Monthly Image Challenge
December 2023 - GRAVEYARDS AND CEMETERIES
Dennis Hale’s was this month’s selector. Talking about the images Dennis said - “When I was first asked to assess this month’s entries (prior to looking at the images) I set my own criteria for the interpretation of the subject. The words graveyard, cemetery should reflect images of a collective space for memorials to the dead. I was looking for atmosphere of a location rather than individual or close-up images. The image should be thought-provoking and encourage me to question the authors intention. Having looked at all the images I had to revise my selection to include a close-up image, which was well seen”. Thank you for a varied collection of well taken images from which to make my personal choice:
Congratulations to Paul Stearman whose image LITTLE RYBURGH CEMETERY was chosen ‘image of the month’. Dennis said this was original story with an open aspect to the image, reflecting the circle of life; gravestones, and the rebirth of the tree, curving to encompass the natural world. The angel becoming the focus of attention. Well captured in monochrome
This image is taken at Little Ryburgh cemetery, it is so remote, overgrown and has a very lonely feel to it, I wanted to reflect this in my picture, so I chose a day in February last year when the conditions were right.
My kit was a Canon R6, RF15- 35, a Lee .9 hard grad filter, f20 at 1/500 second, ISO 800 it was a windy day and I wanted to freeze the movement in the trees and the sky.
The birds were not present that day, I added them later in Photoshop, these were taken on my iPhone 11 while walking my dog, while it cannot match my R6, I find its camera to be an excellent tool for capturing spontaneous shots. Processing was in Lightroom and Photoshop.
Paul Stearman
Dennis’ selection for runner-up was COLD AS A GRAVE by Dave Balcombe. Use of wide angle to include foreground interest and the distortion, which added to the impact. Snow. Created strong profiles, this combined with the cool colour temperature gave a strong impression of the subject.
Finally, second runner-up was MOVING IN by Clive Dunn. I enjoyed the technical quality of this image with the oblique lighting capturing a New World in an old setting.
LITTLE RYBURGH CEMETERY by Paul Stearman
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 JANUARY (2024) 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.
REFLECTED LANDSCAPES are ones that incorporate bodies of water to reflect the landscape back at the viewer and add another layer of interest to the image.
Members can enter a maximum of TWO images in the challenge
When submitting images for the JANUARY challenge the reference to be added at the end of the file name is MC01.
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 December’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.