Weekly Competition #163 - Dusk and Dawn Competition

Thank you for participating in this week’s competition. It’s both a privilege and a responsibility to be presented with this diverse field of quality images, so let’s go.

I thought I would begin by restating the criteria for this round:
“This one is all about light and its rapid changing at the beginning or end of the day. It need not include sunset / sunrise in the shot, although please feel free to include it. It does however require effective use of the light that exists at that particular time. How you use that light is of course entirely at your discretion. Above all, the shot needs to be one where the light is distinctively associated with dusk - or dawn (emphasis added). By light I of course include its corresponding shadows…”

Again, I won’t call this judging, as my level of expertise and technical knowledge makes it all quite subjective. As before, your own opinions may differ, and that’s likely a good thing! Errors, typos and other problems are entirely mine.

TomW - Norfolk Evening
Good choice of scene, balance between light and shadow, foreground interest is added via the reflections. There’s an effective use of the vanishing point, and you have chosen a perspective that has it coincide with the source of the light. There’s plenty going on in the sky with those clouds too.

Prieni – Skyline @ Marina Bay
Good perspective on a cityscape at the appropriate time of day. A looming cloudbank adds an effective backdrop without being intrusive.

Steve Chasey – Uluru Dawn
At the ‘grey dawn’, Uluru (Ayer’s Rock) comes into its own a little later, with some sun – not that the latter was a prerequisite for the dusk and dawn competition. Of course, if it is visited as part of a tour, opportunities to wait until conditions are ideal don’t always come easily either. Australian rural scenes can be a little ‘flat’ at this time of day. I’d have waited just a few minutes more, if, as I stated, had that been possible on this occasion. On the other hand, the pictures of Ayers’ Rock resplendent in the sun’s rays are almost a cliché – you have taken the road less travelled with your approach, dawn gloom and all. Well done.

John Riley - Greystoke Sunrise
This image has a lovely, misty look, the sun has started to colour the clouds but not the earth. The low, long building in the middle ground really suits this shot (my first thought was ‘this could be early medieval!’), as does the undulating farming country. Good timing used here to catch some colour in the frame, without losing the dawn effect.

Mattox – Matera
If only walls could talk… this is a lovely shot of an ancient place – how incongruous though that we now cannot escape from satellite dishes on so many buildings!
Your EXIF data shows the shot taken at about 10:43 PM in mid-Summer 2009 – that’s awfully late for this amount of sun shining on the buildings?

Isdky - Sunset over Hill from Campsite
This is innovation, straight into the sun sitting on the ridge-line. The shooting conditions and your parameters thus gave you an awesome sky. You’ve managed to abstract the essence of the light to give effect to your submission. So simple, yet so effective.

AxelLuther – Scraping the Gold
The colours and the sky are there, but the ‘floating’ buildings detract a little from the shot. It looks like it was a pleasant evening nonetheless.

GaryJohn – Emley Mast
This shot was taken in mid-Summer, and it looks to me as if your light source was at or just above the top of the frame? Your camera settings (1/1000 sec at f have given the shot that gloomy dawn appearance. The mast provides the interest – it clearly dominates the countryside at 1950’ AMSL. Perhaps I’d have walked into the paddock a little further – the lighter straw stubble (if that’s what it is) lying down in the foreground has caught the light, and the reflections compete with the tower for my interest.

Malcolm Leader – Maldon Sunrise
What a wonderful combination of interests in the sky and in the foreground also. Looking at the water, and the objects resting in it, I get the impression that this is a boneyard for fishing boat hulls – the most recent of which is now pictured awaiting its fate. This is decay with a difference, and you’ve woven that story in with the competition theme in a most effective way. My only (and minor) quibble might be the bush that is in the lower LHS corner. Given that it looks dead, perhaps that is also in keeping though.

Bforbes – Resting
One of the ‘grey dawn’ approaches to the theme, with an industrial perspective thrown in. The reflections are effective, and draw attention to the grey mudflats that complement your choice of timing for the shot. Is it my eyes, or are those derricks on the lean Barrie? I can’t decide. There’s some sensor dust evident in the sky (centre and RHS) that would be worth a clone.

Aliengrove – Dhow at Dusk
I was intrigued by this one Jon – is it HDR? The sea has a hint of blur (no doubt due to the slower shutter speed), but this doesn’t really detract from the image IMO. You’ve captured the blues and greens of both sea and sky well. The placement of the dhow in the frame doesn’t seem to hit the spot for me though, although I do like the contrast between it and the modern metropolis providing the backdrop.

