Weekly Competition #188 - Isolation Competition

You'll need to bear with me on this - I don't tend to do any critique on others pictures as I'm aware that most folk have been at this longer than me. Judging such superb images is way beyond that. I've quite enjoyed the process though, but the hard part is splitting the few that I've chosen as winners (and leaving out entirely some images that I really liked).

Winner
However, as I'm forced to choose I've gone for Davidtrouts entry. The position of the figure, the curve of the tracks, the weather, the mono treatment - they all added up perfectly for me.

Runnersup
Isolation by Masses - hit a real chord with me and was probably neck and neck with David last night.
far Far Away - A beautiful image that I really liked.

Special Mention
Solitary Confinement - the eyes say it all
Coventry Gull - Made me laugh
Lonely Dog - The patience of a loyal dog
Solitary Red Bucket - Just loved the tones.

Excellent variations on the theme
Checkmate - nicely thought out and perfectly executed.
Isolation - Henriteine - nice simple variation using the height of the building and the surrounding water.


I need to stop there as otherwise I'll try and fit everyone into some sort of winners circle or other. Its not easy this judging carry on and there were any number of entries that I feel unhappy at leaving out.



isolation by Masses - AxelLuther

For me this image hits the nail on the head with regards to isolation. No individuality - everybody compartmentalised in their own space completely seperate from others only feet away. The image has just the right amount of units for me to be effective in the way it is.


St Mary's Lighthouse - bforbes

A very nice image taken at the right time showing the small community cut off from the outside world. Nicely exposed and a good, natural landscape.


Solitary Red Bucket - Bill_And

I really like the tones and the composition in this image. The nature of the bucket, lying discarded on its side conjures up a lot of atmosphere as well.


Checkmate - SmutjeUK

Great interpretation of the theme. The starkness of the background really adds to the effect. Good perspective and composition. Excellent effort.


Splendid Isolation - Sandinista

A lovely image. I like the processing and the sculture really is beautiful. The tones help the 'girl' stand out but I'm not sure if her pose is indicative of Isolation.


One Day my Prince Will - TOZZA27

A nice interpretation. I like the way the shoe has traces of mud about the sole highlighting its loss. My only quibble is that I would have liked to see a wee bit more of its surroundings.


Isolated....and Loving It - JudithAnn

As a fly fisherman brought up on the Tweed I really identified with this image. Perfect capture of his cast and like the way the bright yellow jacket stands out. A lovely image that reminds me of many happy evenings spent in 'Splendid Isolation'.


Far far away - Fquesnel

What can I say. I love this picture. Great colour and excellent composition. I like the fact that the hut is nicely off centre and the way the blue stands out against the bleakness of its surroundings in an almost incongrous way.


One Cactus - darlene

The lonely and isolated cactus is an excellent interpretation. I like the positioning of the cactus and the distant mountains but I'm not sure about the slight blur on the image.


Thinking outside the bokeh - jsawatan

An excellent idea to isolate the foreground leaves using depth of field. I would have preferred the leaves themselves to perhaps have slightly more contrast or punch.


Lone Plant - Bern

Where theres a will theres a way. I like this image and the way the isolated plant has fought against the odds to find life in an unlikely place. A nice contrast against the background. I'd like to have seen a wee bit more made of the nice texture to the wood highlighting its fraying nature.


A breed apart - simonarron

The title says it all. The aloof Swan in its chosen isolation. Some night light on the front of the Swan and I rather like the ripples. A nice image.


Last Stone Standing - i-Berg

One of my favourites. A very simple image with good use of depth of field and superb tones that really suit the image. Together in Isolation.


Model - Glover

A very nice portrait. Good fous and an excellent b&w conversion. Much as I like it, I'm struggling to see how she is isolated or where she fits in to the theme.


Isolation - Crossed-up

Nicely composed and the indistinct horizon further emphasises the feeling of isolation. I might have liked a wee bit more foreground but I do like the positioniong of the vehicle.


Isolated Tree - Sai

A well isolated tree. I also like the fact that its in the shade whilst the rest of the scene is lit by the sun, strengthening the feeling of it being isolated.


Solitary Confinement - DrOrloff

A tremendous capture of the Jaguars (It is a Jaguar hopefully) feelings. Isolated from its natural world and that look seems to convey everything about it confinement. Excellent focus and like the way no wires interfere with the eyes.


Soaring - Stevepresto

The isolated gull or the isolated landscape? A lovely landscape and shows how isolated parts of this country can be. An excellent image.


Off-season - TimE

I like this image a lot. Nicely composed with some lovely light on the water. An interesting effect on the clouds? Good interpretation on how busy places can suddenly become isolated.


Waterlocked from freedom? - cardiff_gareth

Nice tones and exposure. Good variation on a similar theme to one or two others. I like the contemplative pose and the
positioning well back from the shoreline.


1814119114 - DadeiaAndrade

An excellent mono and like the light on the subject. The key on the inside of the door emphasises the self imposed isolation. One of my favourites where an individual has been used to highlight isolation.


Coventry Gull - coker.

This made me laugh. A really excellent image perfectly captured. I like the fact that the gull is facing away from the group and one of the group appears to be looking across as if to say "And bloody well stay away". Excellent.


No Horizon - gabeion

A lovely image with nice colour, light and some bonny reflections. Almost too cheerful an image to be one with the theme of isolation at its heart.


Home Comforts - aliengrove

Excellent intrepretation on the theme. Similar to Axels interpretation in that isolation can occur in the busiest places.Good colour and contrasts.


