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Weekly #549 - My best holiday shot in 2017 Competition

Competition Details
Closing Date: 21/01/2018
Judge: mudge

The subject matter is obvious, but it needs to be supported by an explanation to why you selected it!
Usual rules about cameras, and winner to take charge of next week's competition
Sorry about delay in posting but ill health was to blame!
Competition Entries
mudge
Posted 22/01/2018 - 00:25 Link
“My best holiday shot in 2017” Competition
Thank you for your varied selection of images, which were all great to view.
However, because of the wide variation in subject matter, it made it very difficult for me to choose between them, for the Podium places. In fact, they could all be winners, in their own right!
I have refrained from suggesting possible minor improvements to one or two images, as your main criterion was the “holiday memory”, not “technical perfection”!
Anyway, enough of my rambling! Lets get on with it:-

Red Squirrel: by Perspicator
A good starting image for this competition, with the vivid contrasting colours making an immediate impact
There’s great detail in the tree bark and squirrel, both of which are nicely isolated from the out-of-focus background. There’s also a nice catch light in the eye.
As stated, these days squirrels are becoming a rare sighting in most parts of the country, and catching an image like this is a “feather in the cap” for the photographer. Well done!

Loch Doon: by tyronet2000
This image shows a nice moody monochromic land / skyscape, covering the complete tonal range.
It looks a little like a watercolour painting, and wouldn’t be out of place hung on a suitable wall!
The stormy sky contrasts well with the serene water.
It was obviously well worth your effort getting there!

Acacia Ridge: by I-Berg
A very striking image, that works very well in monochrome. The black and whites are good, covering the full tonal range
The over-sharpening works well for this subject matter, giving an extremely effective end result.

Overlanders: by Nigelk
An impressive colourful Group photo, that provides a good aide-memoire of the various characters making up your unique holiday experience. They look a great bunch! Posing the group in front of the “Tropic of Capricorn” sign was obviously a “must” event!
The image is well exposed, which, under the very bright light conditions, would not have been that easy to achieve.
You also did very well getting 24 of the 25 participants looking directly at the camera (as they say, “There’s always one!”)

Storm on the horizon: by davidwozhere
This lovely colourful image brings back a few memories for me too, as I often used to holiday in the area, many years ago. The blue water has a cold look, which I can testify to!
The cloud are well caught, as are their reflections in the water.

Fuerteventura: by paulb531
An interesting landscape shot, illustrating the remoteness of this area. The monochrome treatment emphasises its isolation. Certainly a place to go if you’re seeking solitude!

That Wanaka Tree: by newbiek50user
A good record shot of this interesting tree, together with a nice mountain range backdrop.
From your summary, I can appreciate why this image is special to you!

I Have Seen Thailand: by judithAnn
What a cracking candid portrait shot! The detail and colours are outstanding.
Also, thanks for the background information to taking it, which I found very interesting and informative.

Villefranche-sur-mer: by walkeja
A good record shot of this street, leading down to the sea, showing the terraced eating / drinking facilities, closely surrounded by the very clean pastel coloured buildings. The figures are well placed, walking into the image. To really set it off, it would have been nice to have had a few revellers seated at the tables.

Where are you?: by TonyCr
It’s nice to see a puffin in its natural nesting environment. The image is very sharp and well exposed, as is the surrounding habitat. It’s a welcomed change from the usual puffins with a bill full of sand eels (as nice as they may look)!

Heron in Flight: by johnriley
A well caught action shot, with good of detail in the bird. It’s well placed in the frame, giving it plenty of room to fly into. Also, the background rocks are nicely out-of-focus, helping to isolate the bird.

Last Bus Home: by JAK
A well caught shot under such difficult light conditions. A sense of time / location is added to the image by the clever inclusion of the lamp post, the bill board showing pre-decimal currency, and the old bicycle shop itself.
Whilst it may not be the best view of a bus, it no doubt evokes happy memories of the day / event for the author.

Padstow – Lanadwell Street: by MikeIn Devon
A well taken image, full of life and colour. As you say, everyone looks happy to be there.
I hope some of them were friends and / or family. It’s a really “nice memory” shot, of a good day out, for the family album.

Cinque Terra Sunset: by poliver
What a magnificent scene to end a long day of hiking with! It’s such an interesting, and beautifully coloured sky.
The boat and slither of the sun add sufficient interest to the scene, without them being distracting

That cold chilling stare: by Noelcmn
Glad to see you were using a 500mm lens!
A really great shot, but unfortunately it was taken on 22 Nov 1916, so does not meet the brief!

Taking everything into account, I have come to the following decision:

1st Place: I Have Seen Thailand by Judith Ann ( for image and commentary!)
2nd Place: Heron in Flight by johnriley
3rd Place: Red Squirrel by Perspicator
HC: All the rest!

Over to you Judith
Edited by mudge: 22/01/2018 - 00:31
i-Berg
Posted 22/01/2018 - 01:28 Link
Thank you Mudge, and congrats to JA, JR and Perspicador.

That's a portrait shot to really hold the interest.
JudithAnn
Posted 22/01/2018 - 07:24 Link
Thank You so much mudge, your detailed judging was fantastic.
Congrats to John and Perspicator
Now to think of something for tomorrow.
It is only 11:35 pm/ Jan 21st...Still Sunday!

JA
Noelcmn
Posted 22/01/2018 - 07:59 Link
Oh dear! Mudge, it was taken in November 2017 and I should have checked/changed the EXIF, as I had been having trouble with the K-30 while in Addo, and when I got back, I sent it in for repairs, and it has still not come back to me. I've had to change quite a lot of the EXIF of images from that holiday. Not that it matters, JudithAnne's winning shot wins by a long way. Congrats Judith Anne, wonderful gripping portrait, full of character and poise and such amazing details too. Congrats extended to Johnriley and Perspicador and all the HC's. Lovely, interesting challenge, thanks are due to Mudge, by all accounts a thorough critique and comments exercise.
Perspicador
Posted 22/01/2018 - 08:24 Link
Very chuffed to be on the podium! Worthy winner and runner-up - and thank you for a great adjudication where all excelled. What a great lens for John Riley to work with!
Quote:
... the best lack all conviction, while the worst
are full of passionate intensity.
W.B Yeats

tyronet2000
Posted 22/01/2018 - 10:22 Link
Congratulations to the Winner and other places. It was a shame the Weekly Competition was complicated by using the rule "Only shot in 2017" therefore cancelling an entry. I think the title would have been better served as "Best Holiday Shot".
Regards
Stan

PPG
Nigelk
Posted 22/01/2018 - 12:24 Link
Congratulations to the podium places. Cracking portrait that winning shot. Thank you mudge for the competition.

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