Squares and Rectangles

Squares within squares and rectangles everywhere we look and the more we look at this wonderful image the more it reveals. The single man caught in time looking at his phone with the stunning shadow gives a glimpse of the space he is inhabiting for a brief moment. The intricate floor tiles tell us this is an important space which is only revealed to us because of the position the photographer took to make the image. The use of black and white adds a graphic design feel to the picture. Overall a great capture with wonderful technique. Well done.

Out of the many overhead photographs submitted into the competition this stood out because of it's simplicity and stunning formal picture qualities and also because we can read a lot into this photograph. The rectangular pool is beautifully positioned within the frame between the land and the sea and it talks about the power of the natural ocean to have to go to such lengths to hold it back. It also acts as a door or escape from the sea. The muted colors work well in this instance so nothing overpowers within the scene so we get to look around the frame. We also start to think about scale as we look down on the figures. An epic image.

Water and neon can be a photographers friend and sometimes the best images are not when you look up but down. It takes real skill and a creative eye to see the potential from whats in front of you as you walk along. This beautifully seen and captured view really stood out because it is so different to many other entries. It fits the theme perfectly. The wet tiles start to reveal a facade reflected in the water from above and the abstract quality means we never get to see fully what it is. The lights from the surrounding area really jump out in the picture and the pavement comes alive in this very well captured photograph. Well done.

An iconic skyline transformed by the quality of light and the photographers ability to turn something so familiar into this unique utopian view. It could be a scene from a film. The use of black and white turns the buildings into metallic objects that seem to slot into the spaces like a jig saw. Within each building we see thousands of small rectangles but it's the buildings themselves that become stunning shapes to admire even more than usual. We get glimpses of the Empire State Building, no longer the grand dame of the skyline. Stunning technique to darken the space in the foreground and the brooding soft sky only add to the drama with the stunning light on the buildings. Incredible photograph. Well done.

This really stood out because of the precision from the photographer. This is beautifully made and the formal picture qualities of the scene have been captured in such detail by the lens. Each window across the entire frame is pin sharp and offers us the viewer glimpses into each small space. The photograph tells us something about the scale and size of the building without revealing it's purpose. These are not homes because of the uniformity of how each space has been decorated. In many ways this picture tells us a lot about the modern business world. We are all the same or at least we are to the employer. Stunning and scary at the same time. A beautifully crafted image.

This is a great example of a photograph of a subject you think you know well but until you look at the detailing within this picture you realize that you did not spend that much time looking at the original Flat Iron building in NY as you thought. The elevated camera angle works well as does the use of black and white so we concentrate on the details rather than color. The technique is flawless and it really allows us the viewer a detailed glimpse of the first skyscraper built in New York. Well done.