Textures in black & white

Whoever would have thought that a pile of old tyres could be a thing of beauty! This is a terrific image which I could see hanging proudly on the wall in the reception area of some large multi-national tyre company. The limited tonal range suits the subject matter completely, and you have expertly managed to photograph dull black objects in such a way that their form, detail and textures are still very clear to see. The vignette has been very cleverly applied and its use keeps the eye within the picture, preventing the gaze from following the tyres out of the frame. The whole feel of the image leads me to almost be able to smell the rubber of the tyres. Well done.

Your selection of subject, and the way you have photographed it, represents for me that proverbial "wet paint" sign - I know I shouldn't touch, but I also know I that I won't be able to stop myself! The shallow depth of field works well, as the key parts of the form and texture are well focused, with the twists and swirls fading out of focus as they extend beyond the frame. I believe you have deliberately chosen to give a high contrast/high exposure tone to the shot, as it does add to the "creature from another world" impression, but I think for me it is a fraction too over-exposed, which was the thing which just kept it out of my top ten. I still love the image and it holds my fascination.

Of all the elephant/rhino images entered into this contest, this was the stand out one for me, as it truly captures "textures of elephant" in one gentle, enchanting image. For me the square crop works well, as you have the main elements of the composition running diagonally across the frame, leading us to the elephant's gaze. I really can imagine rubbing my hand across its wide, rough forehead, before examining some of the finer and then more deepened wrinkles. The lighter skin with the little lumpy bits add brightness to the image, and those wonderful hairy ears give yet another texture to explore. A delightful image of this magnificent beast in all it's textured glory.

You have captured some good texture on this leaf, and despite the strong sunlight you have managed to avoid any harsh shadows which could have hidden some of the leaf patterns and texture. What slightly lets the image down for me is the bright white background showing through on the top left and bottom right of the picture, which is so bright it distracts me from the subject. I think if this brightness could have been toned down very slightly, your well-shot image would have raised up another level.

This image has great appeal for me as it is just the sort of shot I love to take - some people may think a photograph of a wall is a pretty uninspiring thing, but I love it! One of the things which set it above the other "wall" shots entered into this contest, was your decision as to which bit of wall to capture - the massive stones on the right and the square blocks at the bottom give a real sense of solidity and sturdiness, set against the more random patterns of stones in the main part of the wall. The square crop adds to that strength. Exposure, b&w conversion and focusing are all spot on. Keep on taking this sort of subject, as they deserve to be taken and are anything but dull.

This is a very strong, powerful image which really grabs the attention. The composition is non-traditional, with the central positioning and the main elements being pushed to the very top of the frame, but I think it is this which adds to the strength. The detail you have captured in the backs of the hands and the toes is suburb, and I like the darkness of the surround which just allows detail on the ornate chair to be revealed. Unfortunately it is this same darkness which kept this image from being in my top placings, as for me the blackness below the ankles is too dark and all detail there has gone. This gives me the impression the feet are not actually attached to the legs. Hopefully on your original image you are able to pull back some hint of detail there, which in my view would then complete this stunning image.

A great number of the pictures entered into this contest showed textures of rough, lumpy or gritty things, so your decision to enter this image was a refreshing alternative. Your capture of the light is stunning and your image glows. The focus is crisp, but you have added a softer diffused look to the scene which suit these gently twisting fins perfectly. A supurb b&w conversion with gorgeous tones - I would be surprised if the colour version of this shot was even half as good as this monochrome version. Beautiful.

One thing I like to do on a stony beach is explore the wonderful variety of shapes and patterns of the pebbles, and your image takes me directly to one of those beaches. I can almost hear that metallic squeaky noise these large pebbles give when walking across them. Your b&w conversion is excellent, as is your lighting and focus. The use of a vignette draws the eye to the pock-marked central stone before letting us wander around and explore the other stones in the picture. Lovely image, beautiful monochrome work.

Before I started the judging, this was not the type of shot I would have expected to see in my top ten, but I am glad this image came along to cause me to surprise myself! On initial viewing it is not a shot about textures, but the more you look, it becomes very much about textures, from the almost intangible steam, to the skin, hair, fabric, leather and grass.... Your combination of narrow aperture and fast shutter speed have kept all the details sharp throughout, and your decision about what to leave in and keep out of the shot is spot on for me - we can see enough of the horse to get the context, but we are in nice and close to see the action. You say you do not usually go for b&w, but maybe you should do more, as this is great work. Thank you for surprising me!

A fabulous image which gives textures in abundance, from the skin and hair on the hand, the smooth metal on the picks and instrument surround, the softness of the banjo head and the taut sharpness of the strings. Your ability to capture all this in a self portrait is outstanding, as for me the focusing and depth of field is spot on - I imagine there were a good many misses before this one hit! A good black & white conversion shows a full range of tones from black through to white. The patience and perseverance it must have taken to produce this shot was certainly well worth it.