Monthly #48 – Number Competition

Many thanks to all of you that entered. Following the remarkable success of the previous monthly competition by Noelcmn I knew I had a challenge ahead of me. I decided to set what was hopefully a subject open to a wide interpretation. It was also good to see a comment in the follow-up to the previous competition by drofmit coming to a similar conclusion. In the last few days it looked like I was getting close to the number of entries set last time. Disappointingly though, on review, I found three entries in my competition to be non-compliant on shooting date. However I am still encouraged by the very respectable number of compliant entries.

As always it is an excellent and well-crafted collection of pictures and it has been fun and a privilege to review your work.


Six little goslings all in a row – geoffk
A very nice early entry to start off this competition. Probably an opportunistic shot with good management of the pressure of completing the take before the opportunity is lost. Perhaps the composition is just a little bit centric but it certainly captures the in-line formation. Exposure and depth of field are well controlled and for me it is great to see a different species of geese from the hordes of Canada geese I see locally. A good interpretation of the subject and a great reminder of spring.

Three flying Greylag geese – Perspicador
Rodney who always impresses me by being quick to put something up it our competitions has given us another of his signature images. I think the composition is great and like the diagonal formed by the line of birds. It certainly conveys a good feeling of movement. I suspect that these are the same type of geese as seen in the previous entry and therefore have probably identified these for me as well.

Four – Mag07
I think this is a very clever interpretation of the competition subject which has grown on me over the month. It reminds me of the moving Channel Four logos. To me this is also a beautifully crafted image that works really well in black & white. The background is fairly high key but I see this helps to draw the viewer towards the darker image of the child who is posed like the number 4. Even then there are still lots of other details to explore. I particularly liked the reflections in the shiny floor and the way this reveals some slight misalignment in the floor tiles. A fantastic shot. Very well done.

Liverpool 18 – LancashireLad
First off I would like to thank Alan for letting me have the lost exif data and I can certainly confirm that this is a fully compliant image. I often get drawn into photographing signs and think this is a nicely composed image that works well. Alan has obviously resisted any urge to shoot the sign straight on which has provided some nice depth and detail. There is also good management of the verticals and good control of the camera settings. We also get a very nice touch of red. A nice bold image.

2p – smudge
This is a nice macro shot providing some fantastic detail from a 2p coin. I feel a great affinity toward this image. The DFA 100 macro lens is one of my favourites and this shot demonstrates how good it is at capturing sharp detail. The ring light also obviously works well to compliment the lens. It appears to be providing some great highlighting of the detail without introducing any hard shadows. The manual exposure and depth of field have also been very well controlled. A very nice detailed close-up image.

focus !!!! – wozfromcov
The “Date Taken” entry of the displayed exif data appears to be blank but the exif reader add-on in my browser shows that the shooting date was 2016:06:09 so this is happily a fully compliant entry.

I think this is a great fun image. Initially the viewer probably wonders what the relationship is to the “Number” requirements but this is wonderfully explained in the comment “HOW MANY DID I ACTUALLY GET IN FOCUS !!!!”. As such it brought a smile to my face as something that used the description to raise it into a different class. There are certainly a few of these forget-me-not flowers that are in focus but I gave up trying to count them. A great attempt at doing something different and original.

genuine mileage – ken2390
I think this is a good original interpretation of the subject requirements and certainly celebrates the recorded mileage of this car. We also get to see that the tank is full, the engine is running and, happily, that it was stationary when the image was shot. I suspect that it was a quite a challenging environment for the camera and photographer but I am sure using a small MX-1 probably helped. The composition works quite well and we certainly get a good image of the dials. We get a bit of flare at the top of the picture and I think I would have temped to have used a little negative exposure compensation. I wonder if shooting it in the dark with the dials illuminated would have worked. However the image forms a great record not only of the mileage but that it is still in use and has further to go.

8 of 9 – bforbes
A well composed image of this rowing boat and crew shot looking down. I love the diagonal composition and that the craft is travelling into the image. The water also provides a good backdrop and helps to add a sense of movement. The alignment of the oars and blades also well captures the excellent synchronisation of the crew. In what would otherwise be a fairly grey shot we get a marvellous splash of red. A well observed and crafted picture.

309 – conexus
I think this image has the look of a great action shot. The photographer has obviously picked a very good spot and given that we are told that it is only a 50mm lens must be fairly close to the action. Not only do we get to see the foreground bike half off the ground but we also get a fantastic rendition of the rider’s facial expression. I do though find the displayed depth of field to be rather strange. The top left and bottom right seem to be suddenly very soft and I cannot attribute this to motion or panning blur. I think I would not have been quite so disturbed if the left arm of the foreground rider had been sharper. The foreground rider is also a bit mixed up with bike and rider immediately behind and while this is just the luck of the draw detracts from what otherwise would have been a stunning picture. However it is a very good attempt in challenging circumstances.

Euro Millions - It's a Lottery – nicesparky
I think it is always nice to see a photograph that tells a story and I think this image does that very well. The composition also works well to keep the viewer engaged. I like that the drain is set diagonally in the frame and that it all looks a bit damp highlighting the function of the drain. I also like that the lottery ticket has a tear in it that reinforces its discarded nature. An excellent, well thought-out and crafted image.

