Weekly #366 - Here comes the sun Competition

Thanks to everybody who took time and trouble to submit photos. I’ve had fun sifting through the entries, found far more than I needed to fill a podium and would like to compliment the majority who conjured perfect picture postcards of one style or another. As ever, the following comments are based on personal preference rather than any formal technical qualifications (and, consequently, might well be wrong).

A couple of years ago, I was sitting in a Singapore coffee bar when a Turkish tourist came over and started asking about my cameras. He was unable to buy Pentax gear in his part of the world, but had heard about the marque’s reputation for “beautiful colours”. Many of this week's entries underline the point

Here goes, then...

In the evening sun, by michaelblue
I like this. There is no central motif, as Michael mentions, but the monochrome tones combine with lengthening shadows to give the impression of a bustling summer’s eve. Are they off to watch Bayern, to catch the train home or simply scurrying in the general direction of a Weißbier? We’ll never know, but it’s nice to ponder.

‘Catch the wind’ kite festival, Morecambe, by mudge
I’m not sure I’ve yet forgiven the Morecambe authorities for allowing the old Heysham Head kart track to fall into disrepair – ’twas a national treasure that closed circa 1983. Is a kite festival any substitute for the intoxication of two-stroke competition? Possibly not, but this is a pleasing slice of British seaside whimsy and I love the colour rendition. Does the 18mm focal length indicate use of the 18-55mm kit lens? If so, it’s a fine tribute to 'budget' Pentax glass.

Why Only Us, by bforbes
My kind of beach, with the sort of population density you might find in Bamburgh or Brittany (but not Biarritz, leastways at this time of year). Wonderful colour, wonderful composition, wonderful everything.

Sun Dance, by Perspicador
Can’t argue with the dancing theme, but the black-headed gulls aren’t sufficiently prominent, to my mind. The foremost gull is softer than its counterpart and I’m afraid my eye isn’t really drawn to any particular element of the frame, fore or aft.

On Deck, by davidstorm
This shares the vibrant colours and casual elegance of Barrie’s beach. It could almost be a painting and I completely understand why it’s an instant memory trigger chez Storm. I’m not sure whether David took a theodolite on his hols, but that horizon tracks a beautifully straight course. But then this is a shot that works at every level.

Golden tongue, by 3party
And talking of level... This is absolutely terrific in most respects, but slightly let down by the gently slanting horizon. With a tiny processing tweak, it would be borderline perfect. Fabulous colours, beautifully rendered. The title works, too.

Common Blue (male), by andybrownhome
Exquisite simplicity as an art form. Need any more be said? All right, I’ll throw in a “gorgeous” as well.

Under the influence, by checknumber96
Great title, great idea, great shot. The exif data gives away little, but I’d love to know more about the camera/lens set-up. Scores high marks for being vibrant, distinctive and different. Also makes me feel thirsty, although I’ve resisted beer since summer 2010 and might need a pint of Sauvignon Blanc instead…

Only in Britain, by ken2390
This has something in common with the Morecambe kite festival shot, where some folk wore T-shirts and shorts while others were smothered in jackets. Here, you have opposing extremes on one bloke. There is indeed something very British going on, a sense of the slightly tawdry but somehow wholesome.

Other worlds, by johnriley
Possibly not to everybody’s taste, but another strong contender in my book. I don’t know whether this is infra-red, infra-red with bolt-on extras or something else entirely, but all that matters is that it works. Eye-catching and thought-provoking in equal measure.

Going to be a hot un, by paulb531
I’d perhaps prefer this if it had been shot from a different angle, to keep the nearest parasol away from the centre of the frame (where I found its presence a touch distracting), but such things might have been easier said than done. That blend of crepuscular pinks, oranges and purples is a sumptuous scene-setter – you can almost feel the building heat.

Golden Beach Sunrise, by geordie01
I’ve no idea whether this is a holiday shot or a slice of the North-East at its most vibrant, but suspect it’s the latter. There’s not much point underlining the magnificence of George’s shot, because it should be obvious to all. It’s not just the colours, though, but the composition, textures and everything else. And it was achieved with an entry-level Pentax DSLR and a budget superzoom (albeit one that I rate very highly). Such details merely add to its armoury.

Butterfly on lavender, by juliet4000
I like most of this, particularly the way that the sunlight is most visible through the butterfly’s wings (I won’t attempt to identify the species, because I’m rubbish at butterflies). For me, though, the butterfly is just a little too small in a frame dominated by softly focused lavender. I’d prefer a slightly tighter crop – but only slightly.

Surfer, by noelcmn
Loses zillions of marks for making me feel deeply envious, but that apart the colours and crispness are terrific. Thus far I’ve spent only about 50 hours of my life in South Africa arrived, watched motor race, went home): this is a useful reminder that I need to return (although I’m more likely to pack a Sigma 100-300mm f4 than a surfboard).

Spithead, by walkeja
Nice idea, well executed, but suffers only because similar entries benefit from a richer colour palette. Any blame should be apportioned to nature, rather than the photographer.

Summer Garden, by GlynM
I envy the horticultural expertise – my attempts to add butterfly magnets and other stuff to our herbaceous borders have been a miserable flop – but to my mind this is a nice photograph of a great garden rather than a great photograph of a garden.

Catching those early rays, by drofmit
Another garden, yes, but this one scores for being rich in tone, very obviously French and featuring a splendidly named cat (French verb of the day: ‘ronronner’ means ‘to purr’). I want to sit on that bench right now, glass of Sauvignon or Rosé d’Anjou in hand. Or perhaps glasses of both, one in each hand. In reality, though, it is circa 5am, work beckons and I’m sitting here cradling a mug of fennel tea…

I hope the above makes some sort of sense.

After the usual dithering and changing of mind, the results are as follows:

3rd: Other worlds, by johnriley
2nd: Why Only Us, by bforbes
1st: Golden Beach Sunrise, by geordie01

Your turn again, George.

It's a pleasure to see such a fast and thoughtful judging, so many thanks for that. And the third place, thank you also for the placing.

Well done geordie01, another win, another new competition to set!

Fabulous shot Geordie, agree wholeheartedly with the judge on the comments-colors, composition and texture are beautiful to behold! I'm passing on the envy doled out by the judge Love to be there! Congrats bforbes and Johnriley. Fab shots too!
Hope we see you sometime on SA shores Simon. Thanks for judging, no easy feat I am sure, with such a wonderful line up for a terrific challenge.

Thanks for the win here Simon and congrats to Barrie(my pic for the best image) and John on the podium places.
Will have a think for the next comp and hopefully have it up and running later today.

Great competition, many thanks.

Some fantastic pictures, excellent comments and well deserved winners.

Glyn

Congratulations to George and John, it's an honour to share a podium with you. So thanks to Simon for the second place, the competition and his excellent judging.

Well done Simon - great competition. Congratulations to the winner and podium places.

regards

paul