Winner Chosen - August 2009 - Admin's choice - Image of the month

**Marko** · 09-07-2009 03:00 PM

Hi members,

In case you are new around here this is where the Admin (me) chooses one excellent photo each month from the Show forum, the critique forum and the assignment forum to talk about and suggest why it is good as a learning tool. Just so it's clear, the photo I choose is not necessarily the best one of the month. I've come to realize it's not really logical to pit images from totally different genres against each other. That's why there are categories in photo contests. My goal is to simply choose an excellent photo and talk about why I think it rocks.

I have spent several hours going through every single thread from August 2009 from the Show forums, the assignment forums and the critique forum....and it's getting harder and harder to choose one image.

This month's choice is The Four Tier by Dwayne Oaks

I chose this image for several reasons. Firstly, it's straight up gorgeous and I'd hang it on my own wall. It is a very well composed shot and I can see both the effort in getting and processing this shot. The choice of a slow shutter speed matched with excellent post processing really make this image work. The composition is very well done here; the image 'moves' from left to right and our eyes naturally follow this motion. The exposure here is also excellent and many of the shadowed tones are successfully revealed in some fine exposure and post processing work. I like that the highlights are scattered throughout the shot and I like the multiple focal points within the shot. I also very much like the mood here - It has a slightly 'darker' mood and this appeals to me and compliments the image. The selective focus (likely achieved in post processing) is really well done here with nice balancing of sharp and unsharp elements.

For all these reasons, this is my choice for image of the month.

Since we all have opinions, some members may disagree with my choice. That's cool but THIS thread is not the place for debate over my pick, NOR is it the place to further critique the image. The purpose here is to suggest strong elements in the photo that we may learn from.

Congrats again Dwayne for creating this beautiful image!