Weekly Competition #346 - A Face In The Crowd Competition

Another interesting week of photo viewing, so thanks to everyone who took the time to enter. I find having a worthwhile number of entries makes the job of judging so much more enjoyable.
The thing to remember is that what follows is just my opinion and I’m just one person.

Nobody to talk to – walkeja
First one in and not a face in site! It was not until I read the title again that the reason for the shot became clear. I think part of my confusion was the gap between the two subjects continued into the picture and lead me straight to the door.

The Girl in the Swirl – johnriley
You can see why she stood out. The idea of her standing out is enhanced by making her the only thing truly in focus, while the sense of a crowd is maintained by the blurred figures.

Squint - kh1234567890
What makes this for me is that intense look over the top of the sunglasses. It is the sort of situation this competition was set for, just a fleeting moment. You have done well to spot it.

Colombo commuter – Dr. Mhuni
I think he has a dilemma, his face shows concern; his posture says he can’t be bothered. Combine this with a well taken image, good B&W conversion, and you have a very interesting photograph.

A Vegan? But I've bought Fish now!!
Very humorous! I also think it’s funny because the three guys seem to be in a procession, which I saw before the carrier. Do you think that cropping some off the top would concentrate the view on the guys?

Old Salt Seller – billyspad
My eyes have wandered around this portrait taking in the wonderful detail and textures you have captured in the face, hair and clothing. But I always end up looking into her sad eyes. A captivating photograph.

Bus Driver – aliengrove
I think the interest here definitely lies in the expressive face, so I think a much closer crop would have focused the viewer on it.

‘V’ – michaelblue
I have not seen the film. However he does stand out from the crowd and the background because of the framing and colour contrast. You have done well to get such a clean shot in what I suspect was a very mobile scene.

Reading by Phone Light – davidstorm
I find this one spooky, the up lit faces, shadowy figures and bright red background all add to the atmosphere. In these lighting conditions, if you were hand holding, the faces are remarkably sharp. Would getting rid of the bright band on the edge stop attention being drawn away from the faces?

Oh row, the rattlin' bog – Sean282
If that’s the song title it is bringing smiles to the audience, but what looks like pain to the singer. It’s good to have the highlight on his face as it draws you straight to him and the focus is spot on the subject. I would question whether you need the top of the image though.

Flea Market – gartmore
Now you have me guessing, is the subject the man in the chair or the mannequin. Is she for sale, is he selling her, does she not want to go. Has the man at the back spotted her! It kept me well entertained looking through it.

A face at the Fringe – davidtrout
A different take, using a profile shot. Again the focusing and depth of field chosen separate her from the crowd. I wonder what she was staring at, or was it part of the performance?

Fringe photogragh – geordie01
The fringe is a popular place for our northern contingent! Here it’s more the colour difference than depth of field that separates the subject from the crowd. That’s not to say the focus and exposure isn’t spot on. Have you had a go with a square crop?

Dressed for the part – cvhennessy
Here we have the classic drawback for this type of street photography. You have the shot all lined up, a face of character, an interesting costume, good light and well focused, then a cap walks into shot as you press the shutter! Next second the subject has gone.

Summer in the city - velimir
A well presented slice of continental café culture. If you were looking at the face though, I would have expected it to be more prominent in the picture. But you have to like what you see

Market Girl – Chris24
It’s another one that falls foul of the type of photography in this competition. For me it looks as if your subject has moved just at the wrong moment. I don’t know if your equipment set up would have enabled a faster shutter speed to cope with the unexpected movement.

Two faces in a crowd. – Noelcmn
A colourful image, in which the child’s face is positioned just in the correct place to catch your attention. I’m not sure whether the second face is the other child or the adult to the right. As the adults face is in focus that’s the one I’m drawn to, but then I think he is very close to the edge of the frame.

Gas mask – mochibo
Make me wonder what could be going on that requires the man this side of the barrier to need a gas mask when it appears to be safe just past the barrier. Two faces make this for me. The concentration of the young man on the left and the eyes closed smile of the lady in red.

