The delayed POTY competition was held as virtual event in October this year. Alan Sarsby kindly acted as our judge and reviewed all the entries, before selecting the winner and runner-up in each class. He also provided a short commentary on each of the six placed images. And the results are….
Colour
Runner up: The River Teifi by Carol Martin
An image that ‘roars’ with the noise of rushing water.
Good choice of shutter speed that balances the ‘milky’ effect with
the retained texture of aerated water;
The tight, letterbox, crop works well with this image
Winner: Ramani the Indian Dancer by Carol Martin
There is so much to like:
A strong diagonal using her arms;
Her head on the classic rule of thirds;
And the intriguing hitch-hacker’s thumb. Is there a secret message?
Clear background in a similar hue to that of her dress.
An unusual and eye-catching composition for an action portrait.
Open
Runner up: Car Wind by Jeff Prosser
Timing is just right — capturing the movement of the character.
Invites the viewer to cast around the reflected background to see what else
is there.
Could be used as a greetings card, or jigsaw.
Winner: Derek the Morris Man by Carol Martin
Strong engaging portrait:
Connection with the viewer through his eyes;
Shallow depth of field to concentrate the viewers attention on
the Morris man;
Good mono conversion that keeps the detail.
Would make a great exhibition images, especially at a large size.
Monochrome
Runner up: Into the Woods by Jeff Prosser
Framing using the branch and bracken to draw the viewer towards
the lighter area;
High contrast between the deep shadows and the lit areas.
A mono image that make use of mono as a medium. (Mono images are
not simply desaturated colour.)
Winner, and Photograph of the Year: An Abandoned Builder’s Store by Carol Martin
Fantastic range of textures;
Curiosities inviting inquisitive people (often children) to see what is
in/on/under the various ‘safety hazards’. (This is where frogs/creepy
crawlies/snakes hide.)
Great crop that emphasises the whole building with just enough base
and sky to retain the context.
A mono image that make use of mono as a medium. (Mono images are
not simply desaturated colour.)