Weekly competition #194 - Nature breaks it's path Competition

Should have known what I let myself in to. It’s a lot of work but made great fun by all your fantastic entries and the different interpretations of the theme.

As always the judging is subjective, that’s the nature of it.

bforbes - Foothold
An almost classic example of the theme as an opener. Thanks for that, illustrates the theme nicely. The sapling is positioned well and the green is a good contrast to the colours of the stones. Something seems not to be right with IQ when looking at the big version of it, in the preview it looks great, though. The light is a bit harsh but over all a good opening to this weeks competition.

JudithAnn - Washed Up, But Not Away
Yes, it is amazing how nature finds itself the niche for survival. I like the contrasting colours of rust and grass, the flaking paint is also very nice. I do have the feeling, though, that a better photo would have been in the scenery (but I appreciate that I might be completely wrong here and it was the only possible angle for some reason). I do like the wooden houses in the background and also the modern boat on the right doesn’t bother me. Could it have shown a bit more on top, i.e. the top of the hill on the right and all of the roof of that wooden building?

gunner - The Hermit
Nice subject and good use of anthropogenic waste on that subjects part. Looking at the EXIF it seems that the light situation was tricky. You could, however, put a bit more effort in the post processing. A little boost of contrast goes a long way here.
Was the aperture open at 5.6? Whether it was or not, like the shallow(ish) depth of field here. Would have loved to look that crab a bit more in the face, but I guess that bugger wasn’t to keen to be snapped.

cardiff_gareth - Patio table grass
Another interesting entry. Certainly on topic and so far the best light. Composition is simple and effective, the light not only makes the grass stand out, it also does cast a nice shadow of the blades of grass on the patio table. My only minor niggle is the grey bits of the table, nothing that you could do against it at the time of taking this shot. Nicely placed depth of field. Well done!

mecrox - Hello Boys
This certainly lives of the graffiti, nice scene. Would have been better here perhaps to have a less central composition (but I appreciate that whatever is left and right of what we see might have forbidden a different angle). An even deeper angle could have made it better as well. On the PP side it could do with a bit of warming up.
Well spotted and competently framed.

Dr. Mhuni - Tropical tracks
I think I remember this one or at least another one from that series. It’s a classic when you see the plants taking back disused railways, this one looks pretty much still in use, though. Composition is excellent and it is a joy to let the eye wander over this image. Leading lines of the track here, some added human interest with the figure wandering on the tracks (what does the HSE make of that? ).

Hyram - That ship again
Yes, I do remember the Calshot spit, my DSLR photos 86 and 87 were on that subject in December 2003. I think it was my second shot with the *istD outdoors. Well, at least if it is the one in Ocean Village in Southampton...
Nice contrast of the green and red, I like that rusty white paint and the intensive red. The composition seems a bit awkward, would have liked to see the plant a bit closer and perhaps the lines either more diagonal or more in parallel with the sides of the shot.
You certainly caught a lovely November sun here that made the colours shine. All in all I do like this shot very much and I hope that it is not only for it’s sentimental value to me. Thanks for submitting it!

i-Berg - Wheely small - wheely green!
I have to take your word for it that this is a steam train wheel. And this already is the only weak point I see with this entry, I cannot make out what it is where this plant is growing. Apart from that it is a superb image, like the contrast of the green with the greyish/brownish colour of that wheel, like the darkened corners (I think they suit this shot well) and the shallow depth of field. Excellent!

Bern - Plant
Yes, certainly on theme. And a good subject this is, the green of the plant contrasting with the red of the wood. It could have done with a little boost of contrast, I’m not sure if you took out a bit of saturation. It also looks like you added a bit of vignetting, which I find suitable. On the composition I would have wished for a less central view; the depth of field is o.k. but for me you slightly missed the focus (as I do so often myself), it should be a little bit back, more on the plant and less in that hole.

joanjbberry - New World
Not really what I anticipated for this theme but it would have been a shame not to have seen this sweety. It could have been a little sharper and you could increase the contrast a little (but careful enough to not blow the highlights). The grass could do with a bit more saturation as well.

marklj - Island
Excellent shot, very moody. Great reflection of the tree and at the same time we can see the ground through the water in the front. Vignetting works very well, composition is good as well. Great shot. (I guess that the exposure time in the EXIF here is wrong?)

