Every month on our photography forum members nominate images that they like. Then at the end of the month I choose an excellent image and talk about why it rocks. 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. I just choose a photo that has extremely strong elements that we can learn from.

The Peace Bridge - At Last! by JAS_Photo

This month’s choice is (click to see the larger version of this image)  The Peace Bridge – At Last! by JAS_Photo

I chose this image for several reasons:

1 – Composition – This is a very strong composition and the bridge itself acts as a fantastic leading line. It guides our eye beautifully into the image. In addition, aside from the shape of the bridge itself, there are also other “mini-shapes” in the bridge itself as well as all around the image. These other mini-shapes add a lot of interest to the image.

2 – Tones and post processing – The bridge itself is selectively coloured in this image and I like that very much in this case. I feel it works and offers a new take on what is likely a heavily photographed piece of infra-structure. For me it suggests ‘something new’ being introduced into a city. The desaturation of the background compliments the bridge and really makes the bridge pop.

3 – Story and perspective – This bridge is still a work in progress and we can see a crane in the background that suggests this. We see the bridge “moving” toward the background which suggests to me something new being introduced to something older. The angle or perspective from which the image was taken was very well chosen to suggest this story.

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 JAS_Photo for creating this wonderful image!

Every month on our photography forum members nominate images that they like. Then at the end of the month I choose an excellent image and talk about why it rocks. 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. I just choose a photo that has extremely strong elements that we can learn from.

Fight Club! by Lizardqing

This month’s choice is (click to see the larger version of this image) Fight Club! by Lizardqing

I chose this image for several reasons:

1 – Timing/Decisive moment. You gotta have a quick trigger finger to catch a moment like this or you will miss it. We’ve all missed fab opportunities like this, or misframed opportunities like this; good on Lizardquing for this fab capture.

2 – Composition – I really like the composition here. It is especially impressive given the speed needed to catch this image. I really like the faun at the right side as well as the position of the trees.

3 – Exposure/lighting/colour – Exposure looks very good here and could easily have been missed given the lighting. Good choice of shutter-speed to keep things fairly sharp but still reveal motion in the deers’ front legs. Lovely colour palette as well. The lighting is wonderful in this image, good on Lizardqing for being there early enough to capture.

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 Lizardqing for capturing this wonderful moment!

Every month on our photography forum members nominate images that they like. Then at the end of the month I choose an excellent image and talk about why it rocks. 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. I just choose a photo that has extremely strong elements that we can learn from.

Autumn Web by Richard

This month’s choice is (click to see the larger version of this image)  Autumn Web by Richard

I chose this image for several reasons:

1 – Planning and execution – This striking image is the result of planning, it didn’t “just happen” and it wasn’t a quick snap. The lighting, comp and post-processing are all well thought out here. The result is a striking moody fall image.

2 – Composition – details – postprocessing – Lovely rendered details like the spider as well as the spider’s web all contribute to the composition here. Spider is framed nicely between the red leaves and against the backlight. The postprocessing including the vignette and possible selective sharpening are guiding our eyes thoughtfully without distractions.

3 – Lighting – Mood – Backlighting is a challenging light to deal with, but Richard balances it well with off camera flash. The end result is an image with a lovely mood that would likely have felt too dark without the added light.

4 – Selective focus – A wide aperture is well used here to get the dreamy background bokeh. It adds another ‘layer’ to the image.

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 Richard for creating this striking image!

Every month on our photography forum members nominate images that they like. Then at the end of the month I choose an excellent image and talk about why it rocks. 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. I just choose a photo that has extremely strong elements that we can learn from.

My Little Friend by Wicked Dark

This Month’s choice is  (click to see the large version of this image) My Little Friend by Wicked Dark.

I chose this image for several reasons:

Sharpness – It’s difficult to get this level of sharpness when doing macro work and the sharpness on the crawler here is wonderful and very striking! On the opposite end the background out of focus elements also work well to isolate the primary subject.

Composition – All eyes are on the bug here and this is due to good composition with almost no distractions. The curved part of the crawler is well seen due to the comp and the diagonal branch at right act as a frame and helps keep our eyes on the most important element.

Colour/Lighting – The image busts with colour due to shooting in softer light along with some (likely) processing to enhance the greens.

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 Wicked Dark for capturing this striking crawler.

Every month on our photography forum members nominate images that they like. Then at the end of the month I choose an excellent image and talk about why it rocks. 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. I just choose a photo that has extremely strong elements that we can learn from.

Today's Calla Lillies by Ernst Ulrich-Schafer

This month’s choice is Today’s Calla Lillies by Ernst Ulrich-Schafer.

I chose this image for several reasons:

Composition – Composition here is very pleasing to the eye! Diagonal stems from bottom left guide the eye to the focal point of the image which are the flowers’ interiors. The shapes of the flowers themselves are wonderful and wonderfully placed in the image. The flowers even create quite an interesting negative space due the contrast against a black background.

Lighting and Post-processing – Lovely lighting here shows off the flowers very well. The lighting is softish but doesn’t look oversoft. Shadows are well controlled here with the deepest blacks being the background itself. This helps the flowers “pop” big-time against that background. Post-processing is also well done here with lovely details in the whites. If I have one nit, I’d nix the black frame as this changes the overall perspective of the flowers making them look smaller. That said, I know Ernst put it there 100% on purpose and it works for him.

Tonal quality – I really like the monochrome (light sepia to my eye) quality of this image. Monochrome really helps show off the strong shapes of these flowers, as well as give them a nostalgic feel.

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 Ernst Ulrich-Schafer for creating this wonderful image!

Every month on our photography forum members nominate images that they like. Then at the end of the month I choose an excellent image and talk about why it rocks. 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. I just choose a photo that has extremely strong elements that we can learn from.

Urban Eagle by Michaelaw

This month’s choice is Urban Eagle by Michaelaw.

I chose this image for several reasons:

Story and composition – The title Urban Eagle tells it all and the awesome background imagery of a bridge and cranes make the story more compelling. Themes and subthemes abound in shots like this and I really enjoy that. The eagle is well positioned in this shot that had to be composed super-quickly. The background elements (bridge structure and cranes) are also very well placed in the shot.

Degree of difficulty – timing/decisive moment – This is no easy shot to get. The timing, (just look at the lovely frozen open-wings) the focus, and composition have to be very well synced and Michaelaw did an excellent job.

Sharpness – The bird’s feathers are really sharp and the eye looks quite sharp along with some lovely background bokeh.

Colour and post processing – Both are well controlled to create this very striking image with a lovely ‘cool’ colour palette that totally suits the image. If it were my shot I may have burned in the rear white wings a bit and dodged the face a wee bit but that’s it.

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 Michaelaw for capturing this wonderful scene!