Weekly #471 – Hotter than July Competition

Hotter than July – Results and feedback
Thanks to all who submitted photographs. I had preconceptions of what to expect – seaside pictures and queues at the ice cream van. Not all went for the obvious and it provided some interesting results. In the end I picked out three excellent photographs and had great difficulty of putting them in order. I am no expert so feedback is purely what I personally find pleasing to the eye.

The Mummy by John Riley
You can almost smell the parched corpse from here. The colours are good – I think film has advantage in that the colours are better than digital. A bit eerie but I like it.

The Craft by Perspicador
I like the strong vivid colours. I think the picture could have been cropped better. It would have been improved in my opinion if it was cropped closer to get rid of the green strip in the background. Alternatively, you could have used a wider angle to show more of the reflection and bring in some blue sky.

Keeping cool in hard Raw pool by tyronet2000
This made me laugh. A muscleman posing in a water fountain – ‘who would have thought it possible’. I think it is obvious to say a product of photoshop but clever stuff all the same.

Yummy by JAK
That’s more like I was expecting. A great shot of an ice cream being demolished by a youngster. If only it hadn’t got somebodies arm in the shot. A potentially great shot spoilt – but still a good one.

Relaxing around the garden pond by mudge
A picture of serenity – a very well composed shot. I like how the picture is framed by the foliage. The people in the background give the picture scale and symmetry. The picture has been shot for the completion which I think is great.

Sculpture on the lake by swarf
A very minimalist but a shot I like. I like the different tones of blue with just a wisp of cloud. The lone statue in the lake gives it a surreal effect.

Foothpath in Lincolnshire Wolds by fahnburg
A very pleasing composition - it reminds me of walks in my native Derbyshire. The blue skies, vivid greens and the diagonal path make up a good countryside shot. Again a recent shot so well done for making the effort.

Gonna need a bigger toe by wozfromcov
This is a great photo in my opinion. The spontaneity of this photo makes it -it captures the moment. The camera freezes the splashing of the water just right. The white post is a little distracting – but that’s being very picky. A winner in my opinion.

Summer Fun by Noelcmn
I envy the weather you have in your part of the world Noel. You have definitely captured a summer fun image – very nicely done. Your subject fills the shot and doesn’t have any distraction just the blue of the water. A great portrait shot.

A pack of parasols by simonmac
Phew I can feel the heat from here. A nicely crafted photo with quite a lot going on to keep the eye interested. From the parasols in the foreground, to the characters in the middle, and then eventually leads the eye out to that beautiful blue sea and sky. Excellent shot.

Swimmies by johnjm
A great fun summer shot. A very unique photograph with just two minor points that spoils it a tad. The rocks in the background are a little distracting. A different angle or a wider aperture perhaps would have helped. Also, I think you have spots on your sensor which are evident in the light blue sky. That apart a great shot.

Heat Haze by davidtrout.
A photo that I really like -full marks for experimenting that has paid off to great effect. The blurring of the lines gives the photo a unique painting effect. The photo has plenty of interest even though I am not a train person.

Warm phew by Daronl
This certainly looks a hot place by the way people are sheltering under the trees. I find the foreground lacks interest. The photo also lacks a focal point. The overall affect is one of heat but not a winner for me.

Winner: Gonna need a bigger toe by wozfromcov
Joint second: Heat Haze by davidtrout and A pack of parasols by simonmac
HC: Summer Fun by Noelcmn and Sculpture on the lake by swarf


Regards

Paul

Very interesting challenge, such varied interpretations of the theme. Congratulations Wozfromcov, delightful impromptu shot, great timing getting that expression on the face and the hands contributing to her response. Congrats too to Davidtrout and simonmac, that picture took me down memory lane to my visit to Nice with all its colorful parasols. Thanks for the HC's and congrats to my fellow HC Swarf. Thanks Paul for a wonderful challenge, the jugding and comments -always appreciated. Not so sure you should envy our weather-today it is horrible, cloudy, rain, cold, windy hitting you at around 10°, though I dare say for the northern hemisphere, that is more akin to summer.

Nice, well deserved winning entry depicting the theme very well, congratulations

Regards

Congratulations to the Winner and other places. Thanks to Paul for the interesting subject, the judging and the comprehensive comments.

Thanks Paul, good idea for the competition and excellent comments on the entries. Congratulations to wozfromcov and simonmac and thanks for my joint 2nd. Honours also to the HCs.
David

Many thanks for the place!

Congratulations to the winner and David and the HCs.

Great theme and lovely observations.

Cheers

Simon

wow i won one