Shoes

This image fits the brief perfectly as it’s not only superbly executed but it also hints at the shoe owner’s life. It appeals for its blend of practicality alongside sentimentality - a lovely subtle message of repurposing the old rather than casting it aside. You can imagine a workman looking at the shoe after its life as footwear was over, thinking ‘hmmm....you know, I’ve got the perfect new use for you’. I love the idea of it and I can really see that in the minds of certain men! Compositionally I really like the choice of the wooden box as a frame as it draws my eyes straight to the main subject. The shoe and the tools fill up all the space in the frame yet the image doesn’t feel too crowded at all. The use of only two dominant colour tones makes a very pleasantly balanced picture.

Wonderful work and congratulations on your well deserved win.

I believe that great photography comes with a great story and this image is a wonderful example of it. And I love the story you captured here where the shoes are playing a big part of it. It’s all about the beauty of childhood...about little girls dreams to become pretty, grown up ladies, just like their mums! The soft back light and the girl’s white outfit emphasise the innocence of that elusive and full of magic period of her life. But it won’t be long before those glamorous shoes will fit her! Black and white also works really well for this picture as it additionally gives us the feeling of old times. Perfectly executed portrait with an excellent composition, contrast and use of light which all together makes a very appealing image.

Very well done and big congratulations on your well deserved top ten placement in my challenge.

This is a very original picture that really stood out in the contest. I have no idea how it was taken.... was it a shoe shop display or did you have that many pairs of Converse?;) I was even wondering if it is a composite as this image is so visually striking. But however you took it, the effect is great. The bright contrasting colours, the repetitive pattern and diagonal lines created by shoes really drew me in. A good example of how creative display of the footwear can make a great abstract photograph.

Very well done and congratulations on your top ten placement in my contest.

I really like this image! The colours and composition are great. There is also a lovely, friendly atmosphere captured in the interaction between the two women which really appeals to me in this picture.

However - although the shoes, and lack of shoes(!) play some interesting part in the story, I didn’t feel they are the main subject here, therefore I couldn’t quite place this in my top 10 selection. Wonderful image though and I really hope to see it again in my future contests where it might better fit the brief. Very well done and congratulations!

This image is a fantastic example of a distinct focal point - the shoe in this case - capturing the theme of a story. The muddy shoe is a symbol of the incredible effort the mountain biker has gone through on the day, pushing themselves through all sorts of difficult conditions to achieve their goals. I like that there isn’t much else to distract in the image - leaving the viewer to question the when, where and how. The choice of a close up shot (or a crop- if that was the case here) was also a great idea as it gives us that intimate feeling and builds empathy with the cyclist.

Very well done and big congratulations on the 3rd place in my challenge.