Weekly competition # 101: The Inconvenient Truth....... Competition

When I launched this weeks theme, I knew in advance there would be a other kind of judgement in place. The task for me as judge would be not as straight away as usual, simply because the content of a picture could be very strong in delivering the message, while purely based on picture quality a photo could be below par. In my comments I tried to find a balance between those two elements. I am happy to say all the podium candidates were able to produce both. Needless to say, It's just one man's opinion , so we may not agree.

Results;

David Trout: Global Warming:
A good picture with a clear and bold message. A message found everywhere in the world. So content wise you succeeded. Quality wise I have some remarks. The picture is underexposed. Levels in PS show that (after removing the white border).When you adjust levels you will see, the picture gains a lot of bite and wins on the impact/wow factor. And seen against this weeks theme, it should have maximum impact.

Tony-O: Standby Global Warning:
A clever piece of digital art, stating a clear message. What is it, I see.......Is it a part of a album cover or CD ?? The song text by Lennon and the graphic face formed by the button icons, even the scratchy Help ! They all come together in a intriguing picture. Well done and well executed.

John Riley: Destined for Landfill:
Olive oil, Several wine bottles, Pepsi and Mineral water. Someone is enjoying the good life here.. But the message is clear. Good environmental ideas badly executed. Picture wise it isn't as strong as the under laying message.I would have liked to see more of the bin and it's surroundings. But then......no joy is found in empty bottles on their own, only headache.

Mr. Mellow: Moving Mountains:
A very strong message again. The environment under siege, in favour for the tourist industry. With today's economic climate in our minds, its very ironic. Picture wise you didn't have the best weather. The hazy blue in the background pulls the picture down. Better light and more overall contrast would improve the overall quality. But as a statement of man's disrespect for nature it succeeds.

Judith Ann: The Trail of Damage:
I really like this one. It tells the story, in such a simple and uncluttered manor. It can't be denied. Picture wise it's graphical, and the pollution (excuse the pun) of noise, even adds to the picture. Nothing more to say. Well done !!

Dr. Mhuni: De-foresters:
Another very strong entrie. I love this one and the story it tells. Probably illegal de-foresting and the innocence on the local faces. For them the way to make some money and proud to have their picture taken. Rules and regulations about responsible wood production in the wealthy western world don't apply to them. As long as there is money to make on both sides no-one cares. They have no idea what they are doing to nature in the long term. Mouths has to be fed. TIA !!! This Is Africa ! A very powerful picture. Well done!!

Nikshot: String:
And there you are, Taking a walk along the beach. Scanning the flood line, only to see all that rubbish and waste delivered back to their rightful owners. Nylon......it makes good fishing nets, but is there to stay for ever. Killing sea life.... even after they are forced to retire from their duty. It's a sad scene,but lacks some surroundings to put it in context.

Rolepics: Yangtze River Rubbish:
A lost battle it seems. One of the fastest growing economic powers in the world, A serious participant in the Global Warming Discussion. But.....So many mouths to feed, and the urge to become the nr.1 economic power in the region.(if not already) Labour is cheap in China, but who are we to judge? Do we see this scene on the Thames River or in my own country? Don't think so. Work beneath our dignity, I'll guess. Picture wise, it's just a registration. Nothing artistic. Flat light, low contrast......But it tells the story.

Nathanever82; The Rich and the Rubbish:
A great title and well documented. Bold colours, nice light, some reflections. Compositional speaking I would have avoided the lower left part. Maybe a bit more closer or slightly cropped would make the buoy and its surroundings a bit stronger. It is nonetheless a strong piece of evidence of how we treat and respect Mother Nature, even in the heart of the City.

Draken: Traffic:
A very different but outstanding view on this weeks subject. This is telling the story, and delivering the message at the same way in a aesthetic pleasing manor. The movement (great panning technique), subject matter and colours. It all fits so well in this picture. So...a big thumbs up for this entrie. Well done.

Prieni: Tired beaches:
Again a great title and terrific word play. Talk about delivering the message. Compositional I would have liked a bit more room and beach visible around the tyre. Putting it a bit more in context. Other than that, there is not much else to fault here. Well seen and captured.

Mikew: Birthplace:
I have to take your word on the explanation beneath the picture. It could well be, but I know to little about the UK's industrial history. The picture itself has a very graphical feeling over it.
The mono treatment works, but I would have liked to see a bit more of the industrial site itself. Now the picture (and message it is trying to show) depends to much on the written words beneath it.

Technoblurb: After the flood:
A clear and bold message about the situation we are in as of today. The floods all over the world are a clear sign, of what is going on. It also shows us the powers mother nature can throw at us, and the fragility of the human species. Nature will find a way, and at the end we as humans will have to pay the price. The irony of it is: We talk about saving our planet, but in reality we should talk about saving our self. Nature has and will show us again: It will survive and find its way. Eventually at the cost of our way of living. As a picture it isn't that exciting. But the massage is a very strong one.