GlynM – Canal Dawn
It was worth carting a K20D + 18-250 about for this one. The bridge is a great frame and subject all in one. The water, light and mist through the bridge are poster material. My one suggestion might be to crop some of the dark areas at the bottom and the LHS away.

Danny_boy – Dawn
A friend of my daughter’s has recently returned from a year at the Sibelius Academy – is this lake anywhere near that Daniel? This is quite a brooding scene – the lake picks up some strong colours from the sky, and adds to that with the black shoreline opposite as well as the rocks and reeds in the foreground. At an EXIF time of 12.45 AM, you’re really showing it off to those who don’t live quite so near the Arctic Circle!

Chelseablue – Shanghai by night
An amazing amount of traffic depicted on the river John. Obviously, many people out doing their own thing as well. The EXIF data shows a time of around 1 PM, which is obviously not the night shot time shown here. Perhaps it was 1 AM instead?

Dr Orloff – Power Play
I like your title, and the framing effect of the wires. The contrail adds a nice touch. I wondered if the sky back in May was still affected by the volcanic ash cloud, in your part of the world? It is a magnificent colour. You’ve captured the silhouettes of your children nicely too.

Thoughton – Sunset Walk
Was that a Thai holiday Tim? The water’s surface actually makes me think it was a bit breezy – understandable as the EXIF shows the image being recorded near the end of the Monsoon. The pier, with lights on, is good, and the sky likewise. The boats on the RHS look a bit lost and forlorn to me.

ArsenAl - Evening St.-Petersburg
The sky says it all – this looks like ‘Blue Hour’. Lovely colours. I might have been tempted to clone out the wires, and frame the shot in such a way that the staff in the statue’s left hand was fully within the frame. Clearly though, I’m not aware of any limitations that may have prevented you doing that.

Dr Mhuni - Donated by World Vision
Your choice of lens has enabled you to capture a very dramatic sky Doc – it is a superb backdrop. The clouds serve to frame the boat, and to lead the eye to the place where the sun is below the horizon. It looks like the boat has seen some local additions, to complete the full outrigger. Perhaps a crop or cloning out of the plant debris on the beach just to our left of the craft, might have removed a small distraction.

SteveEveritt – Contemplation
An early dusk, on account of the ash cloud – good thinking. Lovely sky, and effective use of the silhouettes in the shot. I like the way you’ve positioned the sun’s reflected light in between the two blokes watching the water, and the way the sun hangs above centre of the small valley in the background.

Darlene – Dusk Image
Great material you’re working with there Darlene. A big sky and the statue, which is almost a silhouette, of the second European explorer in the area. I wondered what the shot would have looked like a few minutes later, when the sky would have been a slightly darker shade of blue, and the statue fully silhouetted? The other alternative I thought of was putting the lightest part of the sky directly behind the statue. The area to the right of the statue is a bit empty – I’d have considered giving it a crop perhaps?

Bill_And – Volcanic Effect
The shot certainly captures the sky and the land-mass at dusk very well Bill. I’d have probably added something to the foreground as an item of interest, which would then have become the focal point on which to rest the eye.

Chrisdms – Norfolk Broads
For some reason, I could not click through your picture to get a larger copy to view Chris. Not sure why. You’ve actually put the light source behind the windmill, something which I had suggested as another option for Darlene to consider. I think the windmill is a great subject and centrepiece. Yet, this shot is also one where another few moments would have converted the former into a full silhouette, and perhaps added even more character to your sky (I’m speculating a bit with the latter, on account of the menacing-looking cloud), by virtue of ‘Blue Hour’.

TOZZA27 – November on the Severn
Another quality image in this comp., taken with an *ist Tony. You’ve used the foliage silhouette as a frame, and the open side of the frame is virtually completed by the dark cloud lurking in that opening. There is arguably just enough detail in the silhouetted foliage to obviate the need for a separate foreground subject (see comments to Bill_And’s image). What a spectacular colour in that sky. And on Remembrance Day too – interesting. A coincidence?

Haworth – Shrine at Dusk
At 5 seconds, this was clearly a tripod shot. There’s some motion blur caused by the wind in the decorations at top RHS, but that does not detract from the image. I was surprised though at how remarkably still the ladies look, given the exposure time. I am guessing that you wanted to get the interior of the shrine, and the artefacts, properly exposed? The lanterns are all nicely exposed too – a good balance.

Rusty the Clown - Misty Morning Brimham Rocks
The Rocks lend themselves to pictures taken during these conditions. Some more emphasis on the formations would have improved the shot IMO. It’s a shame the sun was already up well above the horizon though – this is probably one of those places that is closed to the public until dawn has already passed? Some great opportunities going begging if that is the case.

