Weekly Competition #276 - Chillax Competition

Well if it seems like a strange time to be posting, it’s because this task is proving very handy for passing the time in between the many, many, many stoppages of NFL football.

Firstly thank you for your entries and well done all. They all fit this slightly odd theme and I really pleased to see everybody’s take on it.

As usual the following is just my drivel, photography is very subjective...

Surprise Supermoonrise – DrOrloff
Thanks to the good Dr. for getting the comp off in such prompt fashion. The Doc has posted some quite outstanding shots of the moon, and makes good use of one here. This is a nice bit of manipulation, and works well as a composition. The real bonus is looking closely at the figures they seem to really be enjoying the ‘scene’.

Peace – bettywolloks
Perhaps a little weak in relation to the theme, as this maybe says more ‘contemplation’ to me. Subject looks lost in thought, or has drifted off for a think while reading. I feel the moody processing suits and its composed very well.

Hertfordshire Dawn – rhallman
Good reminder to always have a camera on you. Fantastic morning colours, and the mist looks great. Of course, I would have liked to have been standing somewhere else. Maybe closer to 'get in amongst it', but you can only do what you can at the time. Wonder if you have this in RAW, you might be able to pull some detail out of the foreground.

A Very Peaceful War – John Riley
I’ve been checking in during the week and every time I look at this I chuckle. I’m smiling right now as I try to type why. Private Pike here has truly been caught in the act. So many elements all combine, the paper, the sandwich, ‘Home Guard’, the deckchair and the subject. Lots of character.

Woolly rests... – AndrewA
Yup, that’s what sheep do

Steam enthusiast – stephanie0812
Simiarly this has made me smile every time I look at it, he’s got loads of character and is certainly chillaxing. I like the reflections in/of the vintage cars too. Can’t say I remember ever going to a steam fair, but why do I think he’s the sort of character I would see

Teen relaxing – smudge
Subdued lighting here stands out for me, a well taken shot. For some reason I keep expecting this to burst into a BT phone commercial every time I look at it.

Snoozing – arrondee
Very well spotted street catch and nice compo, wonder what his story is/was… Technically it has maybe come out a bit harsh, though I grant it was a sunny day.

A quiet moment – Dr. Muhni
One of the great things about photo sites is seeing other countries, not just from 'a mountain top' but down on the ground in amongst life. I’ve certainly enjoyed Dr. Muhni's street captures during my time on the site, and I like this one too. I don’t usually like PP framing, but it seems to suit here, perhaps because it adds to the other 3 already there. Well controlled and taken.

Totally Chilaxed – tyronet2000
Looks pretty good considering it's through glass, six inch bullet proof glass as well I imagine, you can take enough precautions against such vicious foreigners. Haven’t been to the zoo in a very long time and I can walk there in under 10mins. Thankfully I hear they moved the Polar bear (who had swapped the endless tundra for a 25x25ft concrete pit) on to pastures new.

The Rest – AxelLuther
Like I was saying you find out about great places, Lake Bohinj looks a spectacular place. Most of this week’s shots are 'moment' shots, so I don’t want to fuss too much, but I‘d like to re-shoot this with the subject centre frame (and no bag.) Such a fantastic vista behind, might be funny to try some ‘levitation’ shots too

Chillax – Pentaxophile
Ahh, yes this reminds me of times gone by. The location makes me chuckle too. Surprised there isn’t a ‘J’ moving to the left hand side aswell though. Nice shot, sharp and the subjects are giving you full and real expression. Maybe a little too much space on the right?

Woody – gartmore
This is a real crowd pleaser, you can hear the ‘Awww’s as soon as the screen opens up. Perfect focus areas and a poster look with the lighting giving a nice subtle high key effect.

Time out – milamber
Chillaxing indeed. Like Dr. Muhni’s this is a great capture of life in the nity-gritty. Lots of character and lots of questions…

Chillin’ the bulge – drofmit
Yes a common sight round my house, the cat does it too…
Cats really are the epitome of chillaxing

Relaxed Hippo – Noelcmn
Nice shot at such length. Starts looking quite alien the more you stare at it.

Deserted Beach – bforbes
Yeah looks like an extended lunch break is in order. Quite a few elements (clouds, horizontal lines, blue sky vs yellow shirts) have all combined and it’s well composed. A very nice shot.

Let the Train Take the Strain – japers45
Sums up a big element in this week comp – character. Good use of the square crop and the conversion.

Peg number 1 – paulb531
Fishing, of course another one I hadn’t thought of! The scene and the sport definitely combine here to fit the theme, unfortunately the pond will be empty of fish soon as all the water pours off my screen to the right.

All too much - bigsturgeon
Nice snap shot and fits the theme - I think we really want the face in focus though?

At The B__CH – timcx500e
Well we finish similarly to how we started with a leading line towards our subject. A great scene really, looks like British seaside to me certainly. Nicely composed.


Winner? Hmmm damn tricky actually. I've been struggling on how to call it- 'best suites the theme?', 'technically best?' 'what would I want on my wall?' - ultimately I'm going to go with the one that I simply enjoyed the most - so Mr Riley with your highly amusing and characterful shot it's back to you!

1st - A Very Peaceful War – John Riley
2nd - A quiet moment – Dr. Muhni
3rd - Woody – gartmore

HC's - Surprise Supermoonrise – DrOrloff, Steam enthusiast – stephanie0812, Deserted Beach – bforbes, Let the Train Take the Strain – japers45

Many thanks for the prompt judging Dodge (hope you don't mind if I call you by your first name:lol and the much coveted second. Congrats to those others you've singled out, with pride of place to JR.

The frame in mine isn't PP actually, but part of another window closer to the lens.

Oh, I see - you mean that frame!

And thank you for the win, a total surprise this morning! I'll put my best Thinking Cap on and start off a new competition very soon.

And it's thanks from me for the HC, with congratulations to the podium.

Thanks for the placing, John will be running out of ideas soon!

For anyone who is interested, I had the Q's Blur Control set to maximum.