Hefty 1: Danger of death:
Another simple but effective message is seen here. Not so obvious and it could be explained in different ways. Electricity (high voltage) is lethal for humans. But that is not a bad thing. We know that, but we need it. We can't return to the stone age, can we?? The question is: How do we produce this electricity? Nuclear Power Plants, Coal or friendly ways like Solar, Wind or Biomass. And that information isn't visible.The picture doesn't tell the whole story. But in effect the same goes for the ongoing discussion about Global Warming.

Belinda B; Sea Defences:
Rising sea levels and man's battle against it. Very well known issues in my own country. We even have a name and reputation world wise it seems. Not that it is helping us, because we simply haven't got the financial resources to defend our entire coastline against the elements.
And that is just a small country, I am speaking about the Netherlands, for those who wonder. Picture wise it tells exactly as promised in the title. But the brute force of the ocean could have been displayed a bit more. The 50/50 separation is weakening the overall message a bit.
A bit more ocean would have helped, I'll think.

Womble: There is always hope:
I could think of a better title, when I saw this picture. As I said earlier in a other comment, Nature always find a way. And this probably one of the best examples I have seen. A simple poppy, fragile but capable of living, even under the most difficult circumstances.
Desaturation of everything but the flower is a good choice. It empowers the message. The movement of traffic in the background, it all adds to the message. Very well seen and equally well captured. A great one.

Shaky: Reclamation:
I am not sure what it is, Maybe a engine block or some sort of heavy motor thing. Its made of steel and obviously Nature has begun breaking it down. It will take a while, but time given, it will succeed. It's not such a strong message as you could wish for. It even has some beauty in it. Decay and dereliction being favourite subject of mine, it would well suit in on of those competitions. Telling the inconvenient truth is another ballgame, I am afraid.

Rob: Fried Earth:
A good original idea and well executed. It states the message clear and bold. I do hope you can still use the frying pan. But knowing Gimp and it's possibilities, there should be no worries. looking at the picture , I can see some evidence of the second layer pasted in.
Specially at the top half of the globe.Maybe you missed it, during the the erasing process.Other than that, .......a very nice picture within this weeks assignment.

Beakynet: Animals in the future:
A bit of a side kick from the idea I had when picturing the Inconvenient Truth. Of course mankind has a great influence in the extinction of endangered wild life. But seen in the light of this weeks theme I think there is more at stake, then the survival of some wildlife.
Of course you can link it to the broader picture, but as a picture showing the Inconvenient Truth, it doesn't speak to much for me. Sorry.

OK...here we go:

Womble: First place.
Draken: Second place
Dr.Muhni: Third place

Highly commended: Judith Ann and Tony-O

Thanks all for entering and sharing your views on this weeks subject.
Over to you Kris for another subject to explore.

Martin.

Thanks, Martin!

Over to you Kris, and congratulations on a fine win that shows a sense of hope!

Nice judging Martin and congratulations Kris, really nice picture and possibly my favourite too

Well done to Kris for a very effective photograph and to Martin for some very rapid quality marking given that he's been away. It must have been very hard to choose between these photographs - at least that's how I felt.

As for my little bit of history I wanted to get closer but they had a huge exclusion zone round the power station and it was shielded by trees on pretty much all sides. As it was I had to shoot from a private trailer park to get this close. There would have been an excellent shot including the huge coal stock piles they have there but no access.

Mike

Well done Kris for spotting that shot and making a good job of taking it. Well done as well to Martin for all his comments, both photographic and environmentally related.

I'm a bit puzzled by one of your comments about my photo though. I only added another layer for the flame at the bottom. Perhaps it isn't obvious the globe is see through, and it's the back of the other side of the world you're seeing?

Robert.

Hi Rob, I answered your question beneath your picture in it's comment box.

Martin.

Hi Martin,first thing,hope you and the missus enjoyed your 16th.

Cold Turkey = Difficulty coming off power addiction.
Red disc = Hot Planet.

John Lennons words fitted very well,from his album ''Shaved Fish''The text and red disc came from the CD sleeve,viewed through a perspex panel that contained the stanby/on-off light on our ''aged Sony Tv''.It was very difficult to get enough DOF so i ''disguised''that by making everything hot/hazy and blurry.I was happy with the ''alarmist'' result. Happy with the commended,thanks for that
Congratulation to the top three.good pics all.i also enjoyed the Fried Earth by ROB.

Well done Kris and all the award winners.
david

Congratulations to Womble and thank you Martin for a thought provoking competition and the judging.

Congrats Woble, you have a great shot there and are a worthy winner.

And thank you Martin for puting my pic second, my best score this far!, and I really didn't think my pic was capable of that

Good judging and I really like the effort you have put in by writing so much about every picture.


Regs.
/Magnus

Great winning shot with an upbeat message!
Difficult subject with some great entries. What a creative lot!

Prieni

My first win! Many thanks for the kind comments all. Sorry for the slow response, my internet connection was dead at the key moment. There were many great entries although I think my personal favourite was Dr Muhni's.

Best wishes, Kris.

(Very) belated thanks for the judging Martin, and my third, and congrats to Womble.

Have only just managed to log on since coming to the UK from Addis. Left on Monday evening when there was no power. 18 hour power cuts every other day in Addis - a good time to leave!

Thank you Martin:

Congrats to all who recieved placement with a special tip of the hat to womble for his great photo.