Monthly #153 - Hand-held, Uncropped, Moving Competition
| Title | Monthly #153 - Hand-held, Uncropped, Moving |
|---|---|
| Judge | Lubbyman | Closing Date | 31/03/2025 | Opting Out | If you'd like to enter but not keen on creating and judging the following competition you have the option to opt out. If you're selected as the winning photo simply create a report saying that you'd like Admin to take over and we'll do the rest. |
| Description | |
Your challenge this month is to follow in the footsteps of the great Henri Cartier-Bresson. Two quotes from 'The Decisive Moment': “Inside movement there is one moment at which the elements in motion are in balance. Photography must seize upon this moment and hold immobile the equilibrium of it.” “If you start cutting or cropping a good photograph, it means death to the geometrically correct interplay of proportions.” So take a hand-held photograph of whatever you like, as long as something is in motion and you don’t crop the resulting image. It might be people, or an animal, or flowers blown by the wind, or a vehicle, or a falling leaf … the possibilities are endless. Go for the ‘decisive moment’ – which is what that first quote is all about. |
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Winning Photograph
Competition Entries
Photographs uploaded to the Monthly #153 - Hand-held, Uncropped, Moving competition.
Posted 01/04/2025 - 11:10
Link
Just the winner for the moment. Other podium places and comments to come later, after the new dog has had the attention and exercise that it is demanding and seems to think it deserves.
So congratulations, Simonmac, 'Hitch' sends shivers down my spine every time I look at it, and it's the bird that makes it. Is it the soul of a deceased fleeing the jagged jaws of eternal death? Or a messenger from the depths of whatever lies beyond this world coming for me? A second earlier or later and the bird and its impact would have been lost. The strong shapes, asymmetry of form and dramatic contrasts all add to the impact. The decisive moment indeed and very well executed and presented. Both Hitch and Henri C-B in one photo. And for that, you are this month's winner.
I must admit, though, that it took me 24 hours to realise the meaning and significance of the title. Note to self: watch more good films and less mind-numbing TV...
Steve
So congratulations, Simonmac, 'Hitch' sends shivers down my spine every time I look at it, and it's the bird that makes it. Is it the soul of a deceased fleeing the jagged jaws of eternal death? Or a messenger from the depths of whatever lies beyond this world coming for me? A second earlier or later and the bird and its impact would have been lost. The strong shapes, asymmetry of form and dramatic contrasts all add to the impact. The decisive moment indeed and very well executed and presented. Both Hitch and Henri C-B in one photo. And for that, you are this month's winner.
I must admit, though, that it took me 24 hours to realise the meaning and significance of the title. Note to self: watch more good films and less mind-numbing TV...
Steve
Posted 01/04/2025 - 11:31
Link
Welldone Simonmac! Cracking B&W image!
Posted 01/04/2025 - 21:26
Link
Thank you very much Steve. For setting this challenge and for awarding me first place.
Now, a new competition........
All the best!
Now, a new competition........
All the best!
Posted 02/04/2025 - 16:26
Link
And now, after a day dominated by dog, the promised comments and podium places.
First, the comments.
‘Junction’ by davidwozhere : A scene so familiar to us all, with a jungle of traffic lights controlling what moves and when. But what is moving and what isn’t? For me, a key thing in this photo is the arrows that say ‘move in this direction’. However, the lack of colour means they don’t stand out. I feel that there is a picture lurking in this road junction that hasn’t yet emerged.
‘Cruising thru the Crescent’ by Spad : Motion, composition, colour, light and dark – it’s all there. The sort of shot that a car manufacturer could use in a TV ad. However, the white patch from the headlights is rather jarring to my eyes, which detracts from the overall image. But otherwise – wow!
‘Liberty Memorial’ by kasperbergholt : Almost an abstract to my eyes. I love the composition created by the lights and the softness of the structures which suits the night-time mood. The car entering (or leaving?) at the bottom right gives a nice hint of movement and makes me wonder where it is going and why – we will never know.
