Weekly Competition #174 - Song Titles Competition

Comments and results: Weekly competition: “Song Titles”

First up I should state that this is my first attempt at any form of judging and I found it very hard! I was very impressed with the quality of the entries and the inventiveness in interpreting the competition topic and submitting some great shots. The usual caveats apply: these are purely my views, reflecting what rings my bells and I am sure others will have their own thoughts which may or may not be similar to mine... anyway, here goes:

Bridge over Troubled Waters (Bill_And):
A great opening entry (and quick too). I found this a very appealing and accomplished shot. I like the composition, with its portrait orientation, enabling a full reflection to be captured for this elegant looking bridge. If I had any criticism it would be that maybe the shadows at the front and sides are a little dark for my taste but it’s a very minor point. Nice work.

In the Ghetto (AxelLuther):
A very striking image of a child behind bars. I think the placement of the bar across the child’s face reinforces the message and as you say the keys in his hand offer some cause for optimism. I wonder what the child is thinking. A very intriguing shot and another excellent entry.

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (Hyram):
Gosh that is a rather splendid interpretation of the song I think. It suits the ‘psychadelic’ feel and I love the way the trees are picked out along the skyline like fractals. The graduated colours in the sky and the beams coming from the sun all work for me and the picture heads towards abstraction. Another strong entry!!

Let there be drums (Weldingblues):
This looks like a corner of a shed or a garage, which to my mind is a fitting location for a drum-kit (I know that is where my brother keeps his), with various bits and pieces cluttered around, almost like the drums are being re-discovered and waiting to be played. I like the feel of the shot overall. Good stuff.

Lady in Red (bforbes):
I assume this is from the Goth meet in Whitby, and it’s a great shot in my view. There is something a little edgier than your typical “lady in red” given the bondage-tinged bodice of the bright red dress, augmented by bright red hair, but tempered by the great smile of the lady. I also like the way the soft looking ruffled skirt contrasts with the stone steps. Well done.

Song for Guy (DrOrloff):
I found this a very impressive image. The flames which have hold of the guy are really roaring away and I like the way they highlight the other parts of the bonfire behind. The flames themselves are very well rendered; another shot with a good ‘wow’ factor to my mind, and of course very appropriate for this time of year too. I can tell already this it is going to be hard to pick a winner.

Two Little Feet (JudithAnn):
A real contrast with the blazing guy of the last shot. A calm and thoughtful picture which would give anyone’s heartstrings a tug I reckon.I like the treatment of the pale hands and feet against the black background. If I had any criticism it would be that in the top left corner the hand looks a bit cut-off, compared with the other, but this is a small point for an otherwise very well executed shot; great entry.

I believe I can fly (ArsenAl):
Gosh what a great angle, making for a very striking image. I’m not sure whether you were lying under the hurdle or shooting remotely but either way the outcome is impressive and the capture is good, taken just at the critical moment. Another high ‘wow’ shot. Good stuff indeed.

Daydreaming (Dr Mhuni):
Another calm and thoughtful picture, and very well taken. I like the tack-sharp eye and the textures throughout the shot. Overall quite enigmatic (which of course suits the title) and it makes for an intriguing and pleasing result. Top work.

Green and Grey (alulacheery):
It’s good to see a nod to New Model Army! A favourite of mine back in the day. I like this portrait. Another look which is enigmatic to my mind as well as wistful; I wonder what the model is thinking. I like the tone of green which, almost seems desaturated and complements the grey in the background. Nice work.

Crimson Reflections through a Looking Glass Mind (aliengrove):
What a title! Kudos for attempting something as abstract; and a fitting shot to boot. It looks like a surrealist painting, suiting the title, and there is much for the eye to wander over, the deep red, the lady with no head, the pearl clouds, and the reflected building. Excellent stuff.

Dancing in the streets (DGSPINK):
A shot full of energy and colour and conveying the carnival spirit of the title; it looks like a great occasion and it is captured nicely here. It makes me wonder what the sounds and smells were like as well, and is an uplifting contrast the cold grey murk outside my window this weekend. Well taken.

And they call it puppy love (TOZZA27):
A cute shot of an affectionate pooch. The spaniel looks absolutely sparked out and very content, making for a slightly comical feel but a very warm atmosphere overall. Nice shot and a good memory.

Bits and Pieces (GlynM):
I was drawn to this shot straight away as it really strikes a chord with me (I am a bit of a Magpie and generally tend towards ‘clutter’). This picture really draws me in as there is so much in there which is familiar to me, and whether the pieces are specifically arranged or just ‘as found’ the overall composition works for me. I especially like the pink-haired troll and the poppy (again very appropriate this weekend). Really great.

Jailhouse Rock (i-Berg):
Gosh, a very striking shot. Almost looks like a Banksy behind bars. I like the mono style and the layers created by the bars, the bricks, the shadows, the graffiti, and the vignette works for me too. Very good.

Goldfinger (rustytheclown):
I like the use of DOF here to isolate the golden figure from the background, and I find his pose very intriguing, with a strong emphasis overall on the golden figure’s finger. It is a shame that the figure’s head looks a little soft to me with focus maybe being just forward of his head, but it’s a striking image nonetheless. Nice work.

