Soft furnishings

As soon as I saw this image, I knew it would make my top 10. It stands out from the rest for its simplicity, it has been well-taken, and the post-processing has been cleverly done and suits the subject. I am not usually a fan of adding frames to a shot, but it works here and it keeps everything contained. Perfectly lit to show both the soft folds and the tight gathers in the fabric. Beautifully simple, well done!

I love this image, with the beautifully soft lighting coming through the curtains, picking out a few details of the furnishing in the room. What kept it out of my top placings is the presence of the white stripe down the left side - unsure what it is or why it is there, but it just distracts my eye a little too much from the dimly lit room. You have however done well to avoid the highlights on the floor blowing out and becoming too harsh. Lovely simple shot, well done.

I don't know where this is, but what I do know is that I want to be there!! The whole image combines a glorious breath of fresh air, with snuggled up cosiness ready for a chilly evening when the grand view is obliterated by darkness. You have expertly managed the lighting, to enable both the room and view outside to be perfectly exposed. I also really like how you have contrasted the harsh minimalistic lines of the room, with the luxuriously sofy cosy furnishing fabrics. Beautiful shot, well done.

The gentle lighting and subtle colours initially drew me to this image, and I believe you have demonstrated a high level of skill in the production of this shot. I know from bitter experience how difficult it can be to shoot inside stately homes and similar buildings - it is usually dark, with limited access and space, a ban on tripods and an abundance of tourists wandering across the shot! You have managed to get the lighting balanced across the whole picture, from the bright lamp through to the shadowy folds of fabric. You have kept the colours natural, which have resulted in a gentle, harmonious image showing this grand bedroom at its best. Congratulations on your first place!

The lighting you have captured on this image looks to be natural, presumably from a window, and you have used the light well to pick out the colours and details in this cushion. The shallow depth of field works well to focus on the pom-pom tassels, which makes them look very touchable!. Your composition is simple, but for the subject it looks natural and works well. Congratulations of your top three placing.

This is the sort of image I was hoping to see when I created this contest - simple composition, wonderful close up textures showing details of the weaves and textiles and a "touchable" shot. This image has all those things, and deserves its top ten placing. I may have been tempted to reduce the yellowish colour of the button a bit, but this is a wonderfully lit, well focussed shot of this crochet cushion. Well done!

This image was not in my initial placings, but on further review the quality of the shot was clear and I think it deserves to be placed. You have managed the lighting especially well, there are some burnt out areas on the wall from the lamp, but these don't distract from the rest of the scene where the lighting has retained softness. Your mono conversion suits the subject - and is not too harsh and contrasty. The soft gentle folds of the various fabrics give a very cosy feel, and you have also done well to avoid any self/camera reflections in the glass. A subtle shot, deserving of its top ten placing.

I wonder how long you stood, waiting for the other visitors to pass in and out of your shot? Your patience has paid off, as you have taken a fabulous shot which shows off the sumptuous luxury of this room.. The use of HDR is not to everyone's tastes, but I think it works well here, is not over-done, and allows us to see the details throughout. I know how difficult it is to take this type of shot, and you have done very well to produce this clear, bright shot of this wonderfully furnished room. Great work!

You have shown this bed runner off to perfection, and I can see why it is a favourite of yours. Your capture of the rich colours is lovely, but where you have done especially well is to show the gentle softness and textures which make me want to reach in and touch - I can imagine exactly how beautifully soft it would feel! Being picky, I would have been tempted to switch the orientation into landscape view - if nothing else it would make the shot bigger on a normal screen, but that aside, this is a great shot and well deserving of a top ten placing.

Through the use of a fairly wide aperture you have created a shallow depth of field which brings a beautiful softness to this throw/blanket. You have wisely avoided any harsh lighting which further adds to this softness, and allows us to see the various weaves and textures of the cloth as the folds slip out of focus into the background. The colours are lovely, and your title for this shot is very apt. Congratulations on your second place.

This was a late addition to my top ten, and I think it deserves to be placed, as to me it demonstrates the photographer has an eye for observing the light, and how patterns can be formed through the relationship between straight lines on the window, softly folded fabric and sunlight. In addition, the photographer was not afraid to enter such a simple shot of curtains with shadows into a contest. The soft blue/grey works well - I think any other colour would have been too dominant and taken away from the patterns of light. This sort of image does not always work, and can easily be overlooked, but I think it deserves its top ten placing for its understated simplicity and observation. Well done!