Weekly Comp #289 - Let us hear your image Competition

A slow start but at the end so many interesting entries and interpretations. Here my very subjective feedback


Gibson's Cave by bforbes:
Unusual to see such a scene in B&W as it is mostly presented in vibrant nature colors. The picture transfers sound although I think, that a short exposure time with no milky motion bur might "sound" even louder. The processing produced a bit too much noise for me – and detials like the water surface could be a bit more sharp. I like the composition with the framing branches on the left side.
- Photographic Quality: 3
- Originality: 3.5
- Degree of loudness:4
Grand total: 10.5


Daily Wreck by aliengrove:
A very special photo with a processing, that really makes it aggressive. Might be too aggressive for some, but I like such hard pictures (and it also gives a "normal" picture of a car wreckage a very special note. The level of sound is not maximum loud for me, as the sound happened in the past and at the moment when the photo was taken, it was probably absolutely quite.
- Photographic Quality: 4.5
- Originality: 4
- Degree of loudness:4
Grand total: 12.5


Loud n Ugly by paulb531:
A very interesting picture and post processing - I like the hard contrast and strong colors. However – I was recently in a very similar hall and have to say – it was totally silent – like something dead – extinct. So an interesting picture but for me it does not meet this week topic.
- Photographic Quality: 4
- Originality: 4
- Degree of loudness:1
Grand total: 5


Really pissed off! by ddharriman:
Nice idea and I could really hear the bird – your entry fulfills the topic. However – from a pure photography viewpoint I see some potential improvements. The focus could be more on the bird (harder crop) and the horizon could be straight.
- Photographic Quality: 2.5
- Originality: 4
- Degree of loudness:4.5
Grand total: 11


Afterburners On! by GlynM:
As my father was working in an F4, I have some experience with such machines and know the sound very well – and your picture transfers this sound perfectly – this is the moment when you hear the crispy sound of an afterburner. The picture itself is a bit noisy and the lighting below the aircraft not ideal. The composition is good – the amount of GBUs a bit frighting
- Photographic Quality: 3
- Originality: 3
- Degree of loudness:4.5
Grand total: 10.5


Train at Galway Station by dinneenp:
Arrived in Galways always at the little airport so I have no experience with the train station. However – I like this picture a lot. It has a great composition with the diagonal lines and the color range is also very special. The presence of the sound is a bit limited by the missing (or very week) motion blur (looks more like a standing and not like a passing train)
- Photographic Quality: 4.5
- Originality: 4
- Degree of loudness:4
Grand total: 12.5


Tree-line Pigeon by Perspicador:
The sound of the wings is very obvious (followed by the whistling sound of air once they gain speed). The picture itself is a bit chaotic as it is difficult to really spot the bird. Focus also seems to be more on the branches instead of the bird. As this shot did not allow any preperation and had to be taken very spontaneously, it is also very difficult to get a technical perfect shot.
- Photographic Quality: 3
- Originality: 3.5
- Degree of loudness:4
Grand total: 10.5


Clackety-clack by Dr. Mhuni:
Brilliant portrait (as all your portraits are) with such a deep emotional appearance. I often wonder how you manage to catch people in such private moments when they seem to not realize, that you just take a picture of them. Picture composition is perfect, timing as well. Also great, that the persons actually seems to listen to the sound of the train and is taken away by the monotonous clackety-clack (btw. Also great title). Also surprising good sharpness when considering the exposure time.
- Photographic Quality: 5
- Originality: 4.5
- Degree of loudness:4.5
Grand total: 14


Drums by AndrewA:
A good color key sample that provides a very stylish flair. The reduction to red and tones of grey looks very dynamic and technical (also the high level of reflection chrome). The dynamic is also supported by the tilted orientation. Only tiny draw-backs are the not perfect focus on the high-hat and cymbal stands and the fact, that in this moment, the drum is absolutely silent(there is no drummer )
- Photographic Quality: 4
- Originality: 4.5
- Degree of loudness:3
Grand total: 11.5

Paloma Joins The Audience by johnriley:
Definitely a "loud" scene that also transmits the sound. It also shows the good low ISO quality of Pentax Cameras. Focus/crop could have been a bit more on the singer – especially the cropped heads of the background vocals are not ideal (to not catch the intention too much on this part of the photo, it might have been better to crop away the white tops (just the black pants would be very hidden)).
- Photographic Quality: 3.5
- Originality: 3.5
- Degree of loudness:4
Grand total: 11

Too Many Showoffs! By JudithAnn:
Simply said – lovely and funny. This is a very good snapshot of a great scene. I also have three kids and now the level of sound in the bath very well . The total different mimics are also great – with the big excitement and slight skepticism in the face of the cheeky smile of the one on the left and the complete jollity on the face of Miss Sunshine . This picture meets the topic very well
- Photographic Quality: 4
- Originality: 5
- Degree of loudness:5!!
Grand total: 14

Strumming by GaryJohn:
Some elements in the picture that could be improved in my eyes. The hard reflection on the upper corpus is too bright – although it indicates the sound-creating movement of the hand, I also don't like the motion blur of the hand that much and the cut-off of the lower corpus is also not ideal (as it is too tiny to be a real crop). The color range is nice – very warm and nice contrast between the dark red and bright orange (not sure, if I like the warm tones of the hand). The strumming sound is very clear.
- Photographic Quality: 2.5
- Originality: 3.5
- Degree of loudness:4
Grand total: 10