Can’t buy me love (coker):
A macro shot, and not too shabby either. I like the focus on ‘Elizabeth’ and the way the coin is isolated so well from it’s background. It really makes me think about the dings and dents in the edge of the coin, and I wonder how many hands and pockets that must have been through... well taken.

I’m on the lamb, but I ain’t no sheep (thoughton):
This shot had instant appeal for me. I like the composition with the focus on the eye and the textured horn snaking its way across the picture. The textures throughout contrast too, the glassy eye, the horn and the slightly abrasive looking fur, blurring at the foremost points. All combine to make a top shot. Great stuff.

Fallen Angel (johnriley):
Gosh the model looks well and truly ‘fallen’, and given that the Christmas party season is nearly upon us I imagine I’ll see a few more in this vein over the next few weeks. An accomplished portrait I think with all the elements reinforcing the same overall message, which exactly matches the title. Good entry.

White Christmas (sueriley):
A very pleasing shot, and that snow looks pretty deep (!?). I like the way you have retained detail and texture in the snow whilst keeping the overall ‘whiteout’ effect; and I like the composition overall, the skyline works for me and the road winding off to the right alongside the snow-encrusted hedge. Very nice indeed.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow (GaryJohn):
Great picture, and very endearing.The dog’s expression is great! he almost looks TOO excited and I like the way as well that you have captured the movement in the (still falling) snow. It creates a great atmosphere and makes a very appealing shot. I like it very much.

Boris the Spider (drofmit):
Another macro shot and a good frame filling spider. I like the sharpness and the angle, and you’ve retained a decent DOF as well. It’s an intriguing shot and initially I almost thought there were two spiders there. Nicely done.

Won’t get fooled again (dougf:
A well observed piece. Pretty much ‘of the moment’ as well and a good match to the song title (good song by the way). I quite like the sky in the background as it seems to be brightening and perhaps offering some optimism, but who knows... Good shot

Love me love my dog (timcx500e):
A nice portrait and a cute looking dog. Good eye contact with the girl in the picture, and a nice smile, overall a good result I think. The background is unobtrusive and slightly blurred. Well taken.

Having said all of that, it makes picking a winner very difficult indeed. There were a good number of entries clustered at the top end in my evaluation; the places I eventually settled on are:

1st: Bits and Pieces by GlynM
2nd: Song for Guy by DrOrloff
3rd: Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds by Hyram

But as I say, it was very hard to judge and the results were VERY close. Well done and thank you to all entrants!

Regards

Well done Mat, very competently put together. Good topic too.

Kudos to Glyn, Adrian and Hyram.

Many thanks Mat, and congratulations to our accomplished winners!

Congratulations to GlynM for the winning entry - an original idea and where do you keep all that stuff

Many thanks to Mat for the competition and my 3rd Place.

I had originally intended to submit an entry based on an anti war protest song, but started tinkering with my sun shot and enjoyed it so much that I carried on and used that one instead

Many thanks for the judging Mat and congrats to Glyn and the others.

Gosh, what an unexpected surprise. I feel very honoured.

I would like say many thanks to Mat for setting such a great subject, providing an excellent set of comments and, of course, for the results .

I liked, and thought, all of the submissions were in with a good chance of winning. Even mid-week it was really difficult to come up a idea that hadn't already been used.

On the bits and pieces front my wife was horrified how quickly I was able to gather it all up. I fear one of the results will be a rigorous clear-out .

The contents of the shot were partially arranged. I started off by just spreading it all out but then kept moving some of it around to fill gaps and unmask other bits. I don't think I would have ever been completely happy with it but closure was forced when the dining room table was wanted for a meal .

Thanks again to Mat for a great competition. Congratulations to my fellow winners and everyone else for wonderful set of interpretations.

It will be difficult to follow this competition but I will post up the next subject shortly.

Glyn

P.S. I don't think I can answer Hyram's question about where it is all kept as I haven't managed to put it all away having forgotten where some of it came from .

Thanks for judging Mat, and congratulations to Glyn, Dr O and Hyram.

Congratulations to Glyn, Dr Orloff and Hyram, and well done Matt for thinking up such a great idea for a competition!

Well done Glyn. Thanks Mat, it was a great idea for a competition, interesting and there were some very good entries.

Well done Glyn - lovely man drawer and great photo ( good song too ! ).

Splendid judging and some great competition there - onwards and upwards.....................

Tony

Thanks for this competition Mat - I liked the idea of combining audio with an image - makes it often even more intense to look a pictures when having a song in mind. Congratulations to Glyn, Dr O and Hyram - saw the new topic - wow - this will be hard to select a picture because it tells a lot about personal preferences .

thanks Mat

well done Glyn

Thanks for the competition and your comprehensive comments in the judging Mat and well done to the winners.

Thanks to the Judge... Matt you did a fantastic job for a first timer...if you had not revealed that fact, bet no one would have guessed.

Congrats to our winners...it was a nice turn out of photos.

I agreed with the Judge on mine...it was distracting to have the corner of the left hand covered... I only got one chance to get that shot, and was not able to set it up again. (baby was crying and needed his mom right there and then!)