Retouch - Vignetting

The strong back light works so well in this charming photograph of this little girl. The photographer has captured the perfect moment as she goes to blow the dandelion in her hand.. The sharpness of her works so well against the soft blurs and out of focus background and the darkened edges means all our attention is on the little girl. The light around her head and on the face is warm and glowing and is fantastic against the background. A lovely moment captured to perfection. The black and white adds a documentary feel to the overall image. Lovely.

This is another great example of a study of an animal in this case a grey crow. The elevated position of the bird gives the subject gravitas and the use of black and white means we focus on the image rather than get distracted by color. The rock and grass in the background give the scene a natural setting whilst the darkened edges illuminates the main subject very well. It has almost a solarized quality to the image which is pleasing to the eye and gives a metallic edge to the picture. A great capture.

This is a beautiful photograph that has been elevated by the photographers ability to really increase the quality of the picture with subtle and clever processing afterwards. The sight of these horses all white against the bleached background is so effective and the positioning of them off center works very well. The warmer colors of the manes just adds that extra pop against the paleness of the scene. A lovely constructed and seen image.

This is dramatic with the darkened edges seeping into the main area of the picture. This works on this occasion as it emphasises the texture in the bark and the two holes which I read as eyes looking at us. The soft out of focus background really makes the trees stand out as does the wonderful glow of light hitting them. It would have been easy to lose all the detail in the background but the photographer has been skillful in just getting the right amount of information in there. Well done.

A quiet photograph that along with the lone figure looking out to the sea allows us to think about what the man is thinking. We get to contemplate with him as we gaze out into the distance. Great exposure and wonderful use of the frame. The dominant sky gives a sense of scale and vastness within the image and works so well into how we read this photograph. The mans pose with his hands behind his back is great as is the use of subtle warm tones throughout the picture. The slight darkening of the edges keeps all the attention on the person and the clean horizon line is exact. A lovely and precise image that takes us into another place as we get to have our quiet moment as well. Wonderful Photograph.

I love the framing and attention to detail in this close up study of an emu. The stillness is unnerving and I'm not sure if the animal is alive or this is a wonderful specimen? Not that it matters. If it is alive then the photographer has done an amazing job getting so close to these often quite tetchy animals. The subtle colors work well and the pop of warm orange in the eye really stands out against the neutral greys and blues.. The soft background with slightly darkened edges works well and allows us to spend all our time on the emu centered within the frame. The exposure is spot on as is the tight crop. A great study of an animal. Well done.

The soft mood light works so well in this atmospheric and moody photograph. The elevated position of the two main aspects of the picture the tree and the sitting individual work very well together. The vignetting is well done and brings the attention to the subjects and the subtle monochromatic tones have a 19th Century pictorial quality. A lovely image that is so calm and well constructed. Well done.

Stags as subjects are doing very well in this competition. The reason for that is the quality of the photography involved and this is no exception. This majestic animal has been captured to perfection by the photographer. Standing tall in the foreground is the perfect composition against the animals in the background. The subtle tones come through very well and the darkened edges lead our eye to the main subject. The plants in the bottom of the frame really give a sense of depth within the picture whilst framing the stag very well. An extremely accomplished photograph. Well done.

This is such a powerful and beautifully composed photograph. The framing works so well as does the elevated position of the lion. The photographer has caught with perfect timing the moment the lion roars. The black and white adds a wonderful graphic quality to the photograph. Just a small note, the focusing is not as sharp as it could have been on the face but given the strength of this image it really does not matter. A beauty.

A classic image wonderfully composed. The subtle use of monochromatic tones within the image works so well against the lovely light hitting the trees and the main subject, the stag. The photographer has captured the perfect moment the animal turns to reveal this majestic pose. The haunting light in the center which gradually gets darker as we go further out of the frame works very well and really adds to the strong composition of the photograph. Such a beautiful image and wonderfully exposed. Well done.

This feels unreal, fantastical and something out of the Lord of the Rings. The composition is spot on with the slightly silhouetted Roe buck and doe perfectly positioned within the frame. The soft focus foreground and background works well and keeps all the attention in the center and the dappled white space behind the animals acts as a frame to keep them beautifully lit. The soft vignetting works so well and the choice of Black and white adds a haunting feel to the overall scene. A real stunner. Well done.

This is such a clever image. The bumps on the camel perfectly replicated within the sand dunes. The richly colored textures work well against the white of the individual next to the animal. In fact that break from the golden tones is exactly what this image needed to transform it and elevate it. The subtle vignetting works so well and brings all our attention onto the center where the photographer has perfectly placed the subjects. This would not look out of place within the pages of National Geographic. A classic travel photograph of the highest quality.

A stunning example of a perfect dramatic landscape. The subtle vignetting really draws our eye to the attention grabbing center with the swirling cloud formation. The clouds work wonderfully with the golden light falling on the fields. It reminds me of Vincent Van Gogh's painting Wheatfield with crows.. This photograph is that dramatic. It has tension and I want to just walk into the space. Fantastic composition and color and exposure, just add the right balance for this worthy winner. Very well done.