Winners

Linda Bellingham: First Place Choice: “NYC Breakfast” by Eden Potter

What Linda had to say: It was nice of the photographer to mention that Starbucks made the food; however, the composition of elements in the image is perfect! And, the natural lighting is spectacular.

Jean Ann Bybee: First Place Choice: “Macaroons” by J. Annie Wang, New York City, New York, USA

What Jean Ann had to say: Simple, beautifully lit, colorful. Shows a good eye

Brad G. Rogers: First Place Choice: “Ribbon Candy” by Jamie Lynn Rice, Oracle, Arizona, USA

What Brad had to say: Simple, which is often the best approach. Colorful, which catches the eye. It was fun and struck an emotion which is what everybody is trying to obtain.

Third Place Winner: “Cherry Tomatoes” by Alex Papas

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First Place: Anthony Hopkins, Moreton Morrell, England
Title: Whitby Beach Huts

What Steven and Paul  had to say: We particularly like the careful use of the reflective sunset/sunrise. Our only suggestion would be to crop a little off the right edge of the image. Otherwise we feel it’s a great photographic example of the subliminal effect of the early morning/evening light. They don’t call these the “golden hours” for nothing.

Second Place: Gemma Carly Pepper,  Conwy, North Wales, Great Britain
Title: Hope

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First Place: Phil Tooze, Riot Photography, Heanor, Derbyshire, U.K.
Title: True Believers
  

Second Place: Pepa Niebla, Chingford, London, U.K.
Title: It’s Real

Third Place: Anne Izabel Le Clainche, Plaisir, France
Title: Seabreeze of Happiness

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First Place: Jamie Cortinas, Modesto, California, USA
Title: Skelly
What Corey had to say: Great blending of elements of the real person and the skeleton. The dark border and the treatment to the empty area on the right side of the image do a lot to help with the mood of the image, matching well with the decay suggested by the skeleton.

Second Place: Leslie Granda-Hill, Montclair, New Jersey, USA
Title: The Hotel
What Corey had to say: Simplicity is key here, the dominating lines are cleanly arranged, creating a strong foundation. What makes this image stand out are the people, giving a sense of scale. The people also offer a sense of motion in contrast to the static building. Great timing capturing them with their legs and arms outstretched.

Third Place: Heather Tiffany, Aurora, Illinois, USA
Title: Sunset Through a Child’s Eyes

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First Place: Faisal Khan, Kashmir University, Kashmir
Title: Eternal Faith
What Peter had to say: This image scored well on many levels. The simplicity of the composition and strong sense of light set it apart from the other entries. The exposure is perfect. Light and shadow create a mood, delineate the subject and build a storytelling scenario. Shafts of light form a connection between the window and the figure, creating an energy and flow within the frame. Great image, very well executed.

Second Place: Carlyn Porter, West Palm Beach, Florida, USA
Title: Ride
What Peter had to say: Interesting viewpoint, rich color. Placement of the shoes makes them strong focal points in an otherwise monochrome setting in shades of green. Leaving the subject’s identity just outside the frame turns the image from a portrait to an air of mystery. It involves the viewer to figure out what’s going on here. The result is an intriguing scenario with much for the eye to explore. Nicely done.

Third Place: Sawsan Hafiz
Title: Spirit of Light
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First Place: Estiaan Labuschagne, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Title: Barbershop Madness
What Carrie had to say: I chose the winners based on the criteria of the competition, which was titled “Fashion”. Barbershop madness had a story line, comedy, fashion, and got an A for effort in choosing a location, attention to styling and character casting and setting a mood. Same goes for the 2nd place winner; attention was paid to location and mood setting. They also created a smoke which added mood to the shot. There were some nice shots that I didn’t consider simply because they weren’t really “Fashion” shots; Nausikaa was a fun retro shot and Jamaican Beauty Red was a well done portrait.

Second Place: Natalie Field, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Title: Hoiden

Third Place: Ryan Roake, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Title: Hoiden

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First Place: Indhira Minerva Rodriguez Guerrero, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
Title:“A sunset in an acetate”
What Bob had to say: I was repeatedly drawn to A Sunset in Acetate because of the imaginative way it expressively plays with notions of photographic truth. In terms of color, it demonstrates a dramatic, haptic interaction among warm and cool as well as complimentary colors. In terms of contemporary photographic-based imaging, it is invigorating to see the direct hand of the maker emotionally asserting control over the subject.

