Parked and Stationary Bicycles (no people)

For me the success of this image is in the capture of the light and the patterns formed by the shadows. Captured on an overcast day we would have a different image entirely, and most likely one that may have been quite uninteresting. Instead the eye can explore all the details and shapes created by the light and shade, aided also by the conversion to black and white, which has been very well handled. I like also that we get a little view down between the structures, which gives depth to the shot. Well done on your top ten placing.

I really like the rather abstract, graphic quality this image has. The content of the image is pretty much based on lines and circles, and the positioning of the bicycle, with the two adjacent circular bike racks, work well together. I may have preferred to see a little textural detail in the large expanse of wall in the background, and I am unsure whether the wall was devoid of any detail or whether it has been cleaned up in processing. Still an eye-catching image, well done on your top ten placing.

This image was always in my top ten and stood out as soon as I saw it. Key to the success for me is the viewpoint, captured low to the ground, to give an unusual and dynamic perspective. The small, brightly coloured solitary bike in the curved rack works to great advantage. I am unsure whether the scene was set-up or a lucky find, but whichever, it is a super image. Composition and framing are spot on, as we are close enough in to see details, but wide enough out so as the subject does not look cramped. Congratulations on your second place finish.

I love the central composition, with the parking pole dividing the image exactly into two. The bike, slightly off centre, draws the eye and it stands out well against the boldly coloured, but plain backdrop. The image has been well processed with a retro-type feel to the shot. Some would have perfectly aligned the verticals of the windows, but I think here the very slightly converging verticals prevent the image looking too sterile. Congratulations on your third place finish.

I really love the way you have captured the light here. It is never easy shooting in the backstreets and alleyways of a city, as the light can be so contrasty, especially on a sunny day. Here however, there is sufficient light in the shadows to be able to see the details of the architecture and the inviting bar-front, and the propped up bicycle sits nicely in a pool of sunlight. Great image with a lovely calm mood, well done on your top ten placing.

This image stood out for me as soon as I saw it, and it was always a likely top three finisher. The composition is simple but effective. I especially like how the straight lines and angles in the architecture contrast with the circular wheels of the bicycle. The photo has been very successfully converted to black and white, and there are good contrasts throughout to reveal plenty of interesting dertail within the overall arrangement of lines and shapes. Sometimes text in an image can dominate, but whilst still a clear feature, it does not unbalance the image and adds to the success of the image overall. Congratulations on your winning image.

A great black and white image, full of details for the eye to wander and explore. With such a 'busy' background it would have been easy for the main subjects of the bicycles to become lost, but the conversion to black and white has been done very well, so there is a full range of tones and good contrast to keep the subject well defined and to bring the scene to life. Great image, well done on your top ten placing.

What attracted me to this image aside from the bold orange colours was the regimented composition of the building. Although images of this type can work with less attention to detail, the precision of the lining-up of the verticals and horizontals makes the image for me. The lone bicycle is only small within the frame, but as it breaks the austere pattern of lines and angles, it becomes the main focal point. Great work, well done on your top ten placing.

Although the bicycles are quite small in the frame, they have not become lost in the composition and look to be the key feature of the image. The scene looks natural, and the bare branches coming into the image on the top left help bring a bit of life to the scene. The combination of warmer and cooler hues on the paintwork work well together, with the golden yellow lifting the mood on a cold wintery day in a quiet corner of the city. Well done on your top ten placing.

I am unsure whether the colours we see here are as found or manipulated in processing, but the effect overall is lovely. The gentle pastels create a mood of quiet and calm within the city, with the soft pink nicely contrasting with the gentle bluey-grey. The bike is well positioned in the composition to be the focus of the image, but it blends well with the surroundings so it is not too harsh or dominant in the scene. Beautiful image, well done on your top ten placing.