Weekly #901 - Cold Competition

Wilderness People, by DavidTrout
A vast expanse from the freeze of 2010, I presume that is a lough in the foreground frozen solid on top.
The two hardy souls out for a stroll lends a gigantic sense of scale along with K10D producing it’s unique clarity,
Fresh clean and cold air all combined in this wonderful vista.
Top job

Pyrenees, by Nigelk
This is certainly a cold region and one has managed to convey that feeling, along with capturing the isolation which adds so much more.
Great exposure in this B@W take.

Icy icicle by Davidwozhere
Specular highlights make this, photograph work
Frozen in time, liquid and minimalist both sharing the space.
So well photographed.

Play Time by Lubbyman
A joyful slide through nature’s provide
They mightn’t feel the cold being young
But are certainly trying to protect their appearance when all’s done.
Nice story of the conditions .

A Snowy Winter in the Woods by BraydenBise
Pine trees , laden with snow,
The strange thing is, that I am attracted more to the bare brambles oft the trees in the mid ground below.
The foreground is a tad busy on the left hand but that’s forests and woodlands for you, a difficult assignment no matter where one looks, Great B@w tonal range bye the way.

No Golf Today by Dewsburya
Blue with the cold, I like the overall composition, the foreground lead to the embankment.
The separations work with the trees but that bench or whatever about a third ways in from the left keeps dragging my attention.. I think cloning out this distraction would be acceptable in this case as I feel it would enhance the overall scene.

Party by Simonmac
Love the full range from blacks to whites here also..
Composition is rock solid in the conditions that prevailed, all is evident in this Photograph
I am going to repeat my self here I would also clone out the bollard barrier between the legs of the subject , it has perfect separation otherwise. It’s just a tiny bit of artistic license. No doubt others would disagree , maybe even your good self.

Long Walk Home by John Riley
Another one from the big prolonged freeze in 2010
This exposure is perfect, a masterclass on how to hold everything in check.
The composition also holds on to one all the way throughout.
Great job.

Prices on a cold morning by Noelcmn
I can guess who’s frozen
Brave face required,
“ wonderful day, luv isn’t it, I told you that this was a great idea”


Cold by SueRiley
Another full blacks to whites superbly handled even if it has remained in colour .
The K10D can produce some wonderful images with the right guidance and that is wonderfully exhibited here with this photograph.
I probably would have went with a 16x9 personally to rid a bit of the foreground but that’s not to take from this in any way.
Well done in 2008.

Frozen Leaf Litter by MikeinDevon
Crisp are the details amongst the frosted scene
Nice subtle tonal range, very natural to ones eye.
Just me I tend to shoot such scenes as this in portrait ,or if I cannot I will simply flip it in post. I find then that I will square crop it a lot of the time.

1st Pyrenees, by Nigelk
2nd Parky, by Simonmac
3rd Wilderness People, by DavidTrout

Oh and sorry for the delay and also a big thanks to everyone who made a submission.
Truly appreciated, Flan

Great job Nigel and well done to all who clearly got quite cold producing these (some got very cold!). Nice, succinct comments - thank you Flan.

Thanks for the topic and your comments Flan. Some good entries well done to winner Nigel and runner up Simon and thanks for my 3rd place. You were correct, That was a frozen loch.

Never mind the bollard!

Couldn't resist! (I am rubbish at that kind of editing!)

Thank you Flan for setting the competition and for, as always, your wise words.

Great, bleak winner and a lovely third place.

Chuffed to be awarded second amongst some great photography.

All the best

Thanks for the followup comments gentlemen.
I do hope that much more long time members than myself, as well as new members could possibly give the competitions a boost in numbers, even if currently it means having to provide summarisations of all entries.

Maybe a suggestion to the team ,
The judge or host if you will, should possibly only comment and critique on the they're picks for 1st, 2nd and 3rd placings. I feel that this would ease the burden for a winning photographer and is more likely to raise entry level numbers significantly for competitions.
Another possible benefit might be, people doing their best to be part of those placings, therefore raising the benchmark but knowing they only have to judge the winner and podium placings of their choice, if they happen to be the chosen winning Photograph.
The rest of the entrants like myself will grin and bear it, easily so I would imagine.
Ease the pain.

Flan, many thanks for the competition and your critique, I get a lot from the competitions even if I don't submit an image.

I take your point on judging and commenting. I think your suggestion of a comment/critique of 1st, 2nd and 3rd has some merit and is a reasonable minimum but not too onerous.

But for myself I've found that taking the effort to comment/critique all the image does take quite an effort but is rewarding in itself. It encourages/forces me to spend some time looking at each image which helps me to decide the placings and hopefully provide a constructive analysis of each image. Though it does make my head hurt a bit!