Second Place: Marjorie Bond
Title: “Glass of Many Colors”
What Bob had to say: I selected Glass of Many Colors because of the complex, abstract, interrelationships among the transparent colors and shapes. This encouraged me to look deeper and see things I was previously unaware of. Pictorially, it addresses how we live in a world of assembled fragments that unfold over time.

Third Place: Elizabeth Newman, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
Title: “Wall to Wall”

Honorable Mentions

“LA Frame of Mind”
Randy Turoff
San Francisco, California, USA

“10th Avenue Condo”
Peter Brandt
Woodstock, New York, USA

“Dedicated”
Paul Kalstein
Southampton, Pennsylvania, USA

“Festival of Color”
Mohammad Rakibul Hasan
Dhaka, Bangladesh

“Asiatic Lily”
ILANA BRUNNER
Bethesda, Maryland, USA

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Winner: Candace Moore, Houston, Texas, USA
Title: “Untitled”

What Kevin had to say:

“So many mother and baby portraits are too happy go lucky. But this image has a certain edge to it, it makes you wonder what the mother is thinking of. The image has a sinister edge to it as well because of the lighting but this edginess is of set slightly buy the inclusion of the dog. Really interesting image with so much to think about that’s way it’s the clear winner for me.”

Prize: The grand prize is a copy of Kevin’s book, along with an Epson® Artisan 835 All-in-One digital photo printer, replacement Epson® multi-color ink cartridges with and a package of Epson® premium photo paper glossy 4×6.

First Place: Gemma Carly Pepper, Conwy, Wales
Title:“Into the Soul”
What Ralph and Chris had to say: This picture is a fantastic example of what a good portrait should be. It is so much more than a mere likeness of the sitter. A tilted head and direct eye contact immediately pull the viewer into the picture and make it hard to let go and explore the rest of the picture. The viewer definitely feels a certain command to look. On the other hand, a soft smile, partially hidden by pulled-up clothing, leaves no doubt about the pleasant personality of the model while adding a bit of mystery. This is an image to be proud of!

Second Place: Michelle Lorenzen-Hunter, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Title: “Saving the Bird”
What Ralph and Chris had to say: This picture has it all. A great composition gives the picture stability through an interesting viewpoint onto the weathered hands. I like how the thumbs lead into the picture but miss the center of interest just by a hair, forcing my eyes back up again to focus on the bird. At that point, stability turns into security and creates an interesting contrast to the animal in need. The viewing experience finishes with a warm feeling about a happy end. In a way, it’s a portrait without a face. Hands say so much about a person. Great shot!

Third Place: Gurjant singh Sekhon, Maharashtra, India
Title: “What do you think When you are looking at me? Look at my soul within… Look Closer … see me!!”

First Place: Candace Moore, Houston, Texas, USA
Title: “Untitled”
What The Shutter Sisters had to say: This shot evokes strong emotion through honest expression, tone and mood. The perspective is compelling and draws in the viewer with it’s visual interest and the intimacy of the subject matter and context.

Second Place: Theo Spek, Aerdenhout, Bloemendaal, Netherlands
Title: “Birds of a Feather”
What The Shutter Sisters had to say: This shot is a classic example of perfect timing. The subject matter is unique in its cute and clever interpretation of the theme. That the babies and flanked by the parents makes for a humorous and relatable depiction of family.

Third Place: Jeffrey Gregor, Troy, New York, USA
Title: “In my Daughter’s eye!”

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First Place: Paul Cohn, Chennai, India
Title: “Underpass”
What Richard had to say: This photograph is surrounded by a dark sense of mystery. What appears to be a young woman in dark clothes is ascending a stairway. The girl was carefully photographed when her feet were astride, suggesting movement. A beam of light partially illuminates the stairway and wall, casting a detached shadow of the girl and her wind-blown neckpiece. The black curved area at the right provides an ominous frame. A textured gray and white wall shares the same contour as the black curved wall. In the white area of the wall one can notice a competition, called “contour rivalry,” for dominance. This activates that area and the mystery. The various tonalities, textures and geometry add to an interesting composition. As the young woman walks confidently up the stairs one might ponder who she is, where she came from and where she is going. All these factors adding to the unknown. Engaging in a photograph such as this can stimulate the mind and imagination. The photograph with its dark and black tones works well in conveying a feeling of mystery and possible danger. In color, it would not have the same effect.

