Public celebrations
elaines

Public celebrations

November 2025

Entry 24648283
125th
11

Great portrait! I'm not sure what kind of celebration is taking place here; is this a public paint fight? Great job capturing all of the color-smudged details, as well as waiting for the woman in the center to turn around; the framing is great. Well done!

Entry 24648622
1876th
48

The Korant costumes here are intriguing and just cool to look at, but I think what really helps make the image for me is the snowfall. The layers of snowflakes add some great context and give the image a sensory element. Now I understand why the costumes have so much hair on them: It's bitterly cold outside! I also like the small bits of red and other color woven into the white winter scene. Well done!

Crowd
winner
Entry 24725453
515th
35
Entry 24807452
324th
165
Entry 24887797
12th
59
Entry 25180187
210th
14

Great job with exposure and depth of field here! Hot air balloon festivals are normally something we see during the day, so I appreciate getting a glimpse of this event at night and noticing all of the detail and activity far back into the frame. Nice starburst effect with the lights, too. Doe the balloon in the foreground have claws? Well done!

Entry 25183012
982nd
3
Entry 25300207
99th
39
Entry 25457622
682nd
4
Entry 25573455
1110th
31
Entry 25595585
828th
10
Entry 25784697
6th
10
Entry 26212708
20th
3
Entry 26303451
1123rd
26
Entry 26356879
1409th
47
Entry 26393107
1226th
9
Expert
winner

What a striking scene! Great job capturing such an energetic moment, but also framing it with interesting layers. My eye goes from the fire and figure to all of the smart phones in audience members' hands. Modern technology seamlessly integrates with religious tradition. Well done!

1,942 Images entered

Meet the expert judge

Entry 24673652
1524th
13

Great portrait with some intriguing details! The boy's bedazzled accessories and expression contrast a bit with the sparse background (in particular, I'm noticing the empty lawn chairs, bare-looking storefront, and sidewalk weeds). The scene invites reflection on the meanings of patriotism. Well done!

I've attended Ethiopian Orthodox services before, but I have never viewed one from an aerial perspective like this—great job! The image really conveys the scale of the observance, and I love seeing the circular formation, as well (which may hold a religious significance of its own in this community?). A detail like this would not be visible from the ground.

Entry 26186854
244th
196
Entry 26219092
38th
1
104

Love the dancer's expression here. Great job capturing her movement and joy, and framing both in a ring of blue feathers. Also, the longer I look at this image, the more interesting details I see: the tattoo of what looks like Medusa on the woman's chest, and the many different feather shapes and textures in her costume. Well done!

Entry 26402941
1161st
1
18

This was surprising! What a fun and sticky event! Great job capturing so much detail, including the emotions on participants' faces and the oranges flying the through the air at full speed. I like that we can see some of the orange pulp on the ground, as well—it helps show the extent of the messy fun.

Entry 26451749
1382nd
15
Entry 26462268
1568th
5

Great job capturing so much emotion here; the expression on the woman's face is one of pure joy. The matter-of-fact presence of the unicorn in the background is also just priceless. What is it doing here? It seems so out-of-place yet so accepted and ordinary.. Well done!

What a striking portrait! I love the juxtaposition of the person on the horse with the backdrop. The vibrant colors and elaborate costume contrast nicely with the rather muted landscape. The figure just seems out of place here but in a satisfying way. Great job!

Entry 26480254
452nd
17
Entry 26480374
13th
7

784 Photographers

I love the juxtaposition between the balloons and the pavilion! The playful characters and colors in the foreground here contrast nicely with the stately, formal architecture in the background. But also, there are some nice parallels in shape. Great attention to layers, depth of field, and detail. Well done!

Entry 26492275
5th
7

30,352 Ratings

Entry 26492535
114th
107

I love the lighting and layers in this photo. Great job capturing the illuminated faces and expressions of so many different people in the parade. I particularly notice the person in the foreground—because he's out of focus, the calavera makeup is particularly striking and a bit haunting. Well done!

Entry 26494852
14th
30

Brief

See more contest details

Photographing celebrations can be great fun, and the photographer gets to soak up the excitement of the party at the same time as indulging their favourite pastime. When these celebrations are in the public sphere you have the wonderful coming together of many people who don't know each other, and they're often larger gatherings with more spectacular displays. Boldness pays off, getting yourself into the action, not being afraid to stick your camera in peoples' faces, and taking lots of pictures.

Entry 24647499
41st
23
Entry 24648626
40th
9
Entry 24648887
564th
15

Great job capturing the moment as the rainbow confetti rains down on the crowd here! It's almost like real precipitation. I like the high depth of field and the amount of detail you've captured, too. The waving figures in the foreground and church in the background add interesting layers of information.

Entry 24651051
1355th
9
Entry 24667604
22nd
48
Entry 24693148
52nd
3
Entry 24712056
1237th
1
76
Entry 24758635
767th
9
Entry 24761122
44th
1
Entry 24775746
36th
2
Entry 24879453
1023rd
24

Great portrait! The slow exposure and movement help animate the flames here, making for a more effective thematic costume. I also love that you have isolated the dancer's face in the fire using a low depth of field. Well done!

I love the playfulness of this image. The bubbles are a great layering device and draw the eye to different parts of the scene, including the Irish flag waving from the back of the tractor (by the way, why is there a tractor in this parade?) Well done!

Entry 25007216
207th
26
Entry 25082067
1353rd
35
Entry 25143996
1312th
14
Entry 25151096
56th
39
Entry 25264589
58th
18
Entry 25321171
42nd
301
Entry 26478073
60th
29
Entry 26478341
18th
25
Entry 26495164
32nd
52