Black-And-White Photo Competition 3 2014 : Results

  • Mark Of Excellence
  • Judges Comment
  • We find this an everyday photo that on many levels elevates to something special. The three separate faces in each their reality, and mainly the concentrated barber that works with the finesse of a composer. The photographers failing to omit the tent and portrait in the background adds something to the image we wouldn’t have lived without. The tonality is well-controlled, and the image pops out on the screen. It’s a very good picture!
  • Mark Of Excellence
  • Judges Comment
  • The interesting tonality of this image may make you believe you are first looking at a man bathing in ice water, but then you realize it’s water surrounded by sand. The composition is very well-thought and adds to the overall aesthetics. Well done!
  • Photographers Comment
  • i shot the photo during my last travel in india. in particular the man in the picture was having a bath in chand baori, a spectacular stepwell situated in the village of Abhaneri near Jaipur. the camera used is a pentax K5 with the kit zoom and the image has been simply converted into B/W.
  • Mark Of Excellence
  • Judges Comment
  • We think that to enjoy this photograph, you have to put yourself in the microscopic landscape that is captured here and start composing your fairytale. Great emotions and tones, very dreamy and well captured.
  • Photographers Comment
  • Thanks for awarding my photo Mark of Excellence. My name is Christian Mosskov from Aalborg, Denmark. I started photographing two years ago. I really enjoy learning the craft and sharing the passion with my brother. In early September I was out in nearby green area, looking for patches of light hitting the forest floor and make some macro or close up photos. This was shot with the macro lens Sigma APO 180mm f/2.8 OS and metabones adapter on Sony A7R using manual focusing. Shot wide open at f/2.8 and roughly 2m away. I wanted to catch the lovely light hitting the mushroom but also could tell the light in the background would blur up nicely with this focal length and wide open. Used scissors to trim the grass between the lens and the mushroom. There was no doubt in my mind this had to post processed in black and white instead of color. In Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop CC, I used NIK Silver Efex Pro for the conversion with green filter and mimicking Kodak 400 TMAX Pro film.
  • christian.mosskov.net/500px
  • Mark Of Excellence
  • Judges Comment
  • The use of tilt-shift in this photo creates the impression of a game with models, and after a while you see that it is a real graveyard and not a dream or a game. The composition where we take the viewpoint of the person in the image is very intelligent. It’s a great image.
  • Photographers Comment
  • This was captured in October, 2007 using a Canon 20D at the Santa Monica pier, in California. A group of veterans & volunteers were placing a cross in the beach sand for every American soldier killed in Iraq. They continued to do this each and every Sunday throughout the eight years of war. I recall at the time there was much controversy over America's casualties being hidden from the public eye. This served as a poignant monument to these brave men & women. I took several shots from up on the pier but this one stood out for me because it caught the foreground figure toiling away with the heavy cart, the second cart with still more crosses to be placed, the waving half-masted flag and the perfectly aligned crosses stretching off into the distance. I added a diorama-like perspective in post using FocalPoint plugin. -Mike Dobbs.
  • Mark Of Excellence
  • Judges Comment
  • We love this picture for the light and the attitude of the main subject, the woman to the right. But the more we look, the more details we find, like the kids climbing to press the button in the back center of the image! Great capture on many levels, also technically.
  • Photographers Comment
  • My thanks to the judges for the honor of this award. The shot was taken last January in Anaheim, CA, USA. I was waiting at the cross walk holding my Sony RX1r down by my hip when I took this shot. I framed it as best as I could without having a good view of the screen. A bit of luck on the the elements falling into place.
  • quintaquad.com
  • Mark Of Excellence
  • Judges Comment
  • This is a beautiful flow of emotions, tones and bokeh. A very unusual photo in some ways, which is what makes it special.
  • Mark Of Excellence
  • Judges Comment
  • Vanity poses. Two beauties with some hundred years between them. Well seen, great composed with the stair and not nothing else to disturb the comparison.
  • Mark Of Excellence
  • Judges Comment
  • This is an instant classic that we loved returning to and look at. It’s simple and yet full of history and emotion. We imagine it as a very large print on a wall so you can almost hear the waters quiet movement. The tonality and visual language makes it a photo we could hang on our wall and look at from time to time … and smile! Great work.