Second Place: Tamas Kooning Lansbergen
Title: “Autumn Fruit”
What Richard had to say: Still life in paintings has a very long history. This beautifully balanced photograph takes on a lovely painterly look. The composition is impeccable. The brightly lit grouping of figs atop the bucket provides a near triangular shape. The three figs overflowing and resting on the table suggests abundance (objects in odd number such as three and five are more interesting than even numbers). The fig leaves in the foreground add color and meaning. A quiet textured bluish-gray background helps draw attention to the colorful figs and leaves. The space (interval) between the large circular cover resting against the wall and the bulbous shape bottle is very important. If the interval were not there and the objects were touching, or too far apart, something would be lost. Although part of the bottle is cropped and rests outside the frame we automatically see it as complete thanks to our ability to form closure on incomplete familiar objects. Still life photography provides an excellent opportunity for studying and arranging lighting and composition, as we see here.

Third Place: Kingsley Scott,  Doncaster, South Yorkshire, UK
Title: “My Best Man Framed”

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First Place: Elena Stavrev, Sofia, Bulgaria
Title: “Most Asian Neighborhoods Are Also Markets”

What Sue had to say: It gives the feel of a neighborhood. The photographer caught a decisive moment with the interplay between the people pictured in the shot. The composition was very good and the photographic interpretation worked well on this piece.

Second Place: Saro Nadjarian, Lefkosia, Cyprus
Title: “Lacoste”

What Sue had to say: It has a gritty, real feel that is quite evocative. The viewer can picture themselves walking into this neighborhood with caution. The low point of view was well done.

Third Place: Albena Velikova Markova, Varna, Bulgaria
Title: “Girl’s Play”

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First Place: Carlos J. Miranda, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
Title: Open Doors

Second Place: Rebecca Prowlus, Danville, Pennsylvania, USA
Title: The Driveby Apparition

Third Place: Jonathan Pearson, London, UK
Title: Brixton, London

Lance Says: The two images I chose for first and second place couldn’t be more different, and that diversity was reflected in all of the best images submitted for the Night Photography contest. In addition to the things common to all great photographs- Strong composition and technical execution, the best night photographs usually have a strong sense of atmosphere and mystery. Interesting lighting, whether it be natural, or artificial, existing or added are generally a strong component of an image’s success. There were about a dozen images that clearly stood apart from the pack, and any one of them could have been a winner. A few that stand out in my mind are, Ghost Train, Burnett River Bridge, Santa Fee Apartment, Abandoned Columns, No Turning Back, and Chromatism. These images all exemplify the things I look for in Night Photographs.

The first place image, Open Doors, exemplifies all of those traits. The image is complex, but well organized, and easy to read. There is a strong sense of depth and movement, emphasized not only by the combined indoor and outdoor scenes, but by the mixed lighting sources that cause the interior and exterior to have different colors. Every element of the composition is carefully placed. There is a quality to this image that reminds me of the work of the early twentieth century photographers Carlos and Miguel Vargas from Peru, two pioneering brothers who advanced night photography techniques with their sophisticated lighting.

Second place winner Drive By Apparition is more subtle and mysterious. Dark and moody, the movement suggested by blur and diagonal lines are complemented by the contrasting warm and cool colors of the image. It’s not often that precise timing is critical in a night photograph, but the position of the headlight trails in the image is essential to the composition, and it’s a big part of why this image works so well. Had the photograph been a fraction of a second earlier, the trails would have started outside the frame, and the image wouldn’t be nearly as strong. There is very little detail in the image, and it’s full of deep, dark shadows, but the message is clearly conveyed none the less.

It was a pleasure judging this competition and viewing so many great images. Thank you for the opportunity.

Lance

First Place: Charles Todd Birdsong, Paducah, Kentucky, USA
Title: Memories of Dixon Farm

What Corey had to say: I was repeatedly drawn back to this photo, I was pulled in wanting explore the details and understand the story behind the image – and that is the mark of a good image. The combination of photos works very well with the intense images framing the more subdued, mysterious elements in the center. I find that not being able to easily identify or explain all the elements in the image made it intriguing (but at the same time wasn’t too abstract to lose the viewer’s attention).

