Monthly Image Challenge
July 2023 - SELF PORTRAIT
Commenting upon this month’s challenge the Selector, Adrian Richmond said this was a really hard competition to judge because there were some excellent and innovative ideas presented in the images, taken on both traditional cameras and phone cameras. For example 'Cubic Selfie', 'Lounging on an LP’, 'Happier with a camera' and the simply named ‘Selfie' are all very strong images.
However, I have to make a choice so here the images I selected for honours this month:
The winner is Hidden Sorrow by Dave Barnes - I felt this not only met the brief it also demonstrated the way advanced processing can create a powerful image that delivers a thought provoking concept.
Dave Barnes, the photographer explains how his winning photograph came about:
This image was born out of a sad and difficult time in my life. My mother who was nearly 97 and suffered from severe dementia, was nearing the time when she would no longer be with us. She would spend long periods of time with her head in her hands and not talk to anyone, it was these periods that caused me the most concern as I could tell she was not in a good place, so therefore she would hide away in her own little world and grieve alone.
My thought process for this image was how could I portray her hidden sorrow.
The only person I could find to help me was myself, hence a selfie.
The portrait shot is a black backdrop and side window light to bring out all the wrinkles, using a cable remote, lots of different sorrowful faces and water in an eye dropper to wet the eyes. I then shot a series with my hands over my face on timer. Unfortunately, the hands shots had to be retaken because when processing the two images together I realized I had left my ring on which was taking the focal point, also my thumbs stuck out which didn’t look right, with the ring gone and thumbs tucked in, much better. The two images were imported into the editor, the hands were selected, copied and pasted onto the portrait on a separate layer, with a soft, low opacity eraser I gently erased the part of the hands over the eyes, nose and mouth until happy how they blended in. converted to mono in Nik collection Silver Efex and selected a gritty, grainy texture I thought suited the mood.
This image is a recent retake as I was never really happy with the first.
My second choice is Selfie on my phone by Robin Myerscough - a really fun image that took a lot of planning and a lot of work being put i to deliver the result. I thought it said a lot about the photographer.
Third place goes to Look Out by Des King - I chose this because it is clearly the author but presented as a less traditional self-portrait. I also like the minimalist feel of this image
HIDDEN SORROW by David Barnes
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 AUGUST (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.
REFLECTION - Add a layer of interest to your photo by using a reflective surface.
Members can enter a maximum of TWO images in the challenge
When submitting images for the AUGUST challenge the reference to be added at the end of the file name is MC08.
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 July’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.