Dougf8 – Medusa the Celt
A great hypothesis for a play, and what a setting! I liked this image when you first posted it Doug, and still do. A top sky heading into ‘Blue Hour’ is in evidence, along with a very opportune moon. The clouds, sea and castle all add up to a good product.

Alun – South Hams evening
Picturesque ruins, verdant fields – was that your campfire burning over beside the building Alun? The sun still seems quite strong in this image, but that has given you the ‘Golden Hour’ colours that make this shot.

Summary

Any one of the entries I will nominate here could have been first. They were difficult to differentiate. Each had a good take on the theme, as well as photographic merits. Other entries were also strong contenders for placings – the same comment applies to those. So the results are (my entirely subjective opinions, as stated):

1st: Malcolm Leader – ‘Maldon Sunrise’
This pulled me right into the shot with the subject matter, and the perfect timing to catch just the right light to complement the image. Congratulations.

2nd: GlynM – ‘Canal Dawn’
I found this one very difficult to split from 1st, and on that account alone the same comments apply. Congratulations.

3rd: Isdky – ‘Sunset over hill from campsite’
The stark, uncompromising use of light in this shot made it irresistible to me for a place here. Congratulations.

Commended, in no particular order –

John Riley – ‘Greystoke Sunrise’
A strong ethereal feel to this one

Tozza27 – ‘November on the Severn’
The sky colour, and the framing of it with the branches and cloud were what got this into the commendations.

Tomw – ‘Norfolk Evening’
A successful combining of all of the elements for this one Tom.

Please feel free to disagree!

Nice judging, very quick too, so many thanks for that. Some powerful images all round and some superb winners.

Well done Malcolm, please set your competition as soon as you can.

Excellent winning entry, well done Malcolm!
i-Berg, good and quick judging and you set a theme that brought out many remarkable shots! Thank you!

Prieni

A good competition and winning entry. Thanks for your time and trouble i-berg.

Well done Malcolm Leader, thanks i-Berg.

Loads of fantastic entries in this comp, thanks for the 3rd place! The judging was a great read and each shot was reviewed thoroughly.. Well done to i-Berg and also congrats to Malcolm - looking forward to the next comp topic

Thanks for the judging and the comp, i-Berg. Some nice (and varied) entries this round. Congrats to Malcolm and the others.

Many many thanks for the delightful comments - a commended is ALWAYS appreciated - especially when surrounded by such quality photographs.
Brilliant judging and observations i-Berg - a lot of work there - and very well done to Malcolm - Jo & I had decided you were the man to beat early on ! Jo also wants to know if she can have a copy of GlynM`s Canal Dawn which we also loved !.

Great photos you lot - let`s go again !

Tony

Congratulations to Malcolm for the winning entry. From my direction there were so many excellent pictures to choose from but Malcolm's sunrise over Essex mudflats stood out and is a very well deserved winner.

Many thanks to i-Berg for my coveted second place. I always felt with that shot I was just lucky enough to be there at the right time & conditions with my camera. I think it would be very difficult to go out with the intention of getting that shot as I have been out since to try and repeat it, with perhaps a better lens, but without any success.

Thanks also for choosing a brilliant, open, subject and for your great comments.

Tony - Jo is very welcome to have a copy of my shot. Its a bit big to email but feel free to pm me to work out a way of sending it.

Glyn

Congratulations, an excellent top three and a good, well-judged competition.

Great judging with so many fantastic shots to choose from. Congrats to the deserved winner and the excellent runners up
H

what a great selection of pics (thanks to the good topic-suggestion from i-berg) and really great winner pics - congrats to all three. I-berg - I guess, judging was really difficult this time due to the long list of superb entries - what an effort in all these comments (although I have not really an idea, what you mean with floating houses - for me they look rock-solid - you might mean the missing ground-contact???)

hard work - but well judged i-berg

congrats to Malcolm

Good subject and well judged i-Berg, it attracted some first class entries, and not just those which got onto the podium.
David

Many thanks for all comments. Extremely pleased and happy in winning the weekly competition.

Malcolm

Thanks for the great judging, congratulation to the winner and those commended. as said by others excellent photo's

Great judging iBerg! And congratulations to Malcolm

Axel,

You're correct - this is what I was referring to.

i-berg Absolutely amazing Photography in this Competition i so made up that you did the judging and it was not me i could not have picked out that winner!
there all winners it was so hard this one,so well done to all and Congratulations Malcolm and every one and well done the judge