Mundane

I initially overlooked this image, but on a further review, I realised I rather liked it. Excellent choice of aperture and focusing, as the key parts of the forward shoe are in crisp focus, with the rest of the scene still recognisible, but softening as focus falls away into the background. I like that the shoes are being worn, rather than a simple still life image, as it adds something to the shot. Great black and white conversion too. Well done on your top ten placing.

What a great image, a relic of better times now past. I really like your symmetrical composition of the shopfront. Some would be irritated by the lamp "getting in the way", but I think it adds to the shot, as it provides another point of interest and prevents the shot being too perfect. The limited colour palette of de-saturated colours works really well for the subject, as it accentuates the look of the tired and the mundane. Very close to the top spot, but a well deserved second place finish. Congratulations.

This was a late addition to my top ten, and an image I kept coming back to. I initially discounted the image, as I thought it maybe a little too over-saturated in colour. But on further review, the colours seem to add to the attractiveness of the shot. It is quite abstract in nature, so the colours, highlights and dappled shadows are what helps the effectiveness of the image. Composition works well too, with the waterlogged track crossing diagonally across the frame, and your shutter speed was fast enough to catch the circular ripples in the puddles, indicating the rain is not quite passed. An interesting and colourful take on the mundane, well done.

This really is the essence of mundane, captured in an image which I find strangely captivating. I think the success of the shot is the fact it was taken into the light, with the checked cloth backlit against the windows. We get a sense of the outside through the open slats, but there is nothing to distract the eye. Perfect subject for the contest theme, well done on your top ten placing.

This is a perfect subject choice for this contest to show the mundane. A row of chained up shopping trolleys is about as mundane and everyday as you can get, but you have seen the potential in the scene and presented it is a visually appealing way. I like how you have shown a couple of the trolley wheels are wonky and out of line, slightly upsetting the regimented line. I also like your composition, with the horizontal split into thirds, and the vertical divided in two. The limit of colours of the green and the silver of the trolleys keeps the shot simple and contributes to the strength of the image. Love it, well done on your third place.

This image gives a lovely combination of the mundane and the rather beautiful. It is such a delicate image, captured in soft diffused lighting, and showing the gentle pastel shades of pale grey, blue and green. You have not been tempted to show additional textures or tones by any gaudy over-processing, keeping everything naturally simple. There is enough detail in the wall plaster and door to hold the attention and explore further. Composition is spot on for me, with the door taking up around a third of the frame, and the worn pegs taking a more central position in the overall scene. Some would find an image such as this too dull to merit any credit, but I love it, which is why it takes my top spot in this contest! Congratulations.

This is such a simple subject - looking to be some fine mesh netting protecting the public from falling debris during some reconstruction work - but your capture shows it in an interesting and strangely beautiful way. Your exposure is spot on, as it accentuates the soft, delicate folds in the netting showing texture and form. Anyone observing you taking this photograph would no doubt have wondered at your reasons, but it makes for a great image, and well deserving of a top ten place in this contest. Great work.

Another image perfect for the theme. It is so very mundane, but there has been obvious thought and care taken when capturing the shot, as well as realising the potential for a photograph in the first instance. The smashed central pane works well in the composition, with the surrounding window frames forming a symmetrical grid. Well seen, and well done on your top ten placing.

This image is so simple, but also so effective. The 3x3 grid of the window frames is perfectly composed and framed, and the focus and exposure has been well handled to show just enough detail of the condensation on the glass. I really like the colouring, looking to be almost monochrome, but possibly not quite. I am unsure whether this was taken from the inside looking out, or the outside looking in, but that does not matter. It is a great image, and a fine example for the theme of mundane. Great work.

I am not sure whether this scene was "found" or a set-up, but it is still an effective image. The colouring of the balloon works well to stand out against the monchrome street, without being over-saturated. I like the composition of the lower half of the shot, with the curve of the paving edge cutting across the corner. I am not sure if there could have been a better angle from which to have captured the white crossing stripes, either getting them more straight-on, on on a sharper more dynamic angle, which may have improved the image slightly. But I still think it is a great image for this contest, well done on your top ten placing.