  • Mark Of Excellence
  • Judges Comment
  • We love this image. First we didn’t know what it was, and after a while we still didn’t know! It reminds us of group-sex in the 60’s, but without the sex. It’s a lovely picture with the 30 Seconds game on the table, the tired couple, the man reading, the foot and the deserted shoe. It’s like a well-thought-through painting. Simply great!
  • Photographers Comment
  • Thanks! My name is Ivan Muller and I am a South African photographer. This is a simple image of my family and friends resting after an exhausting day of fun and laughter on the water . The 'girl' is reading one of the 'Vampire' books so beloved by all teenage girls! The photograph was made over the December holidays at my best friends holiday cottage on the shore of the Ebenezer Dam.. Leica X1
  • ivanmuller.zenfolio.com/
  • Mark Of Excellence
  • Judges Comment
  • Room atmosphere as seen from the dance floor and from the bench. The more we look, the less the elements of the picture disturbs the pure emotions and atmosphere. Great work!
  • Photographers Comment
  • Hi, Thanks for my 2nd mark of excellence on my 2nd time entering the B&W photo comp, amazing to be included with such a high standard of entries. This photo is also from the same wedding as my entry in the first B&W comp, My brother and his wonderful wife got married in the chapel of St Vincents Hospital in Darlinghurst, Sydney 2013, her father passing away soon after. Compositionaly I love that the faces are all turned towards the light, emotionally - a happy yet strangely dark moment in venue where one can only imagine the power behind the prayers made here over the years. Canon 5Dmk3, 24-70mm f2.8mk2, Elinchrom Ranger Quadra flash. 44mm 1/90th f2.8 ISO1600
  • www.simonanders.com
  • Mark Of Excellence
  • Judges Comment
  • This is an effectual image that reminds us of classic images, yet it is a new image and not a replica. The intense and yet tender story and emotion could be any of the ideas that come to mind.
  • Photographers Comment
  • What Is Left ::: Edinburgh, UK ::: Nikon D800 ::: Lightroom 4
  • www.chrisrubey.com
  • Mark Of Excellence
  • Judges Comment
  • We don’t understand how this was made or what it illustrates, and that is why it makes us interested to look and find out. The more we look, the less we know for sure. A classic!
  • Photographers Comment
  • Hey! Thanks a lot! My name is Alex Raczyński and I am 20 years old. I have just started studying photography in National Film School in Łódź (Poland). Actually, I wouldn't like to tell You what the photo illustrates :-). There is no digital manipulation. I shooted this picture with small film camera Yashica Electro 35 GTN. I used Ilford HP5+ film. Greetings from Łódź!
  • alexraczynski.wordpress.com
  • Mark Of Excellence
  • Judges Comment
  • The paintings have been hanging for 100 years or so, so why not stop and read the paper? The humor is great. This is a great capture of a unique moment that is easy to read for the viewer.
  • Photographers Comment
  • Image from the Smithsonian National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. Using available light, Tri-X film and the Leica Summicron 28mm f/2.0 ASPH on a Leica M6. Self developed and scanned with minimal to no retouching.
  • wayneserrano.com
  • Mark Of Excellence
  • Judges Comment
  • A somewhat classic situation, with very few elements to disturb. Then you notice the food in her mouth, her awkward foot-position and elevated position that make the the same height, and you start wondering what they might be thinking as they talk. Classic shot!
  • Photographers Comment
  • Thank you very much. The shot was taken in Mexico City in September 15th, with a Leica MP, 40mm Summicron on Agfa APX 400.
  • www.fernandodefrance.com
  • Mark Of Excellence
  • Judges Comment
  • A strong image that raises questions. In many ways the light and technical perfection is in contrast to the imperfect and confusing look of the subject. If you google DIE ANTWOORD it makes the idea of this image even stronger.
  • Photographers Comment
  • Thank you for the "Mark of Excellence" and the nice words. This photo of "Ninja" was shot here in Los Angeles on my Canon 5d III , converted to BW in PS.
  • www.stevekeros.com
  • Mark Of Excellence
  • Judges Comment
  • Dreamlike beauty captured, mixed and created in a simple and astonishing effective way. Love it!
