Umbrellas

Great idea and execution in this inspiring shot. The first thing to catch my eye in this image is the photographer's lighting skills. The two flashes have, in fact, been expertly positioned in a way that graciously lights the girl's face as well as highlights both her silhouette and the raindrops, setting both apart from the dark surroundings. The addition of a fast shutter speed allows the raindrops to appear perfectly frozen, sharp, giving the impression of a starry sky. Lastly, the well executed editing certainly adds charm and appeal to an already inspiring image. Turning the image into black and white is a wise choice here. Colours gone, in fact, the viewer's eye is able to better concentrate on light and shape, which just so happen to be this shot's strong points. A beautiful image that certainly deserves recognition. Well done!

Feet in the grass, wet hair, surrounded by nature and animals: this shot captures the essence of a good childhood, instantly instilling 'feel good' emotions in the viewer. Personally, I would have loved it if this shot was a more standard, less panoramic crop to allow more of the sky into the frame, but I trust that the photographer made the best choice with what was available to them. I love how the depth of field nicely separates the subjects from the background, how the geese are captured in a neat line and the girl's outfit, its colour nicely standing out against the greenery around her. What a lovely 'feel good' image. Well done!

This shot caught my attention from the moment I saw it. The umbrella is incorporated in the image in a way that is creative and outside the box. There were no other photographs quite like this one in this contest. I like how the rain drops on the umbrella appear like teardrops on the subject's face, giving an almost melancholic feeling to the image. Personally, I would have liked it if the green reflection on the left bottom side of the frame wasn't there, but I understand the difficulty with handling reflections in this particular situation. Reading that this image was captured with an iPhone is, quite frankly, inspiring. It goes to show that expensive equipment isn't a requirement to get a good shot (not that iPhones are cheap, but compared to high end cameras they indeed are!). The prefect example that creativity is in the eye of the beholder, and not in the kit held in his/her hands. Well done!