‘Nest building time’ by rex1999 : One of my favourite seabirds and nicely captured with a beak full of nesting material and legs trailing. Coming in to land on a cliff? To my eyes, a bit more space beneath its left wing would have improved the composition. But hey, it’s a bird in flight and we all know how difficult it is even to keep a bird within the viewfinder let alone in the perfect position. So well done and a pleasure to see a gannet preparing for the next generation.
‘Who you going to call?’ by stevistds : Now this one made me smile – thank you! Just the right amount of motion blur, allowing the key words on the van stand out while blurring the others. To me, the distant houses being so sharp makes them a bit of a distraction, it’s a pity they aren’t well out of focus. However, from the Exif data, it looks like you were forced to use f13 because of the bright daylight. Nature can be so cruel to a photographer…
‘Squabble’ by Noelcmn : A strikingly original bird photo which captures the birds at just the right moment. The simplicity, symmetry and almost abstract form of the background provides the perfect contrast to the blur of feathers and legs. You had a split second to see and seize the decisive moment and you nailed it. Very well done.
‘Hitch’ by Simonmac : Nothing to add to what I’ve said before about the worthy winner.
Now for the podium places. 2nd place goes to ‘Squabble’ by Noelcmn for a remarkable bird photo. 3rd place goes to ‘Who you going to call?’ by stevistds for making me smile by injecting humour into a serious brief.
And well done to all other entries, too – the ‘decisive moment’ is still alive and well!
Steve
First, the comments.
‘Junction’ by davidwozhere : A scene so familiar to us all, with a jungle of traffic lights controlling what moves and when. But what is moving and what isn’t? For me, a key thing in this photo is the arrows that say ‘move in this direction’. However, the lack of colour means they don’t stand out. I feel that there is a picture lurking in this road junction that hasn’t yet emerged.
‘Cruising thru the Crescent’ by Spad : Motion, composition, colour, light and dark – it’s all there. The sort of shot that a car manufacturer could use in a TV ad. However, the white patch from the headlights is rather jarring to my eyes, which detracts from the overall image. But otherwise – wow!
‘Liberty Memorial’ by kasperbergholt : Almost an abstract to my eyes. I love the composition created by the lights and the softness of the structures which suits the night-time mood. The car entering (or leaving?) at the bottom right gives a nice hint of movement and makes me wonder where it is going and why – we will never know.
‘Nest building time’ by rex1999 : One of my favourite seabirds and nicely captured with a beak full of nesting material and legs trailing. Coming in to land on a cliff? To my eyes, a bit more space beneath its left wing would have improved the composition. But hey, it’s a bird in flight and we all know how difficult it is even to keep a bird within the viewfinder let alone in the perfect position. So well done and a pleasure to see a gannet preparing for the next generation.
‘Who you going to call?’ by stevistds : Now this one made me smile – thank you! Just the right amount of motion blur, allowing the key words on the van stand out while blurring the others. To me, the distant houses being so sharp makes them a bit of a distraction, it’s a pity they aren’t well out of focus. However, from the Exif data, it looks like you were forced to use f13 because of the bright daylight. Nature can be so cruel to a photographer…
‘Squabble’ by Noelcmn : A strikingly original bird photo which captures the birds at just the right moment. The simplicity, symmetry and almost abstract form of the background provides the perfect contrast to the blur of feathers and legs. You had a split second to see and seize the decisive moment and you nailed it. Very well done.
‘Hitch’ by Simonmac : Nothing to add to what I’ve said before about the worthy winner.
Now for the podium places. 2nd place goes to ‘Squabble’ by Noelcmn for a remarkable bird photo. 3rd place goes to ‘Who you going to call?’ by stevistds for making me smile by injecting humour into a serious brief.
And well done to all other entries, too – the ‘decisive moment’ is still alive and well!
Steve
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414 posts
5 years
Henri Cartier "dash" Bresson but love it Lubbyman.
Great call and hope it brings out the best in everyone.
A challenge indeed Sir,