  • Mark Of Excellence
  • Judges Comment
  • A very unusual sight. We wondered if this was from Iraq or a music festival, and maybe it doesn’t matter. What matters is why she is standing there dressed like that with a mask. Effectual composition and not much other than the essential question in focus. Great image!
  • Photographers Comment
  • Thanks to the Jury ! This shot was done at the Burning Man Festival 2014 Nevada, i was shooting some Photos with my Girlfriend, suddenly a sandstorm started, we were totally lost, could not see anything, as the storm was getting away we find our self back near the toilet containers, there i did this shot. Leica M / SUMMICRON-M 1:2/35 mm ASPH. Michael Muenzing / Musicproducer / Photographer
  • mmuenzing.com
  • Mark Of Excellence
  • Judges Comment
  • We like how the dreamlike light and haze in this photo makes it a futuristic photo in a past setting. It’s just beautifully composed with a center of attention we cannot see as viewers. Love it!
  • Photographers Comment
  • On a very foggy morning in the heart of Stockholm I found these men standing together fishing. The sun is trying to shine through which creates the haze. I usually bring a camera on my way to work and sometimes I´m lucky like this morning. Shot with a Leica M240 and Summilux 50/1,4. Processed in Lightroom 5 and Silver Efex Pro. My name is Bengt Kallenberg and I live just outside Stockholm.
  • www.kallenbergphoto.com
  • Mark Of Excellence
  • Judges Comment
  • A olympic runner from the London business district trying to get into the shadow, or what? Is our question. We like the strict composition with the shadow breaking the image and adding time, then the surprising entrance of the runner in it all. Great work!
  • Photographers Comment
  • This photo is part of "The Self Portrait Project" in Marrakesh, Morocco, using a Hasselblad Camera with a wireless remote shutter in my hand. Since 2010 Rodrigues has explored in his photographic work the position of his own body in relation to the architecture and landscape of urban centers. A former professional skateboarder and self-taught photographer, the artist portrays himself in movement, capturing the climax of maneuvers within previously planned compositions. His performative accuracy goes sometimes in harmony, sometimes in disarray, with architectural forms, resulting in great and geometric images, drawn by a magnificent play of light and shadows.
  • fabianorodriguesphotography.tumblr.com/
  • Mark Of Excellence
  • Judges Comment
  • The tones of this photograph are what captures us first. Historic, dramatic, and then we see the face of the boy and the box. For a moment we wonder if it is a FedEx delivery or the last days on Earth. It an unusual image, and it has so many layers in an overall interesting composition with perfect tonality.
  • Photographers Comment
  • Hi, My name is Sungsoo Lee , street photographer from South Korea , residing in California. This is the picture of the people of the Larung Gar buddhist monastery, Tibet Autonomous, live at a literally breathtaking altitude of 13,000 feet. A truck full of winter shoes arrive at the monastery, supplied by the outside world. Each person is taking a pair according to their shoe size. Taken with Leica MP , 35mm summicron asph , fuji provia 400X - post processed b&w converting in LR5. Thank you for awarding!
  • www.sungsoolee.com
  • Mark Of Excellence
  • Judges Comment
  • A snow portrait with some futuristic and filmic tones to ut. We can’t quite place it, but we like the strict composition and simplicity with a story we must supply ourself as viewers. Overall it is an adventure, and it’s realism.
  • Photographers Comment
  • Thank you for the Mark of Excellence in this competition. This portrait was shot in the austria alps using a Leica Monochrom and a Summilux 50mm lens, post processing in Photoshop CS6. Thanks, Johannes Huwe, photographer Germany
  • www.huwe.cc
  • Mark Of Excellence
  • Judges Comment
  • We like how we tend to fly with the young kid in this photo even the viewpoint and camera is obviously located on the ground. The photograph somehow enables you to be in two places at the same time and experience both viewpoints.
  • Photographers Comment
  • Hi, I’m Paul Cupido. When I see this picture of my son, I’m reminded of the openness, the honesty and playfulness of youth — something I wish we could all retain for life. I took the photo this past summer in France, using a Leica M with a Summilux 35mm lens. Thank you! Love, Paul
  • www.paulcupido.nl
  • Mark Of Excellence
  • Judges Comment
  • Simply just a cute photo for someone to look at in the coming years of one of the important decisions to be made when you are very young. What will happen to me if I drive through this water?
