• January 16th, 2013

Thank you to all the photographers that share their photos in this photo contest and a special thanks to our friend and all the team at Gary Fong for their collaboration in this photo competition:

“This is one of the few contests we’ve participated in where all of the finalists were really strong images. The diversity of talent in this group of photos deserves applauding all the way around. It wasn’t an easy task to decide which is “best” due to so many variables.” – Gary Fong Team

Congratulations to elisapoggi winner of the Lightsphere Collapsible Pro-Kit by Gary Fong with photo The Driver

“This image deserves a little extra time to enjoy it fully. There are a lot of subtle details that add up to a complex image yet understated image. For example the wood grain on the inside of the doorway, the accented walkie-talkie, and the pillowing smoke in the background all evoke a sense of being there and appreciation for the subject. The cropping is interesting as well, and the repeating lines add a very dynamic feel. It’s a great editorial portrait that doesn’t need to show a face. Despite breaking “the rules”, it’s a humble look at an important workforce.” – Gary Fong

Congratulations to the following Runners Up:

hanabi with photo Man work on coalfield

“We love all the triangular lines that lead back to the subject’s face. It comes across as a genuine moment, in a difficult environment. Bravo to the photographer for getting low and framing the image in a way that literally makes you feel the strain in the worker’s back, and the dirt on his hands. The color palette is also well processed with detail all the way through the density range. Although the cropping of the foot and vehicle in the background are a little distracting, the image itself overpowers those small points.” – Gary Fong

tomato1236 with photo Untitled

“This one demonstrates a lot of control and attention to detail. It is another image that requires a little longer look to appreciate all that went into it. The kicker lights that accent the body and equipment is perfectly exposed and well placed. Additionally, the exposure in the shadow areas such as the face and camouflaged pants is perfectly done to not be distracting from the image as a whole. The smoke, whether shot as is or added in post, adds a dynamic element to an otherwise static background. This could be any soldier, and the pose, crop, lighting, and props are all handled in a very respectable way. Well thought out and perfectly executed.” – Gary Fong

• January 9th, 2013

As described by wikipedia, Photo journalism is a particular form of journalism (the collecting, editing, and presenting of news material for publication or broadcast) that creates images in order to tell a news story. It is now usually understood to refer only to still images, but in some cases the term also refers to video used in broadcast journalism. Photojournalism is distinguished from other close branches of photography (e.g., documentary photography, social documentary photography, street photography or celebrity photography) by complying with a rigid ethical framework which demands that the work is both honest and impartial whilst telling the story in strictly journalistic terms. Photojournalists create pictures that contribute to the news media.

Thank you to PictureWall and to professional photographer Taylor Davidson for his collaboration in selecting the following winners:

Congratulations to ns0mniacs winner of the PictureWall unit with photo Dust Off

“The beauty of this photo is that the entire frame tells a story. In the foreground, we see the obvious story of the soldier and the men attending to him, and in the background, the context of the helicopters adds to the story of the image. This photo is a jumping off point for my mind, for there are so many stories in this image.” – Taylor

Congratulation to Runner Up jimmoon_8772 with photo Upside Down

“This is a great capture of a cowboy; with the focus just on the cowboy (and caught with perfect timing, all 4 of the horse’s feet off the ground, and the cowboy right as his head strikes the ground), the timing invites one think about what happened just before and just after. While the framing is a key component to this image, it’s the timing that’s so critical and so powerful.” – Taylor

Congratulations to the People’s Choice winner of a PictureWall unit with photo I’ve got your back

• January 8th, 2013

A big thank you to all participants for sharing your great landscape photos. The contest gallery is truly worth looking, the images are very inspiring. The contest’s winning images have been selected by Rob Sheppard, a top nature photographer.

Congratulations to jswolfphoto first place winner of a Peachpit Snapshots to greatshots learning library with the photo ”Solitary”. “I love this image that goes way beyond a snapshot. The color is great and combined with the use of a slow shutter speed creates a magical image of a simple subject.” – Rob

Congratulations to the following Honorable mentions:

“Pinnacles Western Australia” by debcoimages

“A very nice use of black-and-white for a landscape. The sky is so important here and really complements the landscape.” -Rob

“Silence” by andrisbarbans

“This is a beautiful winter image, simple and direct in its composition and beautiful use of color. So often photographers avoid the cold, yet this shows what is possible. ” – Rob

Congratulations to the top People’s Choice awards:

“Leaving Soon” by CC24

“Yosemite Scenery – Fiona Wlodarek ” by FionaWlodarek

“Shine Your Light on Me” by LindaCutche

• January 4th, 2013

Another great contest with many beautiful photos. The entries showed a great variety of interpretations, ideas and angles of photographing hot air balloons. Congratulations to all the participations for taking part in this contest and a big thank you to judge Elia Locardi for selecting the winning mages.

Winner of the Zuma9 Tamrac backpack and a PRO membership “Within the balloon” by Agrom

“Colorful leading lines bring the eye into a great composition while representing a perfect sense of scale. It makes me feel as though I’m inside the balloon. Very nicely done. ” – Elia

Honorary Mention “Blue Ridge Balloons” by mturnau

“This is a beautifully portrayed scene with a great sense of motion with a very nice color palette.” – Elia

The People’s Choice Award winner is “Monument Valley Balloon Festival 6068″ by Bozzzzz