Second Place: Tapas Basu, West Bengal, India
Title: Losted

What Corey had to say: The photographer has done a great job of blending and balancing the portions of color with the black and white. The black and white portrait dominates, drawing the viewer’s eye to the details and expression of the subject’s face, keeping the image focused on the person. The patches in color add depth to the image, giving the viewer more to consider when examining the photo. I find the bright colors suggest a liveliness that is not readily apparent in the black and white portrait. A creative technique that takes this photograph beyond being an ordinary portrait.

Third Place: Glenn Foster, Croydon, Surrey, England
Title: Arrows over London

“Pot Shiner, Chennai, India”

Guest Judge: Michael Freeman

Winner: Brian Jolley, Providence, Rhode Island, USA

What Michael had to say: I’ve selected “Pot Shiner, Chennai, India” for its documentary clarity as a street portrait. Composition and presentation are satisfyingly confident, and it tells its story economically and without unnecessary sentiment.

Prize: Brian will receive Michael Freeman’s Digital Photography Reference System and a copy of The Photographer’s Eye, Michael Freeman’s Perfect Exposure, The Art of Printing Photographs on Your Epson Printer, and The Photographer’s Eye Field Guide all by Michael Freeman.

First Place: Emirhan Karamuk, Istanbul, Turkey
Title: “The Door”

Second Place: Anthony Tancredi, Rochedale South, Australia
Title: “Sea of Creation”

Third Place: Glorianne Cassar, Siggiewi, Malta
Title: “Intelligence”

Honorable Mention: Johannes Maurits, Lauredo, Texas, USA
Title: “Pozo Del Gavilan”

Guest Judge: Ctein

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Our apologies to everyone who entered the April contest for the long delay in announcing the winners. Our guest judge, Philip Andrews, has been hard at work on several new books but had still hoped to judge. He didn’t want to make anyone wait any longer, however, so we were lucky to have the Focal Photography Editorial Team step in on his behalf!

First Place: Valentijn  van der Sloot
Title: Lone Walker

Second Place: Popescu Cezar, Romania
Title: Thunder Clouds

Third Place: Donna Marchessault,  South Windsor, Connecticut, USA
Title: Ice Fishing in the Fog

First Place: Sam Bienstock, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Title: “On a Train”

What David had to say: For me, street photography is about capturing unposed, fleeting moments in public places. This picture nicely captures a child’s spontaneous joy and has been shot in the challenging environment of a crowded and dimly-lit subway train.

Second Place: Dipak Dey
Title: “Fear Game”

What David had to say: I like the shapes that the childrens’ shadows make on the material and the expression on the face of the child being held up. He’s taking part in a game, but he’s not sure how to react. Those two bold red stripes, plus the line of shadow-figures, make a great composition.

Third Place: Manoj Kayastha,  Bihar, India
Title: “Child’s Adventure”

Guest Judges: David Clark, author of Photography in 100 Words
Theme: Street Photography

First Place: Jelena Blagojevic, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
Title: “Hard Life”

What Steven and Paul had to say: This a wonderful dramatic portrait. Nice use of light to bring out the texture in the face. Both the cropping and negative space are very effective.

Second Place: Brian Jolley, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
Title: “Pot Shiner, Chennai, India”

What Steven and Paul had to say: We like how the subject connects with the viewer in this one. The composition and the ambient light are excellent. What works well in this environmental portrait is the use of the diptych to “tell a story” about this woman.

Third Place: Ioannis Papadakis, Belgium
Title: “A Rajastani Portrait”

Guest Judges: Steven Biver and Paul Fuqua

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First Prize: Jeff McCrum
New York, New York, USA
Title: “Bow Bridge”

Second Prize: Maria Capilupi
Niagra Falls, New York, USA
Title: “Five Degrees Fahrenheit”

Third Prize: Catherine Isaacson
Richboro, Pennsylvania, USA
Title: “Chin’s Frizbee Catch in the Snow”

Guest Judge: John & Barbara Gerlach

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First Prize: Andrey Antov
Hamden, Connecticut, USA
Title: “Dream Life”

Second Prize: Emma Leech
Smarden, Kent, UK
Title: “Blue Flower”

Third Prize: Elizabeth Parker
Title: “The Eye”

Guest Judge: Martin Addison

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First Prize: Regina Gunawan Lee
Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
Title: “Glittering Stars”