100W Marshall by geordie01:
Very nice and classical amp picture – the color contrast between the blueish black and the shining gold is superb and I also like the DOF on the center controls. Only a few things I would have changed – as such pictures are always also a bit an advert of the amp itself, I would have brightened the Marshall logo and – although your ears might probably already bleed with this Gain level – I would have turned it on even a bit more (and if there would have been a chance to get the volume control on the picture as well, it would also helped to visualize the level of sound.
- Photographic Quality: 4.5
- Originality: 4
- Degree of loudness:4
Grand total: 12.5

Whistling Kettle by nicesparky:
The idea is great (we all know this sound) and although the style of the picture is great as well, I think, it is not ideal for this topic. With this hard crop and the hard contrasts, it is a bit difficult to really get the idea, what it is (without the title, it would have take me a while to "see" the Kettle. Therefore don't see the reduced photographic quality level not as a general low level (as I said – I like the style of the picture a lot) - it is just not ideal for the competition topic.
- Photographic Quality: 3
- Originality: 4.5
- Degree of loudness:4.5
Grand total: 12

I'm going to Jackson by Sean282:
Vibrant scene and definitely loud and I like, that the two are absolutely relaxed and show their emotions – however, the picture itself lacks a bit the special kick (might also suffer under the fact, that such scenes are often photographed with mobiles and smartphones to send out party-smss.
- Photographic Quality: 3
- Originality: 3.5
- Degree of loudness:4.5
Grand total: 11

Thunder road by simonarron:
Probably the loudest scene in the competition and you also managed to show the sound/noise. Very dramatic as well. I like the DOF and the blur created by the heat of the exhaust. The only two things I would have changed: Crop away (or simply increased the width of the track) of the red/yellow curb and I would have increased the vibrance and saturation – this sport is so American for me – all fancy cars, the power, the show around, and Americans love screaming colors
- Photographic Quality: 4.5
- Originality: 4
- Degree of loudness:5
Grand total: 13.5

Solo by ArsenAl:
Very sharp, low-noise (optical ) gig-picture with very special lights. The mimic of the concentrated musician is very impressive and I also like the blurred background that adds a lot of depth to the picture and the timing was also very good
- Photographic Quality: 4.5
- Originality: 4
- Degree of loudness:4
Grand total: 12.5

Fire! by womble:
Although I am not a big fan of military things, I like this picture (especially considering the topic of this competition). The way, they hide their faces, makes the scene very loud. The black and white adds some kind of documentary vintage style to it.
- Photographic Quality: 4.5
- Originality: 4
- Degree of loudness:4.5
Grand total: 13

Piazza Busker by japers45:
Very nice made street musician photograph. I like the hard contrasts and the composition. The high level of sunglasses also adds a very strong Blues-style to the picture
- Photographic Quality: 4.5
- Originality: 4.5
- Degree of loudness:4
Grand total: 13

Phwooooooo by DrOrloff:
Wooooooooow – this picture touched me immediately. I think, you did not just managed to make the very silent sound hearable – you even managed to make the blowing air visible (by the motion blur of the seeds in the air flow). This is an absolutely fantastic effect in addition to a great photographic style of complementary colors in the background and such a nice silhouette. The diagonal composition is the icing on the cake.
- Photographic Quality: 5
- Originality: 5
- Degree of loudness:5
Grand total: 15

Street Musicians – Newcastle by tyronet2000
Nice and typical street musician scene that transfers a very typical music sound. However, the composition is not very exciting and it looks a bit too dark for me (with the black clothes and all the shadows in the background) - might be worth to lighten the shadows on this picture. Also a shame, that the pedestrians show no interest at all – a moment where some people would stand and listen would have made the sound louder
- Photographic Quality: 3
- Originality: 3.5
- Degree of loudness:4
Grand total: 10.5

Listen to that sax by snakey:
Very atmospheric shot that shows the typical atmosphere of such musc clubs. I like the green spotlight contrasting with the purple-pink laptop screen. Also a perfect focus on the musician's face – very nice concert shot
- Photographic Quality: 4.5
- Originality: 4
- Degree of loudness:4.5
Grand total: 12.5

So based on the grand total results, here my podium

1: Phwooooooo by DrOrloff
2: Clackety-clack by Dr. Mhuni and Too Many Showoffs! By JudithAnn:
3: Thunder road by simonarron:

Congratulations to the winner and other places. An interesting subject well judged.

Congrats to Dr Orloff, a great winning image, and congrats too to the other podium places, great shots too, great to see so many loud images! An interesting subject and great judging as usual Axel!

Some great images - well judged. I completely got the wrong end of the stick - I went for loud as in bright!

Can't agree entirely - when did 4 + 4 + 1 = 5?

Many thanks for setting a great new subject, that encouraged a wide set of interpretations, plus the excellent set of reviews and judging.

Congratulations to Dr Orloff for a well deserved winning image, the runners up and everyone else for another great set of images.

Glyn

Thanks for the kind words, Axel. Nicely judged and you've chosen a worthy winner. Compliments (once again) to DrO.

I agree with Glyn, nice to have something totally different.

Congratulations to the winners and thank you Axel for the constructive comments

An interesting mixture of senses, vision and sound, well done everyone!

ups - this was my mistake - sorry - it must be a 9

Thank you Axel. It was a very different competition, an interesting and thought provoking theme. Well done to fellow places and I really think Mhuni deserved this one.

It is really nice saying that. The top three were all so close - at the end, I had to made a decision but these pics were all very special to me (for different reasons).

Nicely judged Axel, and a very interesting choice of subject. Thanks for both and for the much coveted second. Congrats to the other podium places - and to Dr. O in particular for his neat capture of a sound.

Wonderfully done, Judge. I LOVED the winning photo so congrats to the Doc!!

Thank you so much for my place on the podium...it has been a while since I participated,and now that warm glow is beckoning onward!

Regards:

JA

Well done to the podium placers!