Fiesta – ISO
I can’t view this one in its larger size which is a bit of a disadvantage. A trio always works well and it has a flow taking you both across and up the image. It appears to be generally well exposed judging by the detail I can see in the costumes. Maybe a little PP, just to lift the faces?

One shade of grey – oldhat
Tilting the frame has given this one a very strong composition. Because of the muted colours of the actors costume and makeup, you go straight to the expression on the face of the spectator, who seems totally engrossed. Splitting hairs it would have been nice to see the entire hat.

In The Bleachers at the Ball Game – JudithAnn
The title was lost on me, until I looked up “bleachers”. A charming image very sharp about the eyes where it should be, I also like the treatment which along with the caps gave it a 1930’s America feel. I’m afraid without the bleachers being included it does have a more posed than captured look about it.

Wizard of Oz – simonarron
I don’t know if you could plan this, but it is good the way the intrusions frame the face, even where they overlap. Those eyes are pin sharp with just the correct amount of catch light, all very natural looking. I’m a fan of square crops for this type of shot, have you tried it?

Xmas spirit – malcolm leader
Well blow me! I thought the Army was temperance. The image itself is well focused and exposed as you can tell from the detail in the coat. But I’m sorry the instrument has got the better of you with this one. The highlights on the brass draw you away from the face, which is not helped when the eyes are in shadow. Viewing the large version there is some ‘banding’ that I assume is flare from that very bright spot.

ive gotta eye on you – wendy
You are correct Wendy, not what I was expecting. However I have to admire your field craft getting so close to a Heron, it’s definitely not your traditional shot of this bird. You seem to have good detail in the feathers and the eyes look crisp and sharp, a bit of PP and you could have a very good wildlife image.

Outdoing the flowers... – drofmit
I just did not know where to look, and then I alighted on the face over the pink shirt. It says to me “I don’t believe this”, then I came back to the transaction going on in the centre, then I noticed the fingers holding the coin! “I’m next”. An image with no one subject, but one which holds your interest.


The Results

The HC’s

One shade of grey – oldhat
Flea Market – gartmore
Fringe photogragh – geordie01
Squint - kh1234567890



Third place - Wizard of Oz – simonarron

Second place - Colombo commuter – Dr. Mhuni

The Winner - Old Salt Seller – billyspad

Congratulations Billyspad-what an emotive and evocative shot this one! Worthy winner. And of course to Dr Mhuni and Simonarron. And the Hc's. Thanks for the competition, Barrie, for judging and commenting on all the entries-an abundance of them too! Brought our some lovely entries, and a view of life in another world! very enjoyable!

Congratulations to the Winner and other places. Thanks to Barrie for the interesting subject judging and comments. Did think some of the entries were more a portrait than a face in a crowd

Thanks for an interesting competition Barrie and for your detailed and helpful assessment. Congratulations to Billyspad, Dr Mhuni and Simonarron and the HCs. (The time you spent with your camera in Colombo was very rewarding Andrew).
David

PPG: http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/artists/davidtrout

Thanks for the analytical thoroughness, Barrie, and also for the podium position. And compliments to Steve, for his winning image, and the other front-runners.

Since you asked, Barrie, my shot was a matter of luck rather than planning. When I was covering all the F1 races, I quite often used to stand in scrums and try to capture a portrait through the clutter of heads. Sometimes it worked, mostly it didn't...

Many thanks for the judging Barrie and the much-coveted second. Congrats to Billyspad (a characterful face) and those others you've singled out.

@ David - Colombo certainly was rewarding. I'm happier to be where I am now in most respects, but certainly not from a photographic point of view.

Congrats Billyspad , Dr Mhuni and simonarron, and all the HC's. I totally don't get your comment on my entry, but good judging and a great choice of podium places, thanks for setting an interesting comp!

Good winning composition, but I fail to see where the "crowd" comes into it. Or, am I missing something in the brief.?