Music On The Street

A nearly great photograph - the excessive sunburst stopped the shot rating higher. Having said that, there is so much to admire - from the lane leading us into the shot; then there is the texture in the buildings; finally (although based on the way my eyes work, the first thing we see) the star of the show, playing to an audience that is seemingly unaware of his existence.

A classic example where 'less means more.' Just give me a photograph on brief; make the subject (a singer belting out a song) sharp; lose any distracting background - and you are likely to be onto a winner (or at least a highly placed runner-up).

I love the simplicity of the composition. I've seen photos looking down a row of arches before - but never one that made me ask so many questions. Is the man in the foreground looking at / listening to the musician (look at the line of his head); how many people - if any - is the musician playing to; why are the rough sleepers there; etc. And the lighting of the shot? Perfect in my opinion.

A photograph that works wonderfully in black and white. We don't get distracted by the colour of the trumpeter's waistcoat (vest), sun visor, or the background clothing on rails. Thus we are left concentrate on what really matters here - the trumpeter's fingers working the valves & his lungs & lips working the trumpet's mouthpiece.

Sometimes a photograph deserves a high ranking because it is so much fun. The photographer has made great use of a fish-eye lens. This - coupled with a guitarist who is prepared to play up to the camera - has given a picture that will stay in my mind for a long while.

There were not too many night shots in the competition. This, in my opinion, is the best of what night shots there were. Apart from the warmth of the golden light reflected in the river, the photograph has me wanting to know more about the musician. At first I thought his 'pitch' was also his home, but now I'm not so sure. It could be that the musician simply has a lot of equipment. Or maybe he actually does sleep on the bridge. A wonderful photographic enigma.

Wow!! This one gets it's high ranking because the photographer has done a wonderful job in capturing textures. The musician's face; his hat; his jacket; his jeans; even the door(?) behind the subject - in each case you feel you can touch the real thing. This is one of those photographs I wish I had taken.