More Than Graffiti

The stubby legs, protruding tail and hand-to-hair gesture of the shadow on the graffiti made me think the model might be emulating a black painted slhouette. I love the use of the strong black shadow and the black vignette on the right acting as the gentle fade out to the powerful composition. The pin sharpness of the fashion model swinging her hair in the darkness has been perfectly captured with the help of a trigger flash. This photo wowed me the moment I saw it - congratulations on your winning entry.

This piece of street art literally stands out. The photographer has gone out of his way to paint a unique piece of human graffiti. In this contest I expected to see people interacting with graffiti on a wall but this entry turned my brief on it’s head by showing the wall interacting with graffiti. It's a shame the photograph isn't a bit sharper but well done for thinking out-of-the-box and creating something completely different.

A piece of street art that many photographers have had fun with - myself included. Painted by the street artist Sam Bates (aka Smug) in Glasgow this photographer has managed to find a subject that befits the artists playful intentions. I particularly like the 'PSS OF' number plate and wonder just how long the photographer had to wait for the ensuing scenario to unfold - or maybe it was just a case of right-time-right-place. This is a great photo where all the elements fall neatly into place - well done.

This photographer has made use of a simple framing technique to spotlight their choice of street art. Taken in Cannes, this mono painting of Marilyn Monroe is one of many film star murals celebrating the towns love affair with the film industry. The photographer has aptly chosen a minimalist film noir approach that does justice to both the subject and the graffiti. A very well conceived cinematic photo - well done.

I lost count of how many times this street art in Swanage by Antonia Phillips and Nina Camplin appeared in this contest but only this photographer has successfully interacted with the art in the way that Antonia and Nina had intended. Well done for spotting the artist’s photo opportunity message on the artwork and persuading your young son to complete the illusion by appearing to step through the painted hole in the wall.

Many versions of this three-dimensional street art (along with others by the artist Ernest Zacharevic who also adds motorbikes and swings to his art) were entered into this contest. Sadly they were mostly point-and-shoot photos with nothing new added to the artwork by the photographers. Therefore well done to this photographer for adding his own touch of 3D whimsy to the street art in Penang, Malaysia. By using family members this photographer has personalised and enhanced the artwork in an amusing and imaginative way.

Because of the perfectly balanced figures I’d originally dismissed this photograph as just another street art point-and-shoot shot. But on careful examination I realised that this was a professionally created photo of two graceful dancers shot against a graffiti tagged wall. A realistic amount of blur on the left figure’s foot and the right figure's foot extending beyond the wall convinced me that these were real people and a genuine addition to the graffiti. Congratulations on the use of the dancers, your art direction and your composition.

Throughout this contest most photographers forgot that the street artist's work is as much part of the photo as their own contribution. Thank you then to this contributor for remembering to credit the work of the artist Bicicleta Sem Freio. This photographer's patience paid off by waiting for the right foreground subject to walk into the frame. The juxtaposed clash of cultures works brilliantly with the lady in the white burka standing out against the colourful backdrop. Well done for using street art to highlight differences in our multicultural society.