Francois_C - Genetic mutation
Call me thick but I think I don’t get the connection to the theme. You did assign it to the Humour/Fun category so I assume your entry is a bit tounge in cheek?
Have to say that the image quality of that Optio is brilliant for 400 ISO.

roysdboys - hanging on
Something doesn’t seem right with this shot. Did you lift shadows or did tonemapping on it? I think it would have been better to get down on the knees and take some of these from the side, preferrably with some grazing incidence light (such as the group on two o’clock with the one hanging on the side). The mid day light was quite harsh (and maybe that’s the reason for you PP).

VonBatCat - Alien Nature
As a shot it is very nice, like the diagonal separating the busy right from the gray left. Colours are also very nice. I don’t see the odds, though, that this plant is beating. If it wasn’t for your explanation we wouldn’t know where it is growing.

johnriley - Thriving on Stone
I’m feeling a little bit of the same than with the previous one (but I’m aware that this is probably a bit unfair). It is a fine shot also with a diagonal. Here we do get the location, a stone wall, without further explanation. But it doesn’t seem such a harsh environment to me. I do appreciate, though, that it is not the easiest ground to get nutrients from.

ArsenAl - Loneliness
Lovely shot, very close to perfection. You can feel the heat from the sun beating down. The wonderful blue sky, the hot sand and the plant. Bang on theme, no gimmicks, very graphical. Excellent shot! I do believe that this is one of your favourite themes and I would like to see a few of the contenders for your entry.

AxelLuther - Also chapels are not as strong as avalanches
This is a fine picture, like the weather, the colours, the sun on the mountain in the background. Lovely scene. The bush on the right and the interior of the wooden box with the Jesus figure in it are a bit dark. I tried brightening it up and it works better, I think.
What I do miss, though, is seeing nature finding it’s way. If it wasn’t for your explanation we wouldn’t know what had been there before and why it isn’t anymore. Next time be there when the avalanche comes (No, just kidding, better be far away when an avalanche closes in).

davidtrout - Natural reclamation
Certainly didn’t expect that, but I think it is on theme. It’s even nature hitting back and taking the human remains as source for it’s growth. It would have been better, though, if we could see the flora taking over the ground again, it’s a bit difficult to imagine with the snow cover. And also the snow cover is giving away that the growth of the plants is taking a break at the moment.

malcolm leader - Life on the edge
I have a similar feeling as with John Riley’s entry here (fair or not, I cannot help it). I do like the colours and the houses in the background blur. I don’t like the blur on that left, very prominent flower, though, I think it would have been better to get that one in focus (even better all three flowers in focus, background blurred).

darkskies - Shelter
Another plant thriving on stony ground. Perhaps an indicator that it is not that uncommon. I would have cropped a bit more, the dark bit on the right doesn’t really contribute. It’s a shame that the surroundings of the hole at 5 o’clock are burnt but it was the better choice than leaving the plant in the dark. Perhaps you should have used the on board flash to brighten the plant a bit.

prsjnb - I will survive!
Let’s hope that there is no course for a while So no training courses on how to do roundabouts for the railways?
I do like the unusual angle you have taken and not only that tree but also the plants in the roof gutter are claiming back this place. Seems like it hasn’t been abandoned very long, the paint on the door, the wood and sign all look not too bad. Looking at this shot I cannot help thinking that there was a better photo in it.

aliengrove - The Ravages of Time
Another great entry here. Normally I would say that it is too busy, but here I feel it has to be. That clock with the deranged face is marvellous, a good find well presented. I think the desaturation is fitting well, you could have added a bit of vignetting, I think.

GlynM - Strong willed plant
I know exactly what you mean, whenever my better half is away for a while our plants need a strong survival instinct as well (though I do try my best and haven’t really lost one, yet).
I hope you don’t put any of those liquids in the plant’s pot.
Not really what I had in mind but a welcome different angle on the theme.

GaryJohn - Rooted in stone
Interesting tree, it certainly had to find it’s footing as it grew larger. The image is a bit dark, could do with a bit of brightening up. As interesting as it is, it doesn’t hold my attention for very long. Would another angle have been better? I don’t know...

TOZZA27 - Nature fills the path
An unusual aspect ratio that makes me wonder what the wall does contribute to the shot. I feel you should have gotten yourself down in the mud to get a lower angle (yes, I know, I would perhaps not have done it either). The plants seem a little bit too bright, I tried pulling the shadows down a bit and this helped the picture a lot (also made that wall a bit more interesting).

geordie01 - Lack of suitable housing
These birds certainly know how to make themselves comfortable in a tiny space. I think you could have zoomed in a bit more (or cropped the image taken with the 100 mm lens), there is a lot around the three nests that doesn’t contribute anything new to the story. I would have tried to keep the bird dropping marks on the top out of the frame, made the beam that goes to the right horizontal and take away from the right to have the lower part of the diagonal beam meet the bottom left corner.

