The Creative Landscape
Photo Contest

"There are many definitions for creativity, which are applicable in different contexts. However, one quality they all have in common is this: novelty—something new that had not been done or seen before. Common views and themes, no matter how beautiful or skillfully photographed, cannot be considered creative, and reluctantly I had to dismiss several entries that, although exquisitely beautiful, are not creative. What I was looking for was something I have not seen before—something transcending the ordinary, showing not just skill and beauty but also something of the photographer’s creative mind: forethought, imagination and self-expression. This image stood out to me in several ways. In an age where much photography seems to compete for attention using bold colors, extreme perspectives, visual effects and egregious processing, it is refreshing to me to see an image that relies on mindfulness, attention to detail, and thoughtful composition. This image, to me, is about a world within a world: the surface world that we are accustomed to seeing: field, building, tree, sky; and what feels like a portal to another, more intimate, mysterious and intricate world hiding beneath the surface. Despite the difficult light, the photographer managed not only to come up with a very pleasing arrangement, but also to utilize subtle plays of light and shadow to draw attention to things that may otherwise go unnoticed. This takes both skill and attention. I also commend the photographer for realizing that color would have distracted from, rather than contributed to, the effect of the image. Black and white works very well here to emphasize the subtle interplay of light and shadow." - Guy Tal

"This image not only combines beautiful scenery and an interesting human figure, but also demonstrates the use of a quality common in drawing and painting, but that is not often applied by those who photograph people (which is a shame): gesture. Not only is the woman attractively dressed and beautifully positioned, her white dress and red hair juxtaposed against the dark earth and green foliage, but her pose is utterly intriguing: frozen in motion, running with abandon into an unknown chasm. The questions haunt me: is she running toward something, or perhaps away from something? What brought her there? What is about to unfold? Will she be alright? The image not only illustrates a beautiful scene, but also tells an interesting story, demanding attention, allowing the viewer to weave their own beginning, plot line and ending." - Guy Tal

"The first thing that caught my eye about this image is the sense of speed, force and grace of the horses running through this majestic landscape. It wasn’t until I looked closely that I realized they were running through water, which impressed me even more. Then I began to grasp the photographer’s skill in arresting this moment, in a precise composition, with all elements beautifully separated, despite the fast-paced action and what must have been a very brief window to compose and capture the scene." - Guy Tal

"I am, admittedly, not very comfortable with the use of drones. I don’t use one myself, and I am uncomfortable with their presence when I work in the landscape. So, I’ll start by saying that I hope the photographer was respectful of whatever people were present and any rules that were applicable at the time and place of making this image. The image itself, I must say, is impressive in its abstract qualities: lines, shapes, patterns and colors. It draws attention to itself very powerfully, and not for the usual reasons, but because it is visually interesting and demands closer examination." - Guy Tal