Tram No.114 – davidtrout
David who’s images of steam trains are for me always a joy to see has here provided a great but simple detail picture of a preserved tram. I think the composition works really well. The numerical aspect of the shot comes across brilliantly and then there are some great extra details which along with the title provide very good context. The lighting and reflections in the shiny surfaces have been very well managed and I think it all comes together well to create a fantastic image.

United as One – paulb531
There is certainly no argument about the numerical aspect of this image. I think the composition works well and the viewer can have no doubt about what is being depicted. The verticals are very well managed and the expanse of detail help create some good depth. It might be my monitor but it feels just slightly over exposed, for example I think the print of the signs between the gates is almost lost in their white backgrounds. It does though help to create a very strong sort of “in-your-face” image which may well have been the intention. Certainly a well observed and composed image.

1 Snowhill, Birmingham, UK – davidwozhere
I think this is a very nicely presented image of some modern architecture which certainly fully complies with the numerical requirements of the competition. I think it has been very well observed and shot. The verticals have been really well managed and I love the combinations of greys and greens with just a hint of something shiny and reflective. I also think the complete absence of any people creates a great feeling of calm. Perhaps I would have cloned out the small soft leaf in the bottom right but it has very little impact on the quality of this excellent image.

24-06-2016 – drofmit
Tim has composed for us a currently very topical interpretation of the morning after the night before when it was revealed that the UK had voted to leave the European Union. This date will undoubtedly be part of history lessons for future generations. It is certainly a well put together and crafted image and conveys the broad unexpectedness of the result and concerns about the future.

Three's a crowd – michaelblue
It is a great image Michael and certainly a pleasure to see but unfortunately the exif data shows that it was shot in July 2013. So I am afraid it falls outside of the requirements of our monthly competitions.

Love potion No 9 – Noelcmn
I think this is a nicely composed and fully compliant entry. The colours work well and I love the way the ripples in the water have produced some great reflective effects. I particularly like the way the mooring line reflection contains a lovely inverted “S” shaped curve. A well observed and excellently crafted image.

92220 Evening Star – JAK
The second image in this competition shot using an MX-1 which is probably a really useful camera when visiting places like the National Railway Museum. I think this is an interesting image. A close-up of the front of the locomotive showing the name and number commemorative plates. While I assume it was inside when the shot was taken the conversion to black & white plus the noise level helps create a sort of timeless image and I can imagine this is how it looked in service at night time.

All Aboard – chrishorsnell
A really beautiful and well-presented image from a very recently joined new member. Unfortunately though the exif data shows that it was shot in May 2016. So I am afraid it falls outside of the requirements of our monthly competitions where entries have to be shot during the month of the competition.

Symmetry – Simonmac
A very nice example of your excellent work Simon but unfortunately the exif data shows that it was shot in April 2016. So I am afraid it falls outside of the requirements of our monthly competitions.


Results
With so many good and broad interpretations I found choosing the winners exceedingly difficult. So after some careful consideration this is it:

1st – Mag07 for “Four ” – Because I thought it was such an unusual interpretation and well-crafted image.

2nd – nicesparky for “Euro Millions – It's a Lottery” – Because it is such a good, well thought-out image with a great element of storytelling.

3rd – davidtrout for “Tram No.114” – For the beautiful and largest rendition of a physical number in the collection.

Highly Commended , in no particular order, to smudge, davidwozhere and bforbes

I think this completes my responsibilities here and hand over to Magdalena for the next round.

Glyn

Thanks to GlynM for an original theme and judged competition.

Congratulations to Mag07. A gem very worthy of the top spot. Hope you come up with a gem of a theme for next comp.

What a fantastic competition, inspirational to view all the varying interpretations of the theme, and wonderfully judged, and comments from GlynM. Not to mention the prompt judging. Thank you-loved reading all those comments, instructive and a learning curve. Congratulations to Mag07-great shot! worthy winner imho. And extended to Nicesparky and Davidtrout. And not forgetting the HM's, Smudge, davidwozhere and bforbes. Loved the latter's image. Great stuff everyone.

Great winner and places and HCs!

Thank you for the comment Glyn, And I have learned a valuable lesson- check the exif not the date I edited the photo!!!

Cheers

Simon

Thanks Glyn, always a pleasure to enter competitions for which you have chosen the subject. Congrats to Mags, Sparky and the HCs. Barrie will be chuffed his Tamron lens came 3rd while he personally picked up an HC.
David

Thanks for the comments

Thanks Glyn for your efforts putting on this months comp. I have to say you have picked an outstanding winner, so congratulations Magdalena. David, I'm going to be more careful about the loan of lenses if people keep beating me

Wow, cheers! The image has been shot under a spur of the moment, as my client's child, bored with us talking, decided to climb on that chair. Asked quickly if I could take a shot and did so. Wasn't until I got to developing the RAW that I realized he looks like a no 4. Thank you again and and congratulations to everyone for great submissions. I'll sort the next competition in the next couple of hours.

Great fun, speedily and constructively judged... thanks.
Wonderfully observed winning shot....
and a load of different takes.... I too gave up counting forget-me-knots.....
then went and pulled loads up from the veg patch!!

A stunning winning image. Well done to Glyn for the competition and comprehensive feedback.

Regards

Paul

I was sorry not to be able to enter this one. It was a great competition so well done to all those who did enter images and especially to the winners!

Super, highly detailed comments Glyn - thanks for giving us all your time for that.
Wonderful range of interpretations and some fascinating images

Thanks for the nice comments - never been one to obey rules - maybe I will take note next time !