Weekly Competition # 214- Connections Competition

Thanks for all the entries! It's nice to see so many interpretations of the theme, which is what I was hoping for. A lot of great images, as usual, and it's been a difficult one to judge.

Connecting Staircase by Mudge
Very nice shot, the figure in the lobby makes this shot, especially as the case they are pulling behind them matches the staircase. The shot is a bit noisy, however, probably as it was taken on a compact. There is some colour noise that could have been removed in PP. However, a very good entry.

Connected by love, body and spirit by Cardiff Gareth
A well composed shot of a loving couple holding hands, and the mono conversion suits it. The highlights on the brides hand don't have any detail, though, and the dark line top left corner is slightly distracting. Lovely shot though, if perhaps a touch cliched.

Changing trains by Dr Mhuni
Well that's one way of making your train connection! I like this shot, but I am not so sure about the conversion. The silvery colour of the trains is OK, but the palm fronds at the top look decidedly odd.

Bridge of shadows by davidtrout
I like the shadow of the person on the bridge, and the colours. I feel the composition could have done with either a bit more of the bridge or a bit less, as it is I find the roadway a bit distracting. I do like this shot though.

Fire Hydrant by Sandanista
The colour of the hydrant and the texture on the walls makes this a very striking image. I really like it. My only slight criticism is that the hydrant would perhaps look better on a third, and very slightly higher in the frame.

Flywheel & rods by malcolm leader
A great sense of motion from the flywheel, and the governor (at least I presume it is). It's a shame you didn't have slightly better light for this shot, as I think a bit of sunshine would add a lot to this image.

Network Connections by GlynM
Kudos once again for taking an entry for the competition! It certainly shows connections, and is well composed, but I don't find the image striking in any way. This is the sort of shot I would use Topaz on to give it a bit more zing.

Connections by John Riley
A lot of elements in this image, all to do with communication, and it is very well put together. I am not too keen on the letterbox format, which as the image was intended as a banner on your website is of course necessary, and I suppose is another element in line with the theme.

In Cornmarket, Oxford, 23 November 2010 by mecrox
A nice shot, showing the communication that exists between the dog, the woman and the music. It could perhaps have done with a bit more on the right hand side, ie including the whole body of the guitar. I am not quite sure what to make of your comment that you are away until 31st Aug. Does this mean you would not be able to judge the comp if you won?

Telegraph by guy
Lots of connections here! The image is a bit dark, however, and I think would have worked better had the pole been on a third.
Connections by jeeess1967
I find the explanation “supposed to be a part in a train” a bit odd. It either is or isn't, surely? It looks to me like an air hose for the brakes. I like the use of limited DOF, and at first glance I thought it was a mono shot. However, it appears to be in colour, which has led to a distracting bit of blue halfway down the pipe on the right hand side. I think this would work better in mono, with perhaps a bit more contrast on the pipe. Nice composition though.

Trains by arjem7
I like the tracks leading to the line of trains. The picture overall looks a bit overexposed, especially the sky. Dropping the exposure a stop or so, and perhaps adding a graduated filter to the sky to bring out a bit more detail, and a curves adjustment to boost contrast would give the image more impact IMHO.

Coupling by VonBatCat
Nice symmetrical shot, it works very well. The colours look a bit odd to me, though, especially the sky, which is almost turquoise, unless it's my monitor. It looks a bit like an old photograph where the colours have changed with time. Was this image shot on film?

Enduring by NCH
An interesting image,and good composition, but the colour does not look right in this image either. It all looks very pink, especially the background, which overpowers the wire IMO. Has this been done in PP, or is the white balance out? I think it would work better with the background desaturated a bit, or a different colour.

Waiting by geordie01
This looks a bit soft overall to me, which is odd as it was shot at f14, and there is some shadow noise. I also wish we could see one of the girls faces. I can't help wondering why you used ISO800 and f14 for this shot? I don't know what lens you used but f11 is about the smallest aperture I use on any lens unless I am shooting macro, as most lenses “sweet spot” is around those apertures. Was it a case (something I am always doing), of forgetting to reset things after taking a shot in different conditions?

Apparently Connected by Hyram
A nice shot of the Breitling wing-walkers in action, I liked the ones in the photos forum too. I am not so keen on the vignette, though, especially where it has caused banding on the lower right corner. I have never had much luck photographing air shows (actually skill is probably the right word). A good capture, though it does look to me like it could be sharpened a touch more.

The more the merrier by stevepresto
How do people get off the furthest boat? Do they have to cross all the others? As it is a 1.3 sec shot, (so evidently a tripod or similar was used), I can't help wondering why you shot this at ISO3200? A longer exposure at a lower ISO would have given you more detail and a lot less noise, which is very evident in the sky.

