Monthly Image Challenge
JUNE 2023 - MINIMAL
I was delighted to be asked to judge the Monthly Image competition for June. I have chosen the top three based on my interpretation of the brief and I have also been subjective in selecting images that stand out for me. The brief was, “Minimal - When you approach minimalism look for elements of light, shadows, colours, textures, lines and space. The focus of your subject will be isolated and projected with minimal detail”.
Out of a field of twenty-five entries covering quite a few different genres, it was a difficult choice with a number of potential finalists. However my winner is Grass by Steve de Roeck.
This is a simple image with very interesting lighting. I’m not sure if the centrally placed subject is a reflection of the main subject or just a copy. Either way I think the use of light on the main subject is superb, bringing out a range of colours and textures on a black background. The secondary image then appears softly lit from behind. The use of a key line around the boarders finishes the image of beautifully.
Steve de Roeck, the photographer explains -
Strolling through the park one day, I noticed half a dozen different types of grass heads, all individually quite attractive in their way. I thought several of them might take a nice picture, in isolation.
Several markedly different strands of grass were taken home. Hung upside down in a blacked-out box, lit with a miniature, focussing torch and with all extraneous light excluded, I discovered subtle hidden colours in each head of grass. I managed to get some interesting pictures, but felt, even with those unexpected colours, the pictures were a bit bland. So I adjusted the light and the camera position to include the shadow on the back of the box. But then the shadow seemed a bit too sharp, so I added a touch of gaussian blur to it in post processing.
Little did I know when I investigated for a title for the pic, just how many types of grass we are blessed with. Creeping bent, crested dogs’ tail, purple moor grass, sweet vernal grass, tufted hair grass, velvet bent, Yorkshire fog..... I couldn’t identify this grass, so choosing a title became simplicity itself, “Grass”.
Canon 5D Mk IV; 24-105mm at 67mm; f5.6; 1/40; ISO200, manual focussing.
My second choice is Happisburgh Beach by Des King. I love the tones in this one, particularly in the sea and lower cloud. There is also quite a bit of texture in the higher cloud which could probably be brought out slightly more. The subject (submerged sea defences) is well placed in the image and with respect to the horizon skyline. The texture in the sea is nicely soft which gives the impression of movement in the water.
My third choice is Hanging By a Thread by Patricia Wilden. This is a well seen subject, presumably isolated from its surrounding by desaturation. I like the detail in the leaf, the way the light shows through it and the overall leaf structure can be seen. The tones in the leaf are also pleasing. The main stem is quite soft but there is enough detail to make it interesting. There are a few dark marks in the background around the overall image which are distracting but could easily be tidied up.
GRASS by Steve de Roeck
Monthly Image Challenge
Each monthly challenge begins on the first day and closes at midnight on the 24th day of each month. The ‘image of the month’ and two runners-up will normally be announced before the end of the month. The theme for the JULY (2023) CHALLENGE is shown below. It is a ‘PICTORIAL’ challenge meaning there is no restriction regarding the composition of the image and post-processing techniques you may use.
SELF-PORTRAIT - Please don’t be afraid to get in front of the camera. It’s imprtant you are in the photos as well
Members can enter a maximum of TWO images in the challenge
When submitting images for the JULY challenge the reference to be added at the end of the file name is MC07.
About the challenge
The Society’s Monthly Image Challenge is the perfect opportunity for members to test their photography skills, and to compete with other members in a friendly environment without the rigours of formal competitive photographic competitions. It is, therefore, a perfect challenge for anyone who has recently joined NDPS, particularly if they are just starting out on their photographic journey, and/or, have not entered a photo-competition before.
The Monthly Image Challenge is open to all CURRENT members of the Society including eMEMBERS
The THEME for each challenge will be confirmed at the start of each challenge but for those who prefer to plan ahead they can also be found along with everything else you need to know about the Monthly Image Challenge below.
Selector/Judge’s Choice
When each monthly challenge closes a ‘ballot’ will be held to pick at random the member who will be asked to select the ‘image of the month’, two runners-up, and to provide a few words explaining their choices.
INCLUDED in the ballot will be the names of those members who entered images in the monthly challenge that has just closed but in order that everyone get a chance to be a ‘selector’ the names of those members who have been the selector for any of the last three closed monthly challenges will not be included
Selectors will be reminded that the ‘Monthly Image Challenge’ has everything to do with being fun and inclusive. It is not about winning or losing but rather should reward those members who take a chance, are bold with their composition, try something new or simply invoke emotion in the mind of the viewer.
Gallery of all June’s Images
Monthly Image Challenge
As with all other photographic competitions, there are few rules to follow. These are required to create a ‘level playing field’ for all who participate and because it is much easier and quicker to handle and store the images if they all arrive correctly named in the same format and size. In addition, for members who are less familiar with submitting images into formal competitions it is also good practice, under no pressure, for the real thing...!
The ‘image of the month‘ will be displayed on the Society’s website together with a gallery showing all the other images entered that month’s challenge. There will also be an archive so members can look back through the galleries of past monthly challenges. The ‘image of the month’ will also appear on the cover of In Focus (the Society’s monthly newsletter) and on the Society’s Facebook page @ndpsinfocus.