Theatres and Cinemas

What an incredible capture. We get a real sense of drama and all the action of the stage is brought to us outside the theatre. The uncanny quality of the image as the police officer looks to tie his horse to the steel pillar before maybe going into see Chicago. A hundred and fifty years earlier it would be a saloon bar. The man walking past not looking as if it's too surreal or normal for him to worry about and take a look. The quality of the light on the horse and officer is wonderful as they are lit by the entrance lights like they are up on a stage. We then get the headlights from the cars and the wonderful neon sign displaying Pamela Anderson's Roxy character looking straight at us. The blue of the helmet on the side of the horse is lovely and echos the blue on the far right of the image on the billboard. Such a complex photograph and one of those moments we all dream about. Very well done. Superb.

The use of color works so well in this intriguing photograph. We get to see the glamour and ornate splendor of the internal facade of the building set against the drab functional back space before any production is put in place. The contrast of light between the warm glow of the orange against the greys adds to that difference and the two figures gives us a sense of scale. The spotlight beautifully positioned just gives us that sense of what the space is used for. Great technique and a lovely capture showing two worlds. Well done.

How many times could you walk past this building without ever really stopping and looking at how incredibly beautiful the exterior is. We all do it from not looking up at buildings or keeping our head in our phones as we keep on walking. This photographer has made a beautifully composed exterior of this majestic building for us all to look at. The straight lines are well controlled on a street that is clearly on a hill. The tight crop gives a sense of balance as does the formal framing the photographer has used. The use of black and white allows us to really take in all the details without distraction whilst also giving a sense of history to the building. The light on the building works very well against the darker clouds and road which frames the building. A stunning capture.

The history that this place must have witnessed from making stars on their way up to those back coming down. This photograph behind the scenes really shows us the demise and history of the building itself. We can see from the wonderful detailed low ceiling that this was once a grand building. Now in disrepair. I love the low camera angle that includes a real sense of the space. The wonderful blue and greys from the brick work and on the roof and that solitary chair. This is what makes the photograph. I can imagine myself going and sitting in that very spot looking out. I would take in the building, what it has been, what it could be again but really thinking this is the end of the life for this grand space. No longer needed by generations who have forgotten the joy that these once grand dames gave us. The technique is flawless to keep in the window panes against that amount of light coming in is superb. A lovely image.

Out of the hundreds of images that show the entire view of the inside of the theatre that was submitted to this competition this one really draws us in and keeps our attention. The building itself is ornate but the photographer has been clever in allowing us the viewer to decide where we look. We can linger on the stunning backdrop on the stage or the deep red seats or imagine ourselves in one of the gold boxes to the sides. This photograph does not scream at us. It's not loud which is not easy given the subject. I find this a peaceful image that allows me time to think and look. Well done.

This really echos the old world charm of what cinemas used to be. Beacons for large groups of individuals to come together in a time before online viewing. A place to get your daily news in the 1930s. A hangout and place to meet before a date and to see the latest film maybe a year or two before it would ever get to the small screen. The composition and quality of light are superb and the use of black and white adds that old school glamour to the entire photograph. The slight wide angle situates the building and the car to the left is beautifully positioned. Superb capture and great use of post production to create a stunning picture. Well done.

We have all been here. Waiting for the curtain to open and reveal the magic set. This photograph so beautifully composed with such a vivid deep saturated blue across the frame really keeps our imagination going. Where are all the other people?, have they all left or are we the viewer to the scene early? We will never know but that only adds intrigue to this provocative image. The light on the top of the seats is amazing and really draws our attention to the curtain. The camera angle and direct straight on point of view could not be better. A lovely photograph that takes us straight into the action without ever revealing the full story. Beautiful.

This could be a painting by Manet in a bar in Paris. This was so close to my top 10. I love the use of reflections in the mirrors, trying to recognize the people. The tiled floor is lovely and the colors pop and are echoed in some of the bags and clothes on the audience. It feel so contained which I love. It could be an elaborate dolls house. Just lovely and I have spent a long time looking at this scene as it's so full of life and detail.

The clarity and straight on approach used by the photographer works so well in this photograph of a once great facade now restored and repurposed as a hotel. The scaling with the use of the bus is excellent. The decision not to really saturate the image is a good choice as it allows us to focus our eye across the entire frame. A lovely capture. Very accomplished.

This really jumped out at me as we concentrate on the people who attend events like this rather than the building itself even though the symmetry between the seats and rows is stunning. I can go close in and focus on individuals talking to each other whilst others stare in all directions. It reminds me of of the film Rear Window when Jimmy Stewart's character, wheel chair bound looks upon his neighbors with a camera. Great capture and well seen.

This is a great example of looking for something out of nothing. The way the photographer has cropped these rows of chairs and the camera angle used above works so well and really elevates these seats into a beautifully constructed photograph. The lack of color adds to the image with the slight marks on the chairs keeping with the theme. A lovely capture. Really well done.

This photograph is quite amazing. To be able to stand in the middle of the road to get this angle is unusual. The use of color gives a sense of faded glamour on broadway but we still get an idea that people want to go here with the wonderfully controlled neon lights and posters. It has a old world feel about the image and it works for that reason. A lovely and brave capture. Well done.

The contrast between the harsh light on the single figure and the posters of the performances in shadow on the wall works so beautifully together as does the composition and placement of the woman shielding her face to see the posters. The figure gives us a sense of scale but that dress is lovely and the light on her is incredible and makes that pose she holds come alive. The highlights and shadow details are held so well given the light and the overall scene in black and white works so well and is full of intrigue. The woman looks stunning in that dress and she herself could be on a poster. Lovely capture and an interesting take on the brief. Well done.