Monthly Image Challenge
August 2023 - REFLECTION
Image of the month for August is SPOON by Gareth Janacek. What a superb interpretation of the theme. The golden light above and behind reflected through the handle and thickness of the bowl of the spoon itself beautifully depict the volume and utility of this everyday object. Sitting it on an iPad, tablet or perhaps a Kindle with the text reflected on the underside of the spoons bowl and a further ghosted reflection of the distorted text adds another dimension to this visually poetic image. Congratulations, beautifully envisaged and executed.
Runner-up is STEEL CITY REFLECTIONS by David Jordans. It’s the graphic quality that brings this image to life, for me. The upward sweep of the inside curve and the diamond shapes of the windows have been cleverly observed. The reflected buildings opposite add tone and texture in, near, equal measure dividing the image well into three distinct passages. This is well composed and cleverly tonally balanced the author should be proud of this.
Finally the second Runner-up is BOATING LAKE REFLECTIONS by David Powley. There is a serenity about this piece, which is enlivened by the ripples in the boating pond. The placement of the crucifix in the last portal of the pavilion lends a poignant melancholy to the scene echoed by the empty bench. There is a secondary narrative here capturing another type of reflection beyond the obvious… whether a conscious compositional device or not. Well seen and a splendid rendition of the theme.
Explaining his choices our selector for August Simon Ciappara said “I've chosen these three because they stood out from a range of subjects as different and extremely well thought out and therefor are worthy winners in my eyes”.
SPOON by Gareth Janacek
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 SEPTEMBER (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.
LESS IS MORE - The phrase is attributed to Chilon of Sparta and is a good one for us to explore photographically. Ask not what can be added to the frame, but what can be removed
Members can enter a maximum of TWO images in the challenge
When submitting images for the SEPTEMBER challenge the reference to be added at the end of the file name is MC09.
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’s Choice
When each challenge closes a 'Selector' will be asked to select an image of the month and two runners-up together with a few words explaining their selections.
The ‘Selector’ will be provided with a slideshow that contains all the images that have been entered in that month’s challenge. Only the title of the images will be visible, and all metadata will be deleted so that the author cannot be readily identified.
Selectors will be reminded when the receive the slideshow that the ‘Monthly Image Challenge’ has everything to do with having fun and being inclusive. It is not about winning or losing but rather it 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 August’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.