Made from Plastic

Who would have thought a stack of rawl plugs could create such an interesting image?! This is such a simple subject which few would consider photographing, but their potential for a photographic subject has obviously caught your eye. The bold colours draw attention to the image, and the central division between the smaller yellow and larger red wall plugs works well. Focus is sharp, which has also allowed the nature of the plastic material to be visible, as we can easily see the hard shiny surface of the plastic, along with some great textures. A super abstract image, well done on your top ten placing.

This is a simple subject, but I really like this still life composition. The set-up has been done well, especially the way the plates are stacked, which is much more interesting to view than if they had been in a simple straight stack. I also like the angle of view, with the camera placed at table height looking directly across to the brightly coloured plastic tableware. Choice of aperture looks spot-on, as most of the subject is in sharp focus, with the glasses falling slightly out of focus, and the background being nicely out of focus, whilst still containing sufficent detail to give context of the summery setting for outdoor dining. Great work, well done on your top ten placing.

Another image in the placings which fills the frame with the subject, which I love. The image has been very well lit, with light coming from behind the subject to show the translucence of the plastic, but the front of the bottles is still well exposed. The single brown plastic bottle acts as an initial focal point, then the eye can wander over the rest of the frame to explore the subtle differences in details. The word "earth" on the bottle label in the bottom left acts as a poignent reminder of the damage which can be caused to the environment through the use of single use plastics such as this. A currently maligned subject, but used to capture a very creative image. Well done on your top ten placing.

This image was a late addition to my top ten, but one I kept coming back to. I really like the shapes and patterns you have captured here, and you have done well to see the potential for a great shot from a subject as mundane as stacks of plastic chairs. I have obviously not seen a colour version of this image, but I think the decision to convert to black and white was a good one, as it allows more emphasis on the shapes and patterns, which would probably not be so apparent if the chairs were brightly coloured. I initially thought the image may have been stronger with the lower part cropped off, but on further reflection I think the inclusion of the chair legs prevents the image becoming too abstract, and it provides more detail and different shapes. Great image, well done on your top ten placing.

This image stood out from when I first saw it, and it was never out of my top three images. I love this type of frame-filling, slightly abstract shot, which some may find dull, but I find it full of interest with plenty for the eye to explore. The sole yellow duck is a focal point and adds strength to the shot. Everything is in sharp focus, with good depth from appropriate control of the exposure and areas of shadow, and the colours are lovely and bright, but not over-saturated. A fabulous image, congratulations on your third place finish.

Although the movement of the skateboarder is captured in sharp focus, there is a real dynamic energy to this shot. The low angle of capture helps, along with the composition, with the skater moving into the frame, following the curve of the painted line. I like the darkening effect added to the shot, which does not work wih every image, but here it suits the subject and it helps direct the focus, and allows the bright orange of the wheels and the yellow of the painted line to further stand out. An unusual but very effective image, congratulations on your second place finish.

Deciding the top placings in this contest was not easy, but this was my eventual winner. I love the play of the light through the windows, creating interesting patterns of shadows from the building supports, but more importntly in this contest, the lovely shimmering patterns created as the light passes through the clear green plastic of the chairs. There is a lovely light quality to the whole image, and the colours are vibrant, especially the vivid green which really lifts the shot. It is not always easy to appreciate some of the wonderful effects of the light, tending more to just look at the solid subjects, but here you have done especially well to realise the potential of the scene for a great image. You have also done well to balance the exposure to create some great tones and contrasts, as I imagine the shooting conditions were quite challenging. Congratulations on your winning image.

I am unsure whether the subject of the photo is a kitchen utensil or a fly swatter, but it makes for a very interesting subject. You have creatively used the light and the shadows cast by the flexible plastic mesh to create a striking abstract. Setting the subject against the stark white backdrop enables the subject to stand out further, and enhances the graphic of the shot. A fabulous creative abstract still life, well done on your top ten placing.

This is a great example of the use of a shallow depth of field to enhance a shot. The nearest chairs are in sharp focus, with the chairs falling increasingly out of focus as they receed. The degree of blur however is not excessive, as sometimes the out of focus blur in an image can become quite distracting, but that is not the case here. Composition is good, with the line of chairs crossing the frame on a diagonal, and the red colour is bold but not over-saturated. An interesting abstract, well done on your top ten placing.