Small spaces

This is the winning image because I love its simplicity. The square format and the strong red colours are very elegant and successful. Its probably slightly out of focus (perhaps its just my screen?) but that doesn't really matter. I also love the fact you can't see the whole person, just a shoulder and suggestion of who they are, which makes the photo even more intriguing. This photograph has a wonderful sense of narrative which is important factor in any photograph.

I love the abstract qualities of this photograph. It took me a while to realise it was a 'straight' photograph rather than a photoshop creation, due to the intensity of the colours and black background. The composition is very strong and crops enough of the surrounding information to be both informative and abstract. It reminds me of a sculpture by the Korean artist DoHo Suh. Its a very beautiful, abstract image.

i really love the analog digital manipulations that this photograph has undergone. It falls into the world of conceptual art photography which really interests me. I like the consideration of the 35mm frame in relation to the proportion of the photographic paper, and unusually the greyness of the print doesn't distract from the overall aesthetic of the image. I even like the fogging at the top of the image; it all adds to the fascinating and relevant discourse between analog and digital photography that is currently occurring.

This photograph conveys an incredible sense of energy and atmosphere. Obviously its a photograph of a small space but that's not really what the photograph is about, its the emotion and relationship between the two people that is so important and the photographer has captured so well. The fact its in black and white serves its aesthetic and narrative well, in colour it would be too much of a snapshot and fall into the 'banal aesthetic' category. I also love the composition of the photograph, the dynamic of the fridge on the right side of the frame balances well with the two people and clutter within the rest of the photograph.

The soft pastel colour palette of this photograph are very beautiful and elegant. I think the photographer made the right decision to shoot at such a wide aperture to throw the background so successfully out of focus, leading the viewer to the hand and metal ring. Its a very minimal but effective composition, which shows how simple good photographs can be.

I find this photograph quite disturbing, which is a good thing. The mans direct connection to the viewer, through eye contact is a very powerful aspect of the photograph. Without this eye contact the photograph would be much less powerful. Its also a very claustrophobic image, which works well with the theme of this competition. I can't really understand the context of the surroundings of the box (not that it matters) which also adds to the power of the image. The decision to shoot in black and white was the correct one, colour would have been too distracting; black and white adds to the emotion and suffocation this image so successfully conveys.

This is a very powerful and disturbing photograph, which is why I love it! I don't understand the context of the environment in which the photograph was made, but that doesn't matter. I love that its almost a black and white photograph apart from the stripes of red on each side, which successfully add to the oppression and power of the image. It reminds me of Lynne Cohens amazing photographs of 'psychological spaces'