Weekly #418 - Backlight Competition

Pipinmels –Flumserbyrg, Switzerland - A cracking opening shot, lovely contrasts here-snow and sunshine, sunrays with mist, gloom with notes of hope. B/W very suited to this image. Those sunrays coming up behind the trees is too wonderful!
Perspicador- Castle Skylinie - Evocative cityscape with dramatic skies and silhouettes. I like the contrasts between the light in the skies and the darker foreground. Enough details to draw your attention, but also enough there to make you want to see more. I loved Edinburgh when I visited way back in 1988. So memories for me here.
Tyronet2000-Last of the light - A grand silhouette, crisp, and it echoes much in my own soul, stunning composition. Those power lines to the left add so much to this image, which would otherwise be just another silhouette.
Mudge- Silhouettes in the Park - Another crisp image, a fantastic silhouette here, amazing details, and I appreciate the B/W here, something which I do not do nearly as often as I should. Well seen and executed.
Johnriley- One man and his dog - This is a great shot, some would question the inclusion of that flare, I reckon it adds a lot. Excellent timing, great photographers eye and control of lighting conditions. The anticipation in the hound is palpable.
Davidwozhere-Orange - Have been expecting some backlit flowers, and this one meets all the requirements. Appealing colors, composition spot on, backlit in all the right places, nice bokeh too!
Conexus- Pictures at an exhibition – Cool image, so many elements to appreciate here- movement, mystery, colors and light receding into the back, windows and frames. I love the composition on this one, and even more important, an attention grabber. A little dust spot there, but that would be nit picking.
Stephen-s - Evening hail Barrowdale- Stunning landscape, dramatic light in the skies, green fields and some lonely farm implement? that has to weather that storm all alone. Excellent photographer eye combined with timing here is just wonderful.
Davidstorm-A perfect evening on deck-A WOW image, crisp, inviting, and I am wondering why you are tempting me so with such an evocative holiday spirit image. A deep guttural mmmmm emanating from here. Excellent composition, interesting bokeh and crisp as only a Chenin Blanc can be.
Paulb531- Morning sun- Another WOW image, exquisite light streaks contrasted with shadow streaks. Strong emotional image this, of hope amid such wintery blues with that pale sun shining through those silhouetted trees. I could look at it forever. And the patterns in the snow is wonderful.
Geordie01 – Back lit teasle- Back lit to a T-sharp, another emotionally charged image, bringing warmth to the heart, bokehlicious, and leaving those titbits of a web adds a lot to this image. Wonderful photographers eye here.
Coker-Flower in a glass – Fantastic photography here, tells me a lot about the photographers eye to see or create an opportunity utilising conditions for a stunning image. Composition is superb, that purple flower pops really well against that grey/blue background. Add to that some exquisite streaks of light below the glass and sharp as a tack and all makes for an admirable image.
Jeffstclair – Poppies- Cracking image, solid photographers eye to see and capture what would be a passing moment on any given day. Back lit all round excellent composition. Carry the Camera with you more of often.
Michaelblue – Seeds- My initial reactaion “Heck, that’s a beaut! Appreciate the complexity here verticals, horizontals, diagonals, dead and alive seeds, composition is stunning, as are the colors. Back lit is exquisite. Wonderful photographers eye.
Shaman – Hastings – Another evocative image, holiday atmosphere , light where it should be on the water, the rest in silhouette. Beautiful capture. And for reasons I am not even sure about, the sepia color is just perfect for this image.
GlynM- Canal Dawn - I looked and looked for the canal but not found, and it could be a lake, a dam, river anywhere really. Which to my mind is a great accomplishment for the photographer, displaying accomplished skill. So many elements to appreciate here, the mist, the trees, reflections, that warm sun, all making me to want to be there and absorb that quietness that we all need from time to time.
Timt19- Alone –Phew, what an image! A studio shot? Exquisite backlighting, no doubt utilising some light source at the back. The almost frightened expression of that girl (assuming it is a girl) has been wonderfully captured, like she has been “caught” doing something she should not be doing. Amazing details, a popping piece of red watermelon amid black and white makes a stunning image. The Exif says nothing about the use of a flash, though I would hazard a guess this was used, and if so, wonderful control of light on this one. I am tempted to remove that little bit of light on the right hand of the girl, it is somewhat distracting.
Dromfit – Backlit Skipper – Compliments on this one, the backlight on the edge of the wings and a bit on the flower is superb! Great timing, great photographers eye here, sharp in all the right places, lovely color rendition and bokehlicious!
Ken2390 – Strike a light- I was wondering if we would get one with lightning, so I appreciate this one all the more. I have been trying with little success to capture lightning (photographers deficiency) for years. Tells me a lot about the photographer here, timing, opportunity taken. Lovely composition, and yes, the focus in on the lightning. The antenna gives some context, as does the wall. And what lovely color in that sky!

What an incredible range of images in this challenge, I have been immensely inspired and motivated just looking through these images and would like to thank you all for your participation. My competence a judge is severely hampered by such an incredible standard of photography displayed here. As before, I must mention that there are some very accomplished photographers on this Forum, and whose work I admire greatly, and judging their work simply does not feel right to me. In any event do it I must, so here are my thoughts. A note of the judging criteria- which is usually confined to two matters- The impact of the image on me, the emotions and thoughts it evokes in me, whether of memories stirred, awakening the aesthetics, appreciating the intricacies of nature. The other is what it tells me of the photographer, their eye to see opportunity and take it, what they are trying to communicate with their image. Photography is in my opinion, all about communication, which of course can sometimes be missed or misinterpreted. All of which will tell you that much of what is said here is subjective, there will not me much by way of technicalities. All the images are true to theme and really, I have felt that all deserve to be a winner here, certainly by my own criteria.
1st place- Timt19- Alone
2nd- Davidstorm –A perfect evening on deck
3rd – Paulb531-Morning sun
HM’s to Michaelblue and Coker.

Congratulations to the Winner and other Places. Thanks to Noel for the interesting subject the judging and the comprehensive comments.

Dear Noelcmn!

Thank you!

This shot is partially a studio shot. I made this shot at home, in my amateur home studio (There is no professional studio supplies). Is used a full manual soligor flash with wired remote control for backlight, and two homemade light source (60W / piece) from the front, for clarification. The model was my older daughter.

Thank you for everybody!

I open the new theme of this week as soon as possible, but absolutely sure that even today. Maybe during the evening. Thank you for your patience.

Many thanks Noel for setting up such a good competition and the terrific amount of work you obviously put into reviewing and judging the entries.

Congratulations to Timea for the fantastic winning image, the runners up and everyone else for another great collection of images.

Glyn

Many thanks Noel for the kind comments.
An interesting competition, congrats to all three podium winners, I particularly like David's shot but would not like to have chosen a first place this time, so many excellent shots.

Thank you Noel, a great Weekly Comp with loads of entries and a high standard, I am chuffed to get 2nd place in this one.

Great comments and judging too.

Regards
David

Superb judging and a good competition some very good entries ..is this what they called contre jour when I was at art school ?...jeff...