There is a great deal going on in this image, but at no point does it feel confusing - despite even the cables running from top left to bottom right. There's nothing more classic in street photography than a couple embracing, especially when it's set within Italian architecture. Cropping out the sky means we can concentrate on the detail within the scene, and our eye moves easily throughout the frame to take everything in.
29,500 Ratings
Our eye goes straight to the man's face in this excellent capture. From there, it travels round the frame, taking in the bizarre elements: the doll (and why is he holding its hand?), the guns, the sleeping woman and - a lovely finishing touch - the sign that says 'The best just got better'. So many stories being told in one well-seen image.
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This lovely shot deserves a special mention, as it came a very close second in the judges' scoring. The contrast between light and dark is excellent, but it's all about the interaction between the man and the nun who is driving. The warmth between them, and the smile on the other nun's face, is uplifting, and the placement of the man's hand gives it an added dimension. Very well captured, given that the moment probably didn't last more than a few seconds at most.
Brief
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**NEW RULE: The same image, and altered versions of the same image file, can only be entered into one APOY round. <a href="https://www.photocrowd.com/photo-competitions/photography-awards/apoy-2019/help/#heading-1580">Find out more</a>.** Arguably one of the trickier genres, street and candid photography is nonetheless incredibly gratifying when you get it right. Capturing the unwitting choreography of people as they go about their daily lives is a challenge worth rising to - and this category gives you the opportunity to do just that. Take a look at the work of legends of this classic genre such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Doisneau and Vivian Maier, and learn what you enjoy about their approach. Then study the likes of Martin Parr, Niall McDiarmid and Bruce Gilden, for a more contemporary outlook. In all cases, keeping the kit simple and - generally speaking - shooting with a wide to standard lens will keep you close to the action.
The light is what captured our attention first of all in this shot. The backlight streaming through and highlighting the foreground figures is stunning, while the detail in the buildings is fascinating. It would have been nice to see some separation between the seated foreground figures and the two standing up in the background, as they all merge together somewhat. But a strong image nonetheless.
