Umbrellas And The Rain Photo Contest Winners
"First, I must say, to all the finalists: You each have some incredible work! I initially found myself at a loss to select winners, because of the high caliber of work from which to choose. I want to congratulate every finalist; you all have true talent, and I really mean that! Sometimes, the image might not be perfectly executed or treated, but those imperfections lend themselves to the image. Congratulations to all for being finalists!" - Guest Judge Joey Wright
A special thanks to friend and professional photographer Joey Wright for his collaboration as a guest judge. His work, never to be characterized by one particular look or style, always reflects his meticulous attention to detail and perfectionist nature. Joey was recognized by Westcott Lighting in 2010 when they chose him as one of their Westcott Top Pros and has made several guest appearances on Photoshop User TV and D-Town TV.
"The subject of this photo immediately grabbed me. In my world, the hardest part of my process is getting good talent in front of my lens; I can appreciate the fact that this was not an easy shot to get. There’s a spontaneous yet slow mood that I draw from this image that makes it very magnetic. From the spot-on focus (not an easy task with street photography) to the composition to the treatment in post, this is truly a great snap. Congratulations, Geraint!" - Joey Wright
"This image contains a great combination of color and action coupled with mood and environment to deliver a striking and fun photo. I really love the choices of the red umbrella & shoes, with that blue silk dress (great tones coming out of those creases) splashed across the model’s body. There’s also the yellowish cast coming from the city lights, which might bother some, but I think only bolsters the photo’s legitimacy. There’s also the fact that everyone else in the image is completely unaware of the couple, the pose, and the photographer, which makes for an even more unique image. Congratulations, Jordan!" - Joey Wright
"A very unique perspective, indeed! Hundreds of people probably walked by that spot and wouldn’t have noticed the shot; so it’s clear that Steve has a good eye to spot such an angle. I like the white flecks of gum stuck to the sidewalk, which add to the texture of the image – some might’ve edited those out, but in this scenario, they really complement the scene. Besides the perspective, the composition is great. Leaving all of the sidewalk space (allowing for a full view of the ferris wheel) and putting the subjects in the bottom of the frame was a great idea with interesting results. Congratulations, Steve!" - Joey Wright
"You can’t help but smile a little bit in this fantastic moment! The genuineness of every single person’s expression – obviously the bride and child being favorites, but even the bridesmaid in the right of the photo, who couldn’t keep up with the camera’s shutter as she made a run for it under the umbrella – lends itself to the credibility of the image as a whole. Even though the scene might’ve been staged, the expressions that were captured were real. I like it because it shows these people having fun in what typically is not a joyous scenario (who wants rain on their wedding day?!), so congratulations, Michael!" - Joey Wright
