Weekly Competition #181 - Industrial Competition

Results:

1.Matrix by Konstantin

For the detail, materials, textures, and an enigmatic quality. This was a standout picture as soon as I saw it. If it's HDR then it is a perfect example.

2.Industrial Dinosaur by Hyram

As dramatic a depiction of a crane as one could wish for. Imposing and brilliant.

3.The Heart Of The Nautilus by AxelLuther

For the Victoriana feel, the superb detail, the sharpness of every rivet and the range of metallic tones.

And thanks to all others. Some great shots in there, too many HC's for me to mention but hopefully this will be evident in the detailed comments which I will post in due course.

Congratulations to Konstantin for the winning entry, a likely winner I thought as well as JR's entry.

Many thanks to DrOrloff for an interesting competition and for my 2nd place.

Looking forward to the detailed comments, although who am I to talk, having only just managed to post the comments for the 'Adversity' competition

Thanks for picking an interesting subject and giving your expert views on the entries Adrian. Congrats to the award winners, the winning shot was very worthy of first place.
David

Thanks for the interesting theme, DrOrloff. Congratulations to the winners, all three shots were great.

Alex

What a fantastic winning shot... great stuff!

Konstantin - I saw your shot and thought - that's it.... what an amazing picture - wow.....
DrOrloff - thanks for this special comopetition topic and judgíng.

The right result I think although I am glad it wasn't me doing the choosing......... just too difficult with the quality of entries.

Congrats Konstantin

Thanks to everyone for your comments.

My stand-out also - congratulations Konstantin. Ditto Hyram and Axel - we had a very competitive field in this week, thanks to Adrian.

They say the cream rises to the top and it does, well done to the winner and runners up. Great comp all round.

Expert view? Don't make me laugh. I'll comment tomorrow evening when I get back to France. (I had to run for a train at Victoria yesterday and only noticed the Orient Express with steam engine after we set off, damn).

Alun - Industrial Farming

Great start. A veritable workhorse. Industrious and industrial. I like the simple, effective colour scheme, the shadows and the composition.

John Riley - Bridgwater Canal

The canal system is one of Britain's treasures. This is a very good night scene. I like the reflections and the detail of the leaves on the towpath. For me the truncation of the narrowboat is a shame in an otherwise very good shot.

Nautilus - Axel Luther

They don't make them like this any more. A wonderful liece of engineering beautifully photographed. Great detail in every last rivet and the decision to go for colour is I right with this great range of metallic tones.

Aliengrove - Cloud Factory

I love this scene. The many different layers and the grandness of scale merits viewing as large as possible. A contender but for the colouring which just isn't to my taste.

Kosh - To The Rescue

Nicely caught. Here the industry is in the work performed. I like the composition and I like the bit of movement in the rotors. The light on the helicopter is a bit flat but nice shot.

Davidtrout - Industrial Landscape

I like the sharp, very well lit chimney and the flame. Industrial elegance. I think I might like to see a bit more at the bottom, the base of the chimney, although maybe that would clutter an otherwise simple and elegant composition.

GlynM - Engine Shed

One for the engine enthusiasts. A good looking insight to a fading age. At least this one's being restored. The plate bottom left is a wee distraction, although this is a workshop and such scatterings are unavoidable.

Sandinista - Tensile Strength

A brutal shot. I don't what this is but it looks mean and then some. The noise adds grittiness and I like it. Time for a sensor clean though?

Bill-And - Toxic Or Poison?

A tautology? A scene of real decay and it tells of the plight of the industrialised regions. I like it but I can't see a big enough version to fully appreciate it.

Konstantin - The Matrix

The reference is obvious. I really like this. So many different textures which harmonise well. The steel pillars and heavy rivets sit well with the theme. There's plenty of detail to admire, the peeling paintwork, the little smiley thing and the chap sat sideways to the bench. Great, extremely well photographed (if it is HDR it's the type of HDR I like) and enigmatic.

Flossie - Rusty Shipyard

More industrial decay. I like the symmetry, the rust and muted tones. It works for me.

Von Bat Cat - Old Workhorse

The angle accentuates the imposing nature of this behemoth. A bit dalek like too. I love the strong and pure colours.

iBerg - The Heart

They are very photogenic, shame when they dynamite them. Very well photographed, I like the trademark toning and I like the way the chimney seems to punch through the sky.

Coker - Danger Of Death

The unusual crop works well here. I like a bit of colour popping and this works well. A bit of imagination has made an otherwise ordinary scene into something a bit different.

Froggy - Pumping Pit.

I don't think this is an easy scene to photograph and it has been done well. It's a strong photo and the ruins have a sort of megalithic feel. I like it. The sky is maybe a bit bright in part.

Shaylou - Shadow Of Industry

Blimey! I though there was more space in Canada to build houses. It looks like Widnes on steroids. The verticals are a bit off and detract from an otherwise fascinating scene.

Johnedwinagar - Stoned

I hope he isn't for his sake. I wouldn't touch an Irish motorbike, scary thing. The photo is a little soft but it is a different and welcome take on the theme.

Mudge - Sea Container House

I like the people in the foreground but I'd prefer to see a whole integer's worth and some more shoulders too. This is interesting and has a slight Bladerunner quality to it. I wonder if a face on scene taken a few seconds later would be a slight improvement? But I enjoyed this photo, intriguing.

rjmc1812 - Granite Mountain Mine

Good scene and a bit of history. The time of day is great for this, just right. The town and distant mountains look great. However, there is some noise and some softness. I'm guessing a tripod (or a K5) is required.

Thoughton - Sky Forks

This looks enormous. Great sky and it can't have been easy to light the forklift against it. It's all a bit weird in the nicest possible way. Reminds me of a Schawzenegger sci-fi although I don't know why.

Gtis - Frame

Does what is says on the tin. Solid. I really like it but I can't rationalise why.

Hyram - Industrial Dinosaur

I'm not usually a fan of whatever processing this is. But I like this extraordinary view of a crane. An apocolyptic, strange, dramatic mood. Graphic novel like and very good.

Alexfilipov - Inspection

Beautiful, sharp detail and contrasting but harmonious textures. I like it a lot. The rich colours are a little too saturated for my taste but this is a fascinating photo.

Timcx500e - Industrial Decay

The strength of theis photo is its straight telling. No glamour or impressive architecture. Just blight. A good interpretation of the theme.

Chrysb - Old Dock, New Gates

A good story to the scene and I think there's an affection for Liverpool that comes through here. An upbeat photo.

Cardith Gareth - Viaduct

I was expecting more B&W's for this theme and its choice here is spot on. Nice and sharp. Sturdy. Tidy.

Once again, apologies for the delay. I really could not spare an extra second last week. I thought this was a top class field hence in addition to the previously announced winners HC's go to:

Alun
Aliengrove
Davidtrout
Sandinista
Bill_And
VonBatCat
iBerg
Thoughton
Alexfilipov

But I enjoyed them all !!

Cheers Adrian - thank you.

Thanks Adrian for your work on this competition in difficult circumstances. Thanks for my HC.
David

Many thanks for the HC Doc, my first one . Have cleaned my sensor as well since I took it. Also thanks for getting these results out in what appear to have been very difficult circumstances for you over the last couple of weeks.

Thanks for the HC and for the judging, Adrian

Thanks Doc, here's wishing you a quieter week!