Monthly #122 - Bricks and Stonework Competition

Thank you all for your entries, of which there is only 6 but once again solid quality. Noticeably a good few with some juxtaposition which I expected, and very pleased with. Here are some comments:

Hazyj - Shadows on the Brickwork - like this for its simplicity, lovely color contrast and excellent composition. Apropos the comment about juxtapositioning, add some textures and the making of a fine image.

Spad- St Peter’s Stars - Wonderful long exposure image, and a contender for the 1st spot. Beautifully detailed and I like the almost eerie mood to –this, and the star trails add an interest element. Colors, composition and textures all solid. Just wondered what that diagonal streak on the top right corner. Is that a wire?

Drofmit - Tiger, Tiger burning bright- what a nice peaceful scene with lots of juxtaposition here. Love that you included that lamp on the right hand side and the tables and chairs and the balance afforded by the garage? building on the left. No issues with the colors and composition, and DOF is wonderful!

Francisbd - Lumières dans la chapelle - Lights in the Chapel – So much textures oozing out of this image, and the aforementioned juxtaposition, and most suitable for a B/W rendition. Excellent shadow play revealing a good eye for timing and composition. Great mood too!

MHOL190246 – A wall of rejects – The old adage- one man’s reject is another man’s opportunity - rings all too true in this image, and as with Fancisbd’s image, this one oozes delectable textures. The muted colors, the slanting composition, and the deadish plant all enhance the feel of reject. Looks so solid nevertheless. Arty photo.

Nigelk- The Old and the New – Grand composition, with matching DOF. Quite agree about the light and shadow contrast. What I like most is this image represents a fairly new genre, and is known as liminal space, I quote from another Forum “There aren't hard and fast rules for the perfect liminal space image, but they typically depict:
- A transition space, like a hallway or pathway.
- A sense of eeriness or uneasiness.
- A feeling of awe or wonder.
- An element of nostalgia, particularly for the late 1980s or early '90s.”.
'Liminal space' photography captures the eerieness and isolation of pandemic life. Since the start of the pandemic, a very niche genre of photography has grown in popularity. Called "liminal spaces," it's largely made up of images of empty, eerie hallways, dark stairways, old arcades and dead malls."

I keep asking “where are the people. There is one- isolated and even indifferent. Good timing on this image. Did you use a Tripod?

1st spot to Nigelk- Beautiful DOF and composition.
2nd spot to Spad- Long exposure shot.
3rd spot to Francisbd- super shadow play.

I am happy to give HC’s to the other entrants.

Over to you Nigel.

An interesting competition with very prompt judging and comments. Congratulations to NigelK and the podium places

Michael

Thanks for the competition Noel... and congrats to the winner and podia....
The building in my entry has always fascinated me because it is totally out of keeping for the area!
It has just changed hands and the tiger's head has appeared... it is occupying the owl hole into the loft space, always left to keep the rodents down.
I am presuming the new people have converted their loft and therefore needed to blank-off the owl hole.
I didn't take a photo from the front of the house [where the brickwork is slightly better, imo] because of the totally naff, very large copy of the "Palme d'Or" and the solar globes in all the bushes.... and.....

Congrats and welldone to Hazyj!

Noel...

That is a plane! Unfortunately I live right on the path, in to and out of, Manchester airport. It can make night photography a pain in the arse!

I could take it out but then there woukd be gaps in the star trails.

Sorry.... congrats to NigelK!