  • Photographers Comment
  • Thanks for awarding my photo Mark of Excellence. My name is Christian Mosskov from Aalborg, Denmark. I started photographing two years ago. I really enjoy learning the craft and sharing the passion with my brother. I call this photo "Master and Commander: Far side of the Puddle" The boy in the photo is my nephew age 3. After a rain shower we took a walk on a local trail in search of puddles for him to play in. I used the opportunity to practice the art of manual focusing. This was shot wide open with the Zeiss Otus 1.4/55 on Canon EOS 5D Mark III with super precision matte focusing screen. It really makes a great difference with this focusing screen when using a OVF where the only focusing aid is focus confirmation beep and/or blink. This was a good setting for practicing focusing on a moving target with irregular speeds. Manual focusing really changed, for the better, how I think and make my photos. B&W conversion in NIK Silver Efex Pro in Adobe LR and PS CC.
  • christian.mosskov.net/500px
  • Mark Of Excellence
  • Judges Comment
  • This is a lovely surreal image with a personality we know, in a city we recognize. But the setting is interesting, like a movie played on rewind. The familiar feeling coupled with the very unfamiliar reality makes us interested and make us look again.
  • Photographers Comment
  • First of all I would like to congratulate with the winner Benno Riffel. It's a great, emotional image. Thanks to the Judges for selected my photo as Mark of Excellence. I'm very proud you chose me. My Name is Mattia Zaldini and I'm Italian photographer. It was Monday morning and the city was waking up faster. I was attracted by the spirit of NY and by the Man that was running. I framed to have one of the most seeing symbol in NY and I played with shadows and lights. The photo was made in NYC during a summer trip using a Leica M 240 and Summilux 35
  • www.mattiazaldini.us
  • Mark Of Excellence
  • Judges Comment
  • Maybe a moment that will change their life forever, in the midst of a casual party where many things happen at the same time. Most of it may be forgotten the day after, but this may be a decisive moment. We like the contrast of the light and dramatic shadows and how the people are thrown into the picture, yet very clear to view as small individual stories.
  • Photographers Comment
  • Many thanks for this Mark of Excellence! Many congratulations to the winner, a captivating image. I am Keith Lloyd Davenport, from Scotland, currently studying MA Documentary Photography at University of South Wales, Newport. The image was taken on night out with a friend in Bridgend, South Wales, near closing time with my trustee go everywhere with me Ricoh GR digital.. Post processing was in LR5.
  • www.lloydffoto.com
  • Mark Of Excellence
  • Judges Comment
  • Experienced hands captured reading an old book with the perfect light and tonality, with the black framing it. Very nice work!
  • Mark Of Excellence
  • Judges Comment
  • Grown-up men that seem to enjoy the snow as much as children, in a interesting setting and where the snow is part of the dramatic tone. Love it!
  • Photographers Comment
  • Hi, My name is Sungsoo Lee , Street photographer from South Korea , residing in Calufornia. This picture was taken at Larung Gar , Tibetan buddhism monastery in China, 2014. Though it is April, there are rapid changes in weather due to the high altitude(13,000ft). Stormy clouds had suddenly advanced on the clear sky, and thick hail began to rain down. Thankfully, the hail soon softened into snow. The monks are hurrying along their way, hoping to get out of the snow. Nikon F6 , 50mm f1.8g , Fuji provia 400X - B&W converting in LR5 , 2014. Thank you again for awarding two pictures in this competition.
  • www.sungsoolee.com
  • Mark Of Excellence
  • Judges Comment
  • This is an instant intense photograph. You notice within a fraction of a second how determined the main subject is, and how short time he has to make his determination into reality. Well captured, very simple and effective despite the difficult circumstances and the speed involved.
  • Photographers Comment
  • Photography by: Mohammed Riyad Location: Foltita, Fakirhat, Bagerhat, Bangladesh Camera: Nikon D4 This is my enormous pleasure and ultimate honor to be rewarded as "Mark of Excellence". Through this photograph, my intention was to reflect the keenness of human desire to win and I think I was lucky enough for this particular moment where the focused character was the winner and the light, motion, emotion, rain drops- all the elements were present to make the photograph more dramatic.