Weekly #557 – Traditional Competition

Many thanks to all of you that have provided pictures for this competition. I am certainly happy with the quite reasonable number of entries. I was also impressed by the diversity of interpretations. As always it is an excellent and well-crafted collection of pictures and it has been fun and a privilege to review your work.

Just a reminder that I am no expert at this. Everything here is just my personal opinion and the results reflect my personal tastes. I have tried to make useful comments for each entry and hope that I have not upset anyone as this was definitely not my intention.

Camp fire – Perspicador
While I am reviewing these pictures there is about 2 inches of snow outside and although the day-time temperature is just above freezing the strong easterly wind is making it feel somewhat colder. So it is great to start off with this warming image. I was impressed with how fast this image appeared at the start of the competition and I note that it was shot only the day before. I think it has been well crafted as I am sure that the contrast of the bright fire and dark background created a challenge. Perhaps it feels that there is just a tiny bit of a blue tint, particularly in the background that possibly could have been corrected but in the fire itself the blue does well to complement the flames and glowing embers. A very nice traditional and warming image to start us off.

Traditional Nativity – johnriley
I think this image depicts a lovely collection of traditional nativities. I see that it was shot with John’s trusty MX-1 which has performed really well. I guess framing this shot was a little bit of a challenge and think a reasonable compromise between the background and foreground subjects has been made. The lighting and colour rendition works very well and the depth of field helps lift a wonderful level of detail across the entire image.

Before the internet davidtrout
I like this really well observed and crafted image. I like that the pile of dark encyclopaedia volumes is nicely balanced with the white painted surround. I think the natural lighting from the window works very well and I love that the depth of field has been well managed to provide a soft background to help raise the detail in the books. The gold lettering and decoration come across really well as does the tarnishing and wear which helps to highlight the age of these books. I think this is beautiful and excellently crafted detail image.

Traditional Toys - JAK
A very nice detailed capture of a small collection of traditional toys. While the image is concentrating on the Paddington bear we also get a good hint that this is part of some sort of collection with the car and rocking horse. The car also produces a great splash of red. I think it is great that we see that Paddington needed to be raised above the seat, probably to see over the steering wheel, but I am afraid that his feet will never reach the pedals. This image has also been shot with an MX-1 and I suspect that it is in quite a tight space making the framing of the shot a bit of a challenge. However I think it works really well highlighting both the performance of this little camera as well as the skills of the photographer.

A Very British Picnic - johnjm
I think this is a very nicely composed shot with the near horizon on the top third line with the offset bench of people. It also certainly has all the elements of a timeless image. The lighting appears to have been a little challenging and it is just a bit disappointing that the foreground subject’s faces are in slight shadow. To me as well the sepia effect just feels a little bit overdone but perhaps that is just me being used to how it is done in Silver Efex Pro2 (which is now part of the free Google NIC collection). However it remains a well-crafted traditional image.

Summer Barbie in the Rain - mudge
This image certainly made me smile so I suspect it achieved its main objective. To me the arty sort of rain effect looks too regular to have been rain drops on the window of the caravan but either way I think it works. The colour rendition is superb and as a piece of art I think has a good story telling element. A very nice piece of work.

Paddy's Day - davidwozhere
This image has a great sense of fun. I suspect your little leprechaun is probably also now also celebrating Ireland’s Six Nations success. It is definitely my sort of planned close-up shot which has been very well-crafted. Thought has obviously gone into laying out the subject and composing the image. It is a lovely sharp picture with an excellent depth of field providing great detail. The lighting has also been well used providing a minimal of hard shadows. It also has a great splash of red and I think it is an excellent fun and topical image. I also hope Finnegan has got over any resultant hangover.

March Leader – i-Berg
I really like this fantastic picture. I think it certainly demonstrates an excellent level of skill. From my experience you only get one chance to get this sort of shot right which, of course, rules me out completely. I also think the black & white rendition works exceedingly well. I was impressed to see that it was shot using a K10D almost 8 years ago which again makes me feel very humble. A fantastic traditional image.

