here's me doing an amazing thing'. This is a better example of the style, presumably using a fish eye lens, which creates the curved earth effect which is really nice. It's nice to see the whole view and the horizon and the other skydiver is nicely placed between his legs. There's an element of humour with the battered trainers and there's just the right amount of leg compositionally. A great Facebook photo but not a great photo for those of us who don't know him. Imho.

At first glance, this is a great wildlife shot. To capture that moment, the piece of bread, all the birds in all those brilliant positions, all looking at the bread, and all sharp and in focus. It almost looks choreographed; the birds are so well placed in relation to each other! Brilliant! But I didn't award it a higher prize because it looks too Photoshopped, too processed. I can't quite put my finger on it - have you Photoshopped the background sky in? Great shot, though.

I like this because it's different. It's a story; a discarded bit of book (where's the rest of it?), the cigarette stub... it makes me wonder.

After a lot of 'this is me doing an amazing thing' photos; views from aeroplanes, hot air balloons etc, this is more interesting, a nicely seen moment on the street. It's the opposite of the other photos - there's no glamour in a dirty pavement. But, there is this lovely photo. The focus is nice, it looks like a wide open lens, with just enough sharp. Keep doing it.