Weekly Competition #893 - Industrial Architecture Competition

Thank you all for those stunning entries. I'll write up my judging tonight, but to let you get the next contest out, here is the winner.

Thanks for setting and judging this competition Ray. It was a good topic and attracted some interesting images. I look forward to your comments later.

Thank you for your images in response to this challenge, they are all excellent in their own way, and the only thing that enables a winner to be chosen is my on personal taste, if that makes sense.

Where it all Started – stevistds
Indeed also where the contest started. A lovely portrait of the Iron Bridge, I like the depth of interest and the depth of field, even with the f4 setting. It might benefit from a touch more contrast, and if possible rotate to the left a bit and remove the flash of white on the right hand edge. I like the framing of the buildings through the arch. Glad to see the *ist in use, I just bought one.

Teesside Industrial Landscape – davidtrout
This caught my eye immediately, the use of the wide aspect ratio and the basically two colour palette, of course yellow and blue-ish are complementary. It depends on how you feel about editing but I would remove the buoy from the river as it distracts a bit. The level of detail that is visible in the yellow band, and what isn’t visible makes me want to see what I can't see. The framing of the industry is good too. It really is a picture about Teesside, not just of it.

Leawood Pumping Station – SSF1947
A super portrait of the pumping station, great colour, contrast and detail from the medium format. The dark bottom left is a bit awkward but to remove it would damage the overall composition. Good use of the 645 format to balance the image nicely. Makes me think I should visit my local Crofton engines.

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct – Lubbyman
A place I have visited and cruised over, I got told off by Mrs W for walking along the boat roof while on the aqueduct. A really good shot using the long end of that lens, a camera and lens combo I also have, from the western side if I am not mistaken, you got the whole impression of scale. If anything a little more black contrast might help. Great positioning of the vanishing point.

Ages – Simonmac
You are blessed with the amount of architecture of this industrial age in Birmingham, and a terrific capture, it shows the strength of the building, but also its weaknesses with the cracks and growing weeds. I wonder what is in those dark shadows, maybe I’d like a bit more detail there. However it’s a great composition, and again a picture about the building.

Swartkops Power Station – Noelcmn
A good portrait of the entire building, showing, I think, several periods of architecture. When I zoom in there is something unusual about the detail, it looks as if it has been softened, and looks like it has been de-noised. I also notice the chimneys are in two groups of three, which is always is aesthetically better. Yes I know it looks like a group of six! Good colour palette, three simple main bands of colour.

Cooling Tower – NigelK
Another well exposed mono image, controlling the influence of the bright sky. Would it have been possible to get a bit lower to show the central column rising from the foreground? Overall great detail from the black and white, and it really shows the impact of the industry in the corrosion to the central column.

You already know the winner, but for completeness:
1. Teesside Industrial Landscape – davidtrout
2. Ages – Simonmac
3. Pontcysyllte Aqueduct – Lubbyman
And I thank you all for such a great set of images. Over to you davidtrout.

Wow, what a winner! Very well deserved. And an excellent competition topic, too.

I should think so, too! For those who don't know Pontcycyllte Aqueduct, on the other side of the railings in the photo is a towpath. On the other side of the towpath is the channel that is just wide enough for a single boat to go through. On the other side of the channel is ... nothing except a sheer drop, no path, no railings, only the side of the channel just above water level and below deck level, let alone roof level. But I bet you got a superb view .

Steve

Thank you for setting the competition Ray, and for your considered comments.

Chuffed with second amidst some stunning photography!

Well done to David and Lubbyman.

All the best

Stunning winning image that! Well deserved, the buoy (if that is what it is - bottom right) adds something special to the scene. Congrats Davidtrout! And extended to Simonmac and Lubbyman. Super challenge, thanks due to our host, RayW, for the challenge, C&C's. As always much appreciated.

One thing I get from doing the judging, I don't know if others agree. We all probably practice critical thinking on our own and others' images, but when you have to actually write it down I find it really makes you think harder about it, to a higher level of study. A real benefit from doing it. And recognising that all of us would have different comments its such a great platform for learning how to improve your images.