Soap

A simple monochrome image portraying the characteristics of soap. I like how the curves of the bar complement it's soft shadow, and how the wet and dry states of the bar have been captured in a single exposure. Good clarity and well cropped, well done.

This image doesn’t stand out as a clear winner, but I found it the most interesting. I imagine this decision will raise a few eyebrows so I will explain my judgement. Few entries into this competition portray a time period in the life of soap, this photograph presents an authentic looking perspective on olive soap, from raw material to retail. I like how the composition is loosely symmetrical, pulled together using the wide angle with the focus centred on the olives, framed by the curvature of the container. I love the contrast between the rich green olive fruit, the mild smooth and gritty bar and the bright shiny orange cellophane held together in its parcel, ready for retail. The reflection of the 3 olives with the 3 stages of olive soap production is appealing, and the fact that the image has been captured using a phone or that the post editing could have been improved is overlooked by the story this strong composition entails. Well done.

I smile each time I view this image. I do not know if the specific composition was intentional but the soap appears to be the heart of the heart, which creates a strong resonance for me personally. To further explain, I relate the heart created from bubbles as a 'body' and the soap bar as the 'heart', slightly off centred to the left of the body. The fact that the soap bubble body is a heart shape sets off a strange set of conflicting thoughts which result in a smile. This is the kind of effect great images should cause, an unconscious interest which keeps the eyes on the image, while conscious thoughts try to decipher the interest. A great composition, well done.

If I wasn't so partial to the layout of composition this would have been my winning image. Great lighting, rich colour and contrast, superb detail and clarity. The image really pops out and captures the essence of the competition entirely. Well done.

An image with a very clean commercial feel, beautifully presented. Well processed, there is certainly great contrast between the softness of the flower/foliage and the soap/background. I like how the light vignette complements the white of the flower. Well done.