Weekly #461 - Running Water Competition

Thanks for taking the time and trouble to enter this weeks competition. Maybe one day we will get back to the halcyon times of mega numbers, but for now perhaps we should concentrate on quality, so thanks again.

Cool as a Mountain Stream – JAK
A cool start. I think just about the right amount of blur in the water for this subject and a good flow through the image (excuse the pun) I also like the little catch lights and colour reflections in the ice. Because I read a picture left to right I’m finding the out of focus bottom left corner a bit distracting.

Winter waterfall – michaelblue
Cooler still, a real brrrrr! Feeling. A good choice of shutter speed so that we have a distinction between the ice frozen solid and the falling water frozen in time. I think the dark band of rock works really well to hold your eye in the picture and lead you, with the line of ice, to the top of the falls.

Roughtin Linn - tyronet2000
A striking image, turning running water into a light show. Having looked up Roughtin Linn I don’t think this is a natural phenomenon or a midnight lighting setup. So I have to commend the camera control and PP technique for producing such an eerie, ethereal image.

Mountain stream – bigsturgeon
I like the repetitive pattern of light and dark as the water tumbles over the rocks which leads you up the image. In this case the dark band on the left edge maybe a little too much. You have given yourself a difficult job with such high contrast between the white water and heavy shadow.

Stormy Glencoe – snakey
This has a lot to recommend it, in particular the low angle shooting and detail of the foreground. Then you have the sense of water rushing down away from the snow covered mountain but leading you into the valley of muted autumn colours. Maybe with all that water some spots got on the lens?

Skogafoss – paulb531
Difficult to imaging the grandure of scenes like this without the well placed figure to gauge the scale of it. I bet it’s also difficult to cut through the haze generated from the mist of the foss while balancing exposure for cliff face and sky. I wonder if the new haze filter in Adobe CC software would help?

Gentle weir. – ken2390
The reflections of the bridge in the calm upstream accentuates the turmoil caused in the water by even a Gentle Weir. I think then your eye is naturally drawn by the highlight in the centre arch to a vanishing point way down the river. Your well taken shot also have retained detail in the whites of the water and in the bridge itself

Trespassers will be prosecuted – davidtrout
What do you say about a picture from the man with the eye for the juxtaposition and the incongruous apart from, he’s done it again. I know this day David intended taking pictures of steam trains but that was a no go. So I take this as a lesson in being open to what is available.

Stream – Lukecliff
I had to look hard to see if this filled the brief of running water but it does have the required elements. It also has foreground interest, good lead lines, good focus and exposure. So I can’t put my finger on why it does not have more of an impact on me.

Turbulent fishing – Noelcmn
It is some testament to the focusing of this image to see the reel, line and clothing in such detail. I had a chuckle. When I first read the location I looked again at the background “rocks” to check for hippos and crocs! But on second thoughts the anglers would be looking in a different direction.

bathroom sink – johnjm
Although the patterns are quite intricate the simplicity of this I think really works. The monotone look with the light and shade also enhances the image. My only suggestion might be to crop to the water line and get rid of the overflow.

Enjoying the Cascade – Daroni
They certainly seem to be, and it provides a great action photo, but why they would do it I don’t know. I applaud you for getting the face sharp and still, amongst such a torrent of motion, which I believe makes the picture. That and the all-important flash of red.

Rushing onward towards the sea.... – drofmit
As drofmit said it is almost abstract but the little thing that makes it for me is the pin sharp leaf stem centre right, which just emphasises the flow and movement going on around it. Also, a bit like the red in Daroni’s entry, we have flecks of more intense colour in yellow and green to draw the attention.
The Results
HC’s bathroom sink – johnjm Stormy Glencoe – snakey

Third Enjoying the Cascade – Daroni

Second Rushing onward towards the sea.... – drofmit

First Roughtin Linn - tyronet2000

Duty done, over to you Stan

Great subject and a very welcomed, prompt judging process; congratulations to Stan for a well deserved and evocative composition.

Thank you for the unexpected First Place against the other strong entries Barrie, and Congratulations to the other placings. Thanks for setting the interesting subject, the promt judging and comprehensive comments. I'll get the next competition underway as soon as possible.

What an excellent image-evocative is the word indeed. Congratulations Stan, well deserved. Congrats too to Dromfit, Daronl and the HM's Johnjm and Snakey. Loved this challenge, as usual thoroughly enjoyable experience to see the various interpretations here. Thanks are in order to bforbes for that and the judging exercise-always appreciated. Tell you what- if there were crocs and hippos in the Vaal River, we are in serious trouble

That's a fantastic image of Roughtin Linn from Stan and a worthy winner. Congrats also to Drofmit and Daroni and to the HCs Johnjm and Snakey.
And thanks to Barrie for the competition subject and his judging and comments.
David

There couldn't be another to challenge that "Blues" picture.... wonderful... no other words for it!!
Perfect designer fodder... it would look good on any plain coloured wall... I could sit and look at it for hours.
I was wracking my brains to see if I could crack it... nearly did, thank you for the second placing!
A lovely challenge... I tried the sink... but couldn't get the exposure close to anything dramatic.
And I found a nice shot of a dark, peaty Scottish burn in spate....
and then looked at the Exif...one of my old Fuji 602Pro pix...
There were a load of great interpretations to a lovely subject. I think we all deserve congratulations...
especially Barrie for....
a] choosing it... &
b] speedy judging with creative comments.
And on those comments on mine... you are spot on...
I so very nearly cropped it without those leaves, to make a clean abstract...
so glad I didn't!
Now to find some interesting still water.....

Fantastic image of Roughtin Linn from Stan - worthy winner. Many thanks to Barrie for the competition subject and his judging.

Regards

paul