Outside the Frame (People and Animals)

I love the juxtaposition of the black curved stripes against the red-coated figure. Only red could hold its own against such a strong pattern. The visual interaction of the two elements gives the photo balance as well as dynamic movement. Your cropping creates an image that generates interest both inside and outside the frame. Bravo on placing within the top ten with a cell phone photo.

This image has fantastic presence and fulfills the brief perfectly. The bubble and the running feet provide enough subject matter to capture my interest but there is enough missing to make me curious about what’s beyond the frame. Perfect shutter speed. I love that the bubble is frozen in time but the feet are in slight motion blur. The grittiness of the pavement balances the composition by providing interest all over the surface of the photo. Your camera settings and processing work together to simplify and enhance the image. Just the right amount of everything and no distractions. Congratulations on winning first place.

There are three very strong site lines in this photo, all extending beyond the frame. Each element -the person, the shadow, and the wording- works with the others to create a dynamic yet balanced composition. The centre of focus (the feet) capture my attention first but then my eyes follow the site lines and I am left wondering what is beyond the frame. I applaud your choice of black and white as colour might have been a distraction. Thank you for entering your photo which fits the brief so perfectly.

This photo just stuck in my head. It achieves a sense of movement and calm at the same time. The beautiful jewel tones, enhanced by warm lighting are perfectly suited to the subject matter. I like the contrast between the sharply focused legs and feet with the grainy reflection. I feel drawn to the image inside the frame but I’m also left with questions about what lies beyond. Thank you for entering the contest.

Thanks for your creative entry. I like the wide format which allows the textured surface in between to be viewed separately from the faces. My eye moves from one face to the other across that surface. Lots to capture the viewer's interest here; the textures, colours, focus, shading, and lighting all work together to create a unified and powerful image. In my opinion you have cropped the heads in just the right place. Congratulations on a third place win.

This photo commands attention. There is much to commend here. I love the point of view which creates a distant vanishing point right in the centre of the photo. The repeating triangles, including the implied triangle continuing up between the legs, give the image strength and unity. What a genius way of linking the image with what lies beyond the frame. The colours and textures, including the leather, the dried grasses and the rusty rails all work together. I love the highlights on the boots. Congratulations on second place.