NigelMe - Against the Odds
Beautiful picture, I can feel the weather, the mist, the cold. This makes the environment look much harsher than in John Riley’s or malcolm leader’s shots although I think it is comparable. (I said it wouldn’t necessarily be fair ). Well done, I like it very much.

womble - Pipeweed
Nice shot with lovely light. Composition is nice and works well, but for the competition I think we need to see that the weed is growing on some pipes. As it is it is difficult to make out where these grow.

sandinista - Derelict Barn
It was worth going out again in search of a suitable shot. This is an excellent shot and definitely on topic. Nature is claiming back this space.
Nice colours and the dark clouds are very fitting I think. The clouds top right seem to be slightly burned, a minor niggle. Well done!

DrOrloff - Wall life
Another great late entry here. I like it very much, well framed and good use of the shallow DoF. I wasn’t really aware of how many of these stone dwellers are around. (Should have tried to find a suitable shot myself...).

coker - In spite of...
Another competent entry to round this competition off. Good composition and fine contrast between the flower and the ground. Is it such a hard environment for that flower, though? Compared to the many entries with plants growing on nothing more than bare stone I think this environment is paradise. Fine shot, though!



And the winner is....





ArsenAl


Second place goes to cardiff_gareth
Third place: aliengrove

All others please feel commended for your varied entries.

Over to you, ArsenAl.

Many thanks for the considered judging, Ralf. Congrats to ArsenAL and the other places.

Good job Ralf - thanks. Well done Arsenal, Gareth & Jon!

Tough job, Ralf, but I agree with your decision to award 'gold' to ArsenAL - it looked a winner on first viewing .

A much tougher challenge than I first anticipated so well done to everyone.

Regards,

Jon

Congratulations to ArsenAl - a likely winner as soon as I saw it.

Many thanks to Ralf for the competition and the considered judging.

The Calshot Spit lightship moved last November from Ocean Village and is now sitting alongside Ocean Terminal awaiting restoration.

Many thanks for an interesting subject, your detailed reviews and excellent judging.

Congratulations to ArsenAl for the superb winning shot.

Glyn

Great idea for a subject and expert judging as always Ralf. There wwere some very good entries so all the more credit to ArsenAl, Gareth and Jon.
David.

Congratulations to the winners and thank you for the comments on mine.

Exif data is exactly right on mine - couple of minutes or thereabouts was almost too low if anything

Excellent judging, intersting theme, and a very worthy first place, which I thought was the potential winner as soon as I saw it. Congrats to Gareth, too, and thanks for the third place!

Thanks for your comments and judging Ralf. Congratulations to the podium.

Great judging Ralf - interesting choice of subject and I had the winner pegged the moment it was put up on the site -absolutely brilliant and bang on the mark.

Congrats to Arsen - I am in awe...................


Tony

Great winning shot, a true masterpiece! Great judging - well done to all.

So it must have been an exceptionally quiet period. Only on closer inspection one might conclude that the water moved a little bit.

Did you focus in on that marvellous triangle of trees on the left on another shot? Bet that would make a nice one as well (maybe would need removal of the left bit of your "island").

Prieni

Its a beautiful little area - I've been back a few times to try and get that wee bit we're talking about. I think the best way would be from more or less the same position but with a longer lens as thus far I've failed to get a shot that I'm happy with.

Thanks for the comp and judging Ralf, there was really no contest for the winner in my opinion. Well done to places and all for a fantastic set of images.

A great choice of winner!

Oh my God! I'm so happy! I thank my dad and mom, my friends, this little plant, and referee Prieni! I'm actually very happy! thanks for the flattering assessment and colleagues congratulate the winners!

Congrats, ArsenAl, and thank you for your comment, Prieni.
Of course, my photo did not deserve to win, but no, I didn't think it was totally off topic (or my English is too bad), since the dog seemed to have adopted quite unnatural puppies. But the photo is rather ugly and organized by my grandson... I understand that you were waiting for more obvious ἀδύνατα (or, in Latin impossibilia), but, as I already told, I have very few Pentax photos, and only from this I-10 .

Thanks for the well thought out comments and congratulations to the winner.