Straight Up Photo Contest Winners
Thank you to all the photographers that shared their photos in the photo contest. A big thank you to guest judge Michael Kelley.
Michael Kelley is both a practicing professional and photography educator. After extensively photographing architecture throughout Northern California, Michael decided to move to Los Angeles, one of the world's centers of art and architecture, where he continues to work full time as an architectural and fine art photographer. His work has been featured by news outlets and photography sites across the US and globally.
"I pretty much love everything about this shot. It's just pure geometry, movement, and volume. There's plenty for me to look at; I especially like how the eye gets pulled through to the brightest part of the scene. The leading lines have plenty of interesting details for me to follow; whether it's the pattern in the railings or the elevator, the wire structure above, or the trusses in the ceiling. I especially love the processing; it almost has a 1950s Julius Shulman feel to it. I'm not sure what he did but the glowing mood almost makes it have a Tron-like feeling too. The There's just so much to look at here, plenty for the eye to linger on, and plenty of ways to interpret this! Fantastic photo." - Mike Kelley
"Again, I love the motion and shapes in this photo. Great geometry once again. The best part, however, is that little plane flying through the spokes above. Unfortunately, the plane is also what makes me hold it back - the perfect timing that would be necessary to put it in just the right spot was missed by only a second; I would have liked to have seen the plane a bit more centered in the wheel. I think the bold and bright colors add a lot to this one, as well, and there are some great leading lines." - Mike Kelley
"Again, I love the motion and shapes in this photo. Great geometry once again. The best part, however, is that little plane flying through the spokes above. Unfortunately, the plane is also what makes me hold it back - the perfect timing that would be necessary to put it in just the right spot was missed by only a second; I would have liked to have seen the plane a bit more centered in the wheel. I think the bold and bright colors add a lot to this one, as well, and there are some great leading lines." - Mike Kelley
"An interesting composition, with great contrast everywhere. Definitely aided by the fact that I am absolutely in love with birch trees (or are they Aspen?) hard to tell - but they photograph so beautifully and these are very well-captured. I can almost hear the twigs crunching underfoot as I walk through this photo." - Mike Kelley