Wickerman – tyronet2000
I believe this is an annual music festival that culminates on the last day with the burning of a giant wickerman. So this image is definitely “Traditional”. I think it is great there are no other distractions in this image, particularly that there are no people. I think this helps to create a lonely effect and perhaps this figure has crept out where and while no one is looking. The lighting is perhaps a little bit of a challenge but I think the excellent cloud detail helps form a sort of pre-stormy effect that works well with the subject. A fantastic shot to see here in this competition.

Zulu Dancers – Noelcmn
It is always a pleasure to see Noel’s images in these competitions and this one is no exception. Here in the south of the UK it is currently cold with ice and snow so it is nice to see such a warming picture. I think it is a very well-crafted image and I am impressed that the camera was set to shutter priority which I assume was chosen to ensure the sharp capture of the motion. The bright lighting would have certainly been a challenge to me but is very well managed here. I love how well the movement of, and the sheer fun these young ladies are having, in this performance has been well caught. A really nice record of this event.

Tea Rooms – paulb531
A very nice capture of this traditional looking tea room. I think this particular shot works really well in black & white with the white textured wall and dark features. I think it is nicely composed with the line of the shop front traveling towards us with verticals that have been very well managed. It is also nice to see the display of gifts in the window which adds more for the viewer to explore. I like the unicorn who looks like he has had something stronger than tea. I also love that what looks like an old traditional shop is keeping up with the times with a note on their sign to visit their facebook page.

Traditional Spring Weather – stephen-s
A good capture of the cold weather we are having at the moment. I love the combination of the foreground subject with the distant landscape which adds a nice element of context. I am also fond of seeing diagonals and I like the way the top of the gorse forms one coming across from the top right corner. I think it is a well-managed capture and I am impressed with the good control of white balance which I find often a challenge in snow images. There is good sharp detail in the foreground highlighting the struggle this gorse is having with prevailing conditions. I also appreciate the use of the title to add an ironic element of fun.

Tangled traditions! – drofmit
Tim has given us another of his fantastic locally shot images with a great description of exactly what is going on. I like this image, possibly shot for the competition. For me, as Tim has suggested, it is slightly abstract and has triffid like elements. I think it is an interestingly shot image using Tim’s favoured, pocketable, WG-2. The row of trees travel away from us right to left and the focus goes a little softer in the same direction. However for some reason I cannot explain this appears to me to help lift the left-hand trees which almost look painted and adds an extra level of interest. A nice capture of an unusual French custom with a great explanation of what it depicts.

Family Outing – ken2390
For me, living close to a similar canal, this is a really nice traditional image. There is good management of the camera providing a nice level of detail and a good colour rendition. Personally I think the narrow boat is too far to the left making it leaving the shot when I would have preferred to see it more on the right, entering the shot. Traditionally I believe that having subjects leaving the shot is supposed to add an element of disturbance which does not really work with the slow-pace calm nature of this subject. I also think it would have made a more complete reflection in the still water of the canal. However it is a lovely picture to see and makes a good closing traditional image for this competition.

I have really enjoyed reviewing these images. All are certainly traditional in one form or another. I have also loved that a great sense of fun runs through this collection. For me one image stood out but choosing and ordering the runners up was very difficult. So after some careful consideration here are the results:

1st – i-Berg for “March Leader” – For such a wonderful black & white image and demonstrating the skill of getting such a good result on probably a single chance shot.

2nd – davidwozhere for “Paddy's Day” – Because it is such a good example of a well thought-out, planned and executed close-up image.

3rd – Noelcmn for “Zulu Dancers” – For such a good capture of an event well outside my own experience.

Highly Commended, in no particular order, to davidtrout , paulb531, and drofmit.

I think this completes my responsibilities here and hand over to i-Berg for the next round.

Glyn

Many thanks Glyn. Well done to David and Noel for the places, and to David Paul and Tim for the HCs. Another good field all round.

Back with a new topic soon!

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

Thanks for an interesting competition Glynn and for your thoughtful comments. There were some fine entries so well done to I-Berg, davidwozhere and noel and to my fellow HCs Paul and Tim.
David

Congratulations to i-berg - great shot. Many thanks to Glyn for a job well done on setting the competition and comprehensive feedback.

Paul

Sorry for the delay - I was unexpectedly sent elsewhere for the best part of a week. Thank you for a 2nd place and what a stunner that took 1st ! Well done for that one.