Frozen Isolation - Davidtrout

Super image. The tones, weather and positioning of the lone traveller really highlights their isolation. Excdellent composition and especially like the way the track curves out of sight in the vicibity of the figure. A cracker.


Lonely Dog - darkskies

As a dog owner I rather like this. Another nice monoand again a nice composition. Good positioning of the dog with the road (nicely highlighted by the damp tracks) curving away to the left. I get the impression of patience on the part of the dog - awaiting its master to come round the curve in the track.


More tea vicar...?

The isolated worker getting on with his chores. I like the colour and the interpretation of the theme.


Loxahatchee Fog - snooked

Now this really does look isolated. The lone bird helps to convey the feeling, but its the fog and the way the distance fades into nothing that really highlights the feeling. A nice effort.


Where is Mum? - Lowela

No wonder Labrador pups are used in advertising campaigns. Another excelent image that uses the wonderful expressiveness of an animals eyes to convey feeling. I get more a feeling of loneliness than isolation but a lovely image.


One More for the Road - Dr. Mhuni

Impressed with the quality of this image. Lovely richness to the colour and perfect exposure. A lone worker at the end of the day or the last customer lingering before returning home?


Isolation - HenriTeine


A really clever image. Great perspective and colour. I like this a lot. Great lines throughout as well.


two chairs - stephanie0812

An interesting choice to use two cahirs to highlight the theme of isolation. A good photograph and I like the choice of focusing on the second chair. I would have perhaps liked a wee bit more of the table in the shot.


Isolation - johnriley

Very cleverly done. Just the right amount of pace to highlight how small man is. Excellent lighting and a nice variation on the isolated individual theme.


away from the world - ArsenAl

Jings but thats some place. Great choice for the theme and possibly my favourite amongst the landscape themed entries. Nice composition and like the way the velley disappears down to the left.


Gun Awaiting Master - alexfilipov

A lovely photograph. Great tones, focus and some cracking textures. Excellent light on the gun and magazine.


Standing Guard! - stopher

A lone Meerkat - not something you usually see. Nice bokeh and excellent focus on the guards face. A good photo.


Durham Castle - zlj2417

A nicely composed image with good colour. The isolation of the tower at the top of the castle is a nice idea.


Private Pleasures - thoughton

A nice capture. Enjoying a secret icecream whilst isolated from prying eyes by the high dunes. I like this.


Isolation - VonBatCat

An interesting variation on the lone individual. Very well executed and the starkness of the lighting and the almost harsh mono highlights the feel of isolation. A very emotional picture. Well done.


Isolation ontap - geordie01

I think we've all been brassed off with the weather, but hats off to you for tapping into your available resources. An excellent example of thinking outside the box. Nicely done.


Lone Flower - Womble

I rather like this. A beautifully simple image. Nice use of dof and lovely gentle colours throughout. Almost friendly isolation somehow, although I can't explain why I think that. The only distraaction is the thick part of the stem beside the flower.

Thanks for your comments Mark, well done with this, especially given the field!

Congratulations to David, well deserved, and those sharing the light with him this week.

Thanks Mark, there were a lot of images to deal with there and you've made a great choice.

Well done David!

Great choice for the winner Mark, well done David and runners uppers. Thanks for the judging Mark, I can't say I envy you having to pick from such a set of excellent entries

ITMA well done David and very well done to Mark a very successful competition.

Gee thanks Mark. It was worth suffering for my art in freezing conditions ater all!!
Well done to Axel and Fquesnel for 2nd and 3rd and to the other special mentions. It was a good competition with many entries so you did a good job in choosing a good subject and working your way through the entries Mark, especially as I believe this was your first judging session.I'll ahve to coem up with this week's theme pretty soon, give me till later this afternoon.
David

Well done david, a great picture! Congrsts to all the the mentions too. Good competition, well done Mark.

Many thanks Mark for the prompt judging and good choice of subject. Congrats to David for a super winner, and to all the other places & HMs.

Thanks Mark - well done with a huge entry - loved the winning shot David - nice to see everyone starting to dust off the equipment and get back to photography after the ravages of winter and the temptations of a roaring fire !
Appreciate the comments as always.

Tony

Well done David, great atmospheric shot.

You'll be able to get some sleep tonight Mark after such a mammoth judging session. Admirably done. Great entries for this theme!

Congratulation David for a wonderful winning entry. Well done to podiumers and many others. The top two were my top two too.

Thanks Mark for your judging and my special mention. Really good once again to see the high entry count and so much quality.

thanks marklj for your kind comments

well done dave

Thank you to our judge Mark, wow he had over 40 photos to judge and what a fantastic job he did.I thank him for my pleasant comments.

Congrats to David for a cold and lonesome feeling photo. Nice work David.

We await David's topic....off we go

Congratulation to David for frist place. And to all the other places & HMs. Thanks for your comments Mark.

( but I'm not sure about the slight blur on the image. ) This is a driving by shot.
Thank .

Thanks, Mark. Good job!

Congratulation to David, and Congratulation to mark on his first judging

Congratulations to davidtrout for well deserved win! Many thanks marklj for your comments. They are very much appreciated.

Regards

Wow - this was close -david congratulation, your shot is very moody and touching - the weather is a perfect addition to the lonelyness of the person and this shot needed the almost BW. Thanks Mark for a special topic (I love it when photos transfer moods) and your construtive and thoughtfull judging. Saw many good photos in this competition - was a good experience to follow the competition.