Monthly #46 - The Printed Word Competition

Unfortunately I had to delete my entry - on re-reading the rules I realised that my submission had not been taken in the same month as competition - my apologies

I'm really mystified at the lack of entries for this month's competition. Advertising hoardings, books, newspapers, typography, labels, T shirts, typwriters; there's even a bit of public sculpture in Birmingham made of huge concrete effigies of Baskerville moveable type. Maybe I think too laterally?
Anyway, starting from the top left ..........

Family by drofmit
What a magnificent concept - and the patience needed to complete it ! Perfectly photographed but I have to ask about the tall format with the odd thingie on the top? Chopping it off so brutally on the left doesn't aid the composition. But then, what's actually on its left maybe doesn't help either? The main player could do with a bit more breathing space, I feel.

Can you put it in for me please? by JAK
(The old ones are always the best) And here is the old fashioned married to the ultimate modernity of the K1. I love the simplicity of this one, both in its composition and the putative storyline. The crop is exactly right and it is bright, bold and does what it says on the tin.

Photography paperwork by GlynM
This is a list of "where has all my money gone?" Both you and John have faced the same problem of 'how to lay it all out?' Both have gone for a single plane in order to get everything in sharp focus. The sheer scope of this collection certainly keeps one looking around it and it's so crisp you could read them if you wanted to. For me, however, it needs something extra to elevate it from a collection of instruction booklets to an artistic photograph. For example, desaturate the whole and colour pop the single red one?

Last words by davidtrout
Or is it lost words? Well spotted and nicely photographed - but it ain't printed! Thank you for submitting it just the same. It makes a really interesting composition.

Two bead a'reading by Noelcmn
Returning to Glyn and John's single plane solution, this one does the absolute opposite and makes use of the focal plane and the gulley in the printed page to divide up the composition into four. Four quarters is breaking the rules somewhat and although the focal plane is across the bottom third, the gulley is straight up the middle -- but now enter those beads, the red one being so artfully placed on the left vertical third it pulls the whole composition together. This is clever stuff.

Imagine waking tomorrow and all the music has disappeared by Paulb531
This does rather cry out to be photographed, especially as there is an underlying story, but again, it ain't print, it's painted grafitti (brave painter too). The vandal's chosen canvas constrains the composition somewhat and I'm not sure how one could avoid that strong horizontal division.

The printed word by johnriley
I've said a few things about the strategy already (see GlynM) and once more, the nature of the material makes it difficult to add that extra interest factor. I like the chosen layout, as if these have been crammed into a news-stand in the manner of magazines everywhere. It does have a focal point but it is something of an eyecatcher in the wrong location ...... 'CHIPS'

Witten in stone by Tyronet2000
Err, yes - and this ain't printed either. It is a lovely tonal essay however, from deepest distant darkness at the top right to brighter tones in the foreground, with the shadow on the memorial joining in with the overall idea -- and all in beautifully restrained tones of green. Had it been printed it could have been a contender.

Set in stone by Perspicador
I thought when I first saw this that it was engraved onto a metal plate but metal or stone, it ain't printed. That said, it is a nice depiction of a praiseworthy conservation effort, with the added bonus that, having read it, you've learned something. Does the site have any printed pamphlets or other propaganda? Placing these against or on the sign somehow would add interest and validate the 'printed' bit.

Two beads a'reading takes the prize due to the detailed attention to composition, for successfully adding something extra to a plain grey page and for its absolute quirkiness
Followed by Can you put it in for me

And thank you all for your incredibly diverse submissions (printed, carved, engraved or daubed)

Many thanks for an interesting competition. I thought it was a great subject and was also disappointed with the low entry. Perhaps too many people were focused on the imminent arrival of their K-1s.

Congratulations to Noel for the win and JAK as runner-up.

I liked Noel's picture. I thought it had a great feeling of depth and as usual with his entries in these competitions had an interesting, and certainly for for me an unusual, cultural element.

Glyn

PS - While my shot was definitely a single plane I am not quite so sure about John's. The little number tags suggest to me that we are looking as some sort of display stand in a museum and while it does not have great depth it does not look flat to me. I was more worried by the handle creeping into the bottom of the image.

Thanks for the competition David and congratulations to Noel and JAK. Like others have said I'm disappointed at the low entry level, a disturbing trend in the weeklies as well of late.
The printed word was a good subject, perhaps I interpreted it a little too widely.
David

Oh, crumbs- this is a surprise! And there I thought it was too simple an idea to be of merit in what I considered a strong contest. Such interesting and varied interpretations. Still I'm pleased as punch. And concur this was an excellent challenge, with so many possibilities but yet drew so few entries. Thanks for the honor David, and for an excellent judging critique- a learning curve on this front. Congratulations to JAK. I'll have a new challenge up later this evening.

Congratulations to Noel - simple idea well executed. Thanks to David for the competition and judging. Hard luck JAK - nearly the first K1 winner.

regards

paul

Congratulations to the Winner and other place. Agree with David 's remarks about lack of entries.

Congrats to Noel for his interesting winning entry. I thought it was quite a tricky subject to come up with something that was reasonably original and not just a photo of someone else's artwork. Somewhere hidden away I have some lead and wooden type and considered creating an image with those (similar to the one that was deleted.) Or maybe people's thoughts were diverted pondering the arrival of the K-1.