Weekly Competition #239 - Frost - - - - Competition

First I have to apologize that the reviews came a bit later and are perhaps a bit shorter and colder than normaly - was just faced with a very frosty private situation that I first had to deal with.
Was nice to see how frost, cold and winter are seen in different ways and how there are also some common elements, that make a frosty picture cold. I again tried to also use 4 categories to make my judgement a bit more transperent. The categories are: technicality, originality, composition and chill-factor


Winter Seedheads by gartmore
Lovely oligochrome winter picture which, with the blue tone and the snow cover on the plant, very much creates a cold, freezing image. I like the composition with the strong DOF but unfortunately, even when viewing large, the plant is not perfectrly in focus. Might also be motion blur from a wind-shaken plant?
technicality 3.5
originality 4
composition 4.5
chill-factor 4.5
Total 16.6


Crystal sculpture of frost by ArsenAl
First I thought it is a color key but it seems not as also in the background I can see colors. Impressive composition - great mixture of the pure white with the strong red. The spiky ice needles look so special, This whole image is pure frost. I can reccomend nothing to make it better, for me a perfect picture.
technicality 5
originality 5
composition 5
chill-factor 5
Total 20


Fence Posts by sandinista
This is a landscape not from this planet.... such a special surface structure due to the HDR treatment - the horizon line looks so 3d like. Very high chill factor and the old fence poles add a lot to the monotoneous landscape. Although I am a big fan of HDR, I feel this almost to unreal but still a very special photograph
technicality 4
originality 4
composition 4,5
chill-factor 5
Total 17.5


Glacier by aliengrove
This is special - amazing structure and high quality arial photograph. Amazing to see the different structures between the striped cracked glacier on land and the chaotic structures of the ice over the water. Only little issue - due to the big distance to the glacier ice, I miss a bit the chill factor
technicality 4,5
originality 4
composition 4,5
chill-factor 3,5
Total 16.5


Lonely Runner by peterm23
The composition with the lonely runner is nice and I also like the perspective of the tunnel-like way between the trees. However, the whole picture has not enough wow-factor for me, somehow a very typical winter forest scene but light and structures are not that special.
technicality 4
originality 3
composition 4,5
chill-factor 4
Total 15.5


Morning after the snow by Lee55555
Honestly - not a composition picture for me. Even if there are no tracks in the snow it iss till just a bottle and tire and nothing that catches me (which competition pictures should do). I also don't feel that much of a chill factor (and never show bavaria beer to Germans ).
technicality 3.5
originality 2.5
composition 2.5
chill-factor 2.5
Total 11


Frozen Lake by Charlotte
Charlotte - nice composition with the big tree behind the fence - the fence itself also more frosty then warm.... however - I miss a bit the chill factor - can't say why - perhaps with a bit more blueish tone and more contrast it would feel colder
technicality 4
originality 3.5
composition 4.5
chill-factor 3
Total 15


A light dusting by Frogherder
Also a bit of a picture where I miss the element that is atracting me - yes snow-covered but not a really frosty image.... Might work when the frosty elements would be a bit more in focus - closer to the viewer.......
technicality 3.5
originality 3
composition 3.5
chill-factor 3
Total 13


Brrr, icy waters by Hippo
I see a series of issues with this picture if it should be a frosty photograp. First thing is the DOF, which doesn't work here because the center of focus is totally overexposed and therefore bears no details. The brownish dirty ice also creates no chill factor but mainly looks dirty and the scene is somehow outof context - just a detail of a broken ice surface but somehow it could also be broken glass. I think - a real frosty picture must be pin-sharp like the sharp crystall needles of icy structures.
technicality 2.5
originality 2.5
composition 2
chill-factor 2
Total 9


bench by SamHornabrook
Nice perspective and icy structures - a bit a shame thatthe front part is blurred. Would also help the chill factor, when more of the background would be snow/ice covered
technicality 3.5
originality 3.5
composition 4
chill-factor 3
Total 14


IcePole by GaryJohn
Good idea with the title and also a nice, cold detail, The upper part could need some more structure and details but this really looks cold
technicality 4
originality 4
composition 3.5
chill-factor 4.5
Total 16


Warning - photographic cliché by simonarron
I am normally not a big fan of bird pictures but this one I like a lot. It is technically perfect and bears some nice color contrasts. There is actually so little evidence of frost but the combination of some snow on the wire and the inflated feathers lets me shiver sooo much
technicality 5
originality 4.5
composition 4.5
chill-factor 5
Total 19


Cold Call from one of our branches................... by TOZZA27
I like this - I like the situation when cold temperature and humid air form these amazing ice covered branches... The picture shows this very well - to increase the chill-factor I would have increased the contast and sharpness a bit
technicality 4
originality 4
composition 4
chill-factor 4
Total 16


Icicles by Frankie
I like the idea and I like the composition but I dont like that the major structure is not in focus - as said before - for me, frosty pictures only work when the main structure is pin-sharp. However - the different light effects and the contrast of static parts and parts with motion blur are great
technicality 3
originality 4
composition 5
chill-factor 4.5
Total 16.5


Suburban Silence by johnriley
I so much know this mood - you suddenly look out of the window and you realize - IT IS SNOWING... I so much like this moment and I am glad you captured it. The orange tone is very special and is not destroying the chill factor.... a really good winter moment picture.
technicality 4.5
originality 4
composition 4
chill-factor 5
Total 17.5