Second Prize: James Wicker
Hainesport, New Jersey, USA
Title: “Clifton Mill Water Wheel”

Third Prize (Tie): Becky Workman
St. George, Utah, USA
Title: “Beautiful Yellowstone National Park”

Third Prize (Tie): Robyn Aber
San Francisco, California, USA
Title: “A Surreal Winter Wonderland”

Guest Judges: David Nightingale

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First Prize: Valerie Brabb McAninch
Springfield, Ohio, USA
Title: “Alaska Gloaming”

Second Prize: Bruce Miller
Van Nuys, California, USA
Title: “God’s Light”

Third Prize: David Bull
Lauderhill, Florida, USA
Title: “Secret Garden”

Guest Judges: John & Barbara Gerlach

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First Prize: Philip Bird
East Grinstead, West Sussex, UK
Title: “Surface tension of a bubble”

Second Prize: Patricia M. Lavin
Moran, Wyoming, USA
Title: “Wildflower bud”

Third Prize: Mark Mortensen
Title: “Blowing away”

Guest Judge: Adrian Davies

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First Prize: Karen Sixsmith
Bowdon, nr Altrincham, Cheshire, UK
Title: Six of the Best

Second Prize: Ashely Bieliauskas
Brandon, Mississippi, USA
Title: Sandy

Third Prize: Michael Episcopo
Minoa, New York, USA
Title: His First Hydrant

Guest Judge: Andrew Darlow

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Leslie’s Pick: Jorge Tenorio
Title: “Third Bout”

Bryan’s Pick: Leslie Granda Hill, New Jersey, USA
Title: “Jogger in the Fog”

Third Prize: Becky Workman
St. George, Utah, USA
Title: “Sibling Rivalry”

Guest Judges: Leslie Alsheimer & Bryan O’Neil Hughes

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Chris’ Pick: Torri J. Koppenaal
Newton, New Jersey, USA
Title: “Up, Up and Away”

Corey’s Pick: Jorge Tenorio
Title: “It is Summer!”

Third Prize: Sue Jarrett
Title: “Shag Dancing”

Guest Judges: Chris Grey, Corey Hilz

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Joint First Prize: Wahid Adnan
Title: Bufferclass Passenger

Joint First Prize: Zahid Najam, San Jose, California, USA
Title: Down the Road

Third Prize (Tie): Marquette LaRee Mower, Fort Bowie, Arizona, USA
Title: Ready to Roll

Third Prize (Tie): Rachel Yarwood
Title: The Magic Lane

Guest Judge: Lou Jones and Bob Keenan

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First Prize: Leslie Granda Hill
Montclair, NJ, USA
Title: Depreciation

Second Prize: Mattea Sportel
Title: Morning of Mourning

Third Prize: J.R. Orsborn
Dallas, Oregon, USA
Title: Elegant Surrender

Guest Judge: Richard Lynch

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First Prize: Leslie Granda Hill
Montclair, New Jersey, USA
Title: Right Before the Rain

Second Prize: Kevin Lozaw, San Anselmo, California.
Title: Contemplation

Third Prize: Lemuel Canady
Salem, Oregon, USA
Title: Eternity

Guest Judge: Michael Freeman

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First Prize: C. Todd Birdsong
Paducah, Kentucky, USA
Title: Hilldale Road

There was a tie for second!

Second Prize: Bruce E. Coxley
Edmonds, Washington, USA
Title: Swamp Grass

Second Prize: Jeff Ringer
Washington, D.C., USA
Title: Eastern Market Sellers

Third Prize: James Tanksley
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Title: Untitled

Guest Judge: Philip Andrews

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First Prize: Dani Mouser
Dallas, Oregon, USA
Title: Light & Shadow

Second Prize: Gerri Jones
Wilson, New York, USA
Title: A Picture of Peace

Third Prize: Becky Workman
St. George, Utah, USA
Title: Zion National Park

Guest Judge: Robert Hirsch

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First Prize: David Premo
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
Title: Moonlight

Second Prize: Kenneth Vogt
Plainfield, Illinois, USA
Title: Tech Magic

Third Prize: Leslie Granda Hill
Montclair, New Jersey, USA
Title: 9-11 Memorial Lights

Guest Judge: Brian and Janet Stoppee

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