Making Music

I remember reading somehwere that said "If you play the guitar and harmonica like Bob Dylan you are a genius, if you then do the same but add symbols to your legs you are mad" I guess its a fine margin. This is a wonderfully observed photograph of a person who seems perfectly to sit in the middle of that idea. I love the fact the photographer has isolated the performer which gives a surreal sense to the image. The subtle colors work very well especially the pop of blue from the shorts and red of the guitar strap. The amp at an angle with his flip flops next to it just adds that extra Spinal Tap moment. A classic candid picture of someone who is very comfortable doing what they do. Great capture.

Photography and humour go hand in hand. This is a superb example of that tradition and then some. The photographer has chosen to walk past the obvious angle to take the picture - from the front and has concentrated on the abstract and rear view, which reveals the line of people and their instruments. The use of black and white adds to the history of humour within photography and this could have been taken by the British Photographer Martin Parr. This is a fun and very well observed and constructed image.

A very well executed and framed photograph. I love the way the heads of the band are all set behind the sea. We get to see the stunning setting for the music and we feel that we are part of the group watching them play on the beach. The saturated colors work well against such a vibrant view and stronger colors would have been too much in this case. The exposure is perfect which is not easy given the amount of light in the background, so very well done. A lovely photograph and all I can say is 'I wish I was there'

Is this real? It feels like a dream. It is so perfect from the amazing structure of the clouds in the blue sky, to the large trees forming a path to the city in the distance. We then have the surreal idea of the pianist playing the brighlty painted green piano seemingly to themsleves. I suspect this is a local beauty spot with people stopping to see the view and hear the music. The photographer has captured this unison perfectly with the elevated camera position allowing us to see all the different elements together. Great use of color and depth of field just make this image stand out even further. A classic. Well done.

This photograph perfectly fits in with the theme of the competition-making music.The sense of movement as the band moves past the crowd works so well, we can imagine the sound they are making with the brass instruments they are playing. The panning technique is very good so we get to see the central face of the man playing with such gusto and the vibrant color palette of reds and blues gives a flowing feel to the entire image across the frame. The photographers ability to get in so close means that we the audience are really in the picture. A superb interpretation of the theme. Very well done.

The level of precision in this photograph is eye catching. The quality of the formal picture elements across the entire frame work so well together. The girls are in unison with their poses, clothes and instruments linked together in two lines. The light on the side of the faces is even and adds dimension to the picture. The neutral bckground with pockets of light from the window and pop of color in the red chairs acts like a stage for the girls and the tiled like floor with the lines directs us to the main area of interest. A wonderful photograph.

Out of all the submissions of stage/band photography this image caught my eye the most. The close up means that the performer is isolated so we the audience can concentrate on the action without distractions. The use of black and white adds to the drama of the scene. We can tell without hearing any music that it is hard rock or heavy metal from the pose and type of axe they are playing. The detail is wonderful especially on the strings at the top of the guitar. The smoke adds an additional feel to the overall picture. A great example of stage photography at a very high level.

This photograph is about composiition and light. The two main elements that are at the core of photography. Most images have one of these but few have both that work so well together as they do in this picture. The tight crop means that we see the concentration on these peoples faces, The soft light on the man to the right is wonderful and works well against the intense light on the girls face. The soft subtle colors are warm and do not distract at all from the scene but only add to it. The focus in the centre on the violins only adds to the drama. A fantastic study in detail. Very well done.

The tight crop, pops of color and intensity within the frame really work. I really like that I can pick out each performer and study them. I'm amazed at the complexity of the arrangement of all these different people with their instruments. It feels like a maze but i'm sure they all know what they are doing with the conductor weaving his arms in unison to what he expects. This is a birds eye view of what it is like to be in such a group. It's a lovely photograph that is full of emotion and gives a glimspe into this world. Well done.

This is a great example of the dexterity needed in the fingers to play complex arrangements in this case on a piano. The photographer getting in so close means we the audience get to see this in great detail. That detail is really well seen on the keys and hands. The use of black and white gives a graphic quality in the image that works very well as does the decsion to take the picture at a low angle to the side. This image is well constructed and almost works like a still life. Well done.

This was so close to my top 10. It's such a well constructed photograph. The unusual crop is excellent and takes advantage of the contrast between the metallic instrument with the wonderful reflections against the jet black background which then isolates the tuba and performer perfectly. The fact that it is taken in the street just adds to the skill this photograher has. Superb.

This is such a vibrant photograph that just takes your eye around the entire frame. I see something different each time I look at it. I love the overall sharpness of the picture, the wonderful exposure which captures all the elements in perfect detail, The framing with the dog in the middle and the way the light hits the background which makes the walls start to move and look almost like musical notes is a real treat. Just a great capture.

The quality of light in this picture which is harsh and contrasty works very well with the performer. The light on his face, hands and saxophone elevate and make him stand out against the black background. We get a sense of space even though we cant actually see it except for the path of light. The use of black and white adds to the graphic nature of the image and the elevated camera position allows us to watch him as a performer from the stands. A very well considered and made photograph.

This is a great candid photograph with wonderful light hitting the cello case. It has that great documentary street feel about the image and I wonder how long the photographer followed the person before making this picture. The dark skys and use of black and white add to the drama and then i start to pick up on some of the signs in the image. Fragile on the case, the name of the shop-Reserved. These could be attributes for any artist. Lovely capture. well done.