Power connection by Froggy
Another shot that seems to have been taken specifically for the competition, which is great to see. A nice graphic shot of an everyday object, and well exposed. The dark line on the right hand side is distracting, I would have been tempted to crop it to the right side of the plastic housing. I think it could do with a touch of sharpening, but overall a great entry!

Pylon Connections by paulgee20
Intersting composition, and I like the receding pylons. The subject suits the mono conversion, but I think it needs a bit more contrast; the picture overall is very grey.

Stainless by bforbes
Great composition, lovely and sharp, and I really like the colour of the cables, even though they are perhaps a bit out as far as WB goes. In fact, I couldn't resist correcting the WB myself to see what it looked like, and the bluish tint you have on this shot works better. My only suggestion for improving this image would be to desaturate the background.

Connected to Somalia by Dilek
A nice image, and a lovely story behind it. The image does look a bit soft however, and could do with a bit more contrast, and perhaps the WB adjusted slightly, as their seems to be a slight pink tinge.. I also find the bicycle and legs in the background a touch distracting.

Hello - Aisha calling by AxelLuther
Great mono street shot, I like the guy texting in the background too. I think cropping it slighly on the left side to get rid of the dress bulging into the frame would improve it a bit, but it's a great shot as it is.

fleeting connection across the age barrier by beebee
Another good street shot, and it's nice to see different generations engaged in conversation in an urban environment, even briefly. I like the composition too, though I think the exposure could do with being reduced half a stop as their hands are a bit bright. Great street shot though.

Baker Street by Dr Orloff
Nice mono image, I like the cables running along the wall, they give me an optical illusion of movement. I think if this had been taken a second later, with the woman silhouetted against the paving, it would have turned it from a good image into a great one. Just my opinion though.

Symmetry by alexfilipov
I have seen this image before (on flickr?) and although I quite like it, the tint and the darkness of the image don't I think suit the subject. I do like how the lights look like snow though.

Pair of loose ends by drofmit
Interssting image, showing all those wires and a couple not attached to anything. It reminds me of India, where sights like this (and worse) are very common. I can't say this shot grabs me though, even though technically there's nothing wrong with it.

Binding by Dodge 69
Another picture taken during he period of the competition, which is great to see. I like the centre of this supporting structure, it looks a bit robotic to me for some reason. If you could have found some way of getting this image without the burned-out light from the windows, I think it would have been even better, though I appreciate this was probably not possible. Great shot nonetheless.

It has been difficult choosing the winners, not helped by the fact I set an fairly open theme, which it has been great to see so many interpretations of. After much deliberation , here are my winners.

First Place: Stainless by bforbes

Second Place: Fire Hydrant by Sandanista

Third place:fleeting connection across the age barrier by beebee
Connecting Staircase by Mudge

Highly Commended:Hello - Aisha calling by AxelLuther
Changing trains by Dr Mhuni
Binding by Dodge 69
Connected by love, body and spirit by Cardiff Gareth

Congratulations to bforbes for the winning entry and to the others on the podium.

Thanks to aliengrove for a very interesting competition that produced a great variety of entries.

This was my first air show, so getting anything was a result

Dr. Mhuni seems to specialise in people taking risks with trains

Well done Barrie, a fine win. Must get this on the DPS blog.
Thanks for an excellent subject Jon and for your expert judging.
David

Many thanks for another interesting and open competition which I think attracted a good number of entries across a broad range of interpretations. Thanks also for your detailed reviews and judging.

Congratulations to bforbes for a fantastic wining image, the runners up and everyone else for a great set of images.

Glyn

Well done Barrie, your shot was one of my favourite entries, very striking. Many thanks for the second placing Jon, very satisfying given the quality of all the entries.

Thanks for setting, judging and comments/critique, expertly done.

Congrats on joint thirds for beebee and Mudge.

Thanks for the joint 3rd - I agree that it had its faults but I didn't have a lot of time - the meeting was very brief - well judged - I will try to enter more often as I learn so much from the judging comments

Many thanks to aliengrove for his time and effort setting and judging this weeks competition. When you achieve a first place doesn't it come as a surprise.
Congratulations to the other winners and entrants for making me think I did not stand a chance.
Aliengrove: I think the colour comes from a cyan tone filter in Windows live Photo Gallery.
davidtrout: DPS should be pleased. It was taken during our assignment outing to Middlesbrough

Good comp, good judging, good winners.

Well done Barry, nice one and well deserved

Paul

dito

Thanks for the comp (good subject), judging and HC, AG. Congrats to Barry and the others.

Quite a common occurrence here, Hyram!