-17 Skywards by paulgee20
I like the idea with the frozen wires - they almost look like the cracks in the ice of a frozen lake.... the rest of the picture could have a bit more wow-factor but it definately has a high chill factor
technicality 4
originality 3.5
composition 4
chill-factor 5
Total 16.5


The Icy River Blourde by darkskies
This almost B&W imageis great - I was also taken some photos of such icy rivers recently but yours is really good. Like the crop, the hard contrast and the motion blur of the floating water
technicality 5
originality 4
composition 4.5
chill-factor 5
Total 18.5


celtic gravestone by stephanie0812
I like the idea of the repeating structure of the stone and the tree and the icy cover on the stone adds so much chill factor. The church on the right side is a bit distracting but I know how hard it is to eliminate a church
technicality 4
originality 4
composition 4
chill-factor 5
Total 17


Jack Frost's Spacefleet by deofmit
great macro with very interesting structures - my favorite in the category originality - would be perhaps a bit more frosty with a less brownish tone but still a great picture
technicality 5
originality 5
composition 5
chill-factor 4
Total 19

Flint In Snow by coker
Interesting composition but not very frosty - the lower part of the stone is also a bit blur which distracts a bit from the overall composition
technicality 3.5
originality 3.5
composition 3.5
chill-factor 3.5
Total 14


Frost, Up Close and Beautiful: One Blade of Grass by JudithAnn
Another great macro where you have no chill factor in the thumbnail view and so much chill factor when viewing it large - I very much like such surprising effects. As a former geologist I also love to see the crystal structures and symetries - one of the most surprising pictures in this competition
technicality 5
originality 5
composition 4
chill-factor 4.5
Total 18.5

Its snowing by GlynM
Yep - definately a "it's snowing" picture but the rest of the composition is not that eye-catching. The overall appearance is also a bit to blur and brownish for me for a picture with a high chill factor
technicality 3.5
originality 3
composition 3
chill-factor 3
Total 12.5

Star Trails by DrOrloff
This is a very special picture but the problem is - the star trails are so much THE major element in this picture that they kind of distract from the actual topic: frost. Frost is a very static topic (frozen things don't move).... putting a moving element inthe focus is a bit undermining the topic frost.
technicality 5
originality 4
composition 4
chill-factor 3
Total 16

BEACH HUTS by geordie01
For me not the picture with the highest chill factor but definately with the highest art factor. The composition is simply great. Only advice - select the sky and reduce the noise
technicality 4.5
originality 5
composition 5
chill-factor 4
Total 18.5

Maine River Morning by Sean282
wow - what a winter landscape. This picture is so much showing frost due to the clear structures and the cold colores. but it is technically also great. One of my favorits for this subject.
technicality 5
originality 4.5
composition 5
chill-factor 5
Total 19.5

Winter Frost by ericp
eric - this is such a special picture - when I saw the small version I thought - wow, but why this frame.... opening the big version I thought - forget the frame - the picture is perfect... Such great details - perfect timing and great colors.....
If you will ever add a frame to one of your pictures - don't choose such a stereotype black and white frame - try to reach the same great level, that your picture already has - but this does not mean, that I love this picture
technicality 4.5
originality 5
composition 5
chill-factor 5
Total

Funny - when I saw ArsenAl's picture I thought - wow - second entry and such a cracker - let's see if anyone can beat it. Although there were some very good pictures too, this is still my favorit. So again - the winner is ArsenAl

Here is my podium and HCs:

First: ArsenAl
Second: Sean282
shared third: deofmit and simonarron

HCs: Sean282, JudithAnn, darkskies

BW
Axel

And well done indeed to ArsenAl!

Many thanks for the excellent judging also.

Compliments to ArsenAl - and thanks to Axel for concept, judgment... and the kind words.

Great Judging and well done Arsen on a deserved win. And all other nominations.

Was my favourite to Axel. Congratulations ArsenAl. Lovely shot

I'm very happy with 2nd AND a HC

Thanks Axel! and thanks to the frost - for what gave me such a beautiful picture! My congratulations to those who are with me on the podium! and also liked the work, which received the recommendation!

Very well done Arsen - brilliant photo - some strong competition there though - congrats to the runners up and thanks for the positive words and good judging.

Tony

Congratulations to all the podium winners and thanks Axel for doing a great job in judging and setting an interesting topic.

Congrats all, great shots on the podium and excellent judging!

Well done Arsen and all who took part, excellent judging Axel I award you 20 points

Thanks Axel for the very informative critique. I'm rather glad I was confined indoors this winter judging by some of the entries

Congrats Arson, it might look the easy one to take but in the cold?. Crisp, concise, what more was needed?

Bernard

Thanks for the comments. It would have been nice to get rid of the brown tones [from the dead moss and the fence post itself]... but I was more fascinated by the hexagonal tubes that the frost had formed with the ice... never seen anything like it before, or since. This last big freeze it was all 'fir tree' shapes.
I am going to try knocking out the colour and doing something with that...

Wow.. what a great Judging job....was so pleased that you liked it...and that you did enlarge it!!

Congrats to all the winners...this was such a fun comp.

regards:
JA