Photoblog Challenges : Results #15

This week on Photoblogchallenges, the winners are Spectrum for Best of 47 (11 Nov – 17 Nov), Shaker for Theme 47 : Rainy and Pictografio for Technique 23 : HDR.Congratulations!

Celine and I are permanent guest judges and since the middle of the year we switched the roles a little. She has to pick one favorite from the winning pictures and I have to pick several “non-winners”. Each week I will try to shed some light on some of my choices.

• For Best of 47 (11 Nov – 17 Nov): This week I picked Pictografio with the polish aviation museum. I think it’s a nice architectural shot and being of polish ascent  it spoke to me too. I also picked Rue Du Lavoir for taking us in a factory without anybody. It has a quiet feel to it, almost abandoned. I finally picked up Weib for a very expressive cow with a nice processing.

• For Theme 47 – Rainy:  I’m glad that Shaker, Boxman and Mittened Hands are the 3 big winners this week as they each have a different approach to the theme. I picked Deja for a great action shot, Ellebelle  for the sharp droplets and Xerraire for risking her life in this downpour and still getting a nice shot.

• For Technique 23 – HDR: I do believe that HDR is a big divide in photography. You have those that can’t live without it and those that wouldn’t even consider it.  For me HDR has it’s ups and downs but most importantly it needs to be subtile. That’s the reason why I picked Frances and Shaker. They bring wide range of colors and details.

My pick of the week is Deja for Theme 47 – Rainy. I can really visualize what the experience must have been with the bikes roaring in the mud. This shot takes me in the middle of the action and without the rain it would be a completely different shot.

By Sebastien Grobelny

Photoblog Challenges : Results #13

This week on Photoblogchallenges, the winners are Spectrum for Best of 45 (28 Oct – 03 Nov), Maboe for Theme 45 : Yellow Petals, Klaus Neuner for Technique 22 : People in B&W and Rue Du Lavoir for Monthly Project 10 : Fall. Congratulations!

Celine and I are permanent guest judges and since the middle of the year we switched the roles a little. She has to pick one favorite from the winning pictures and I have to pick several “non-winners”.

Each week I will try to shed some light on some of my choices.

• For Best of 45 (28 Oct – 03 Nov): I loved the cute birds from Vaido and the simplicity from Twiggy. I picked Mittened Hands for a very dynamic composition, Rue du Lavoir for a majestic paper lion rendition,  Shaker for a splendid light and a shell full of potential and promises and finally Tede for an acrobatic snail.

• For Theme 45 – Yellow Petals:  I picked Ben for a delicate yellow flower, Larans for inviting us to a such intimate moment of life and Vaido for an outstanding flower very well displayed.

• For Technique 22 – People in B&W :  I loved the joyfulness of the winning baby from Klaus Neuner. I picked the very focused in-action portrait from Deja and this intimate stolen moment from Rue Du Lavoir. Wish I could be able to capture such happiness.

• For Montly Project 10 – Fall: I picked Harmonie for a great range of fall colors and Shaker for the variety of his fall subjects

My pick of the week is Shaker for Best of 45 (28 Oct – 03 Nov). I really like the light in this shot and the details, but more than anything I like how this shot is a starting point for a bigger story. Is it high tide? Low Tide? Is the shell hiding or emerging?

By Sebastien Grobelny

Photoblog Challenges : Results #11

This week on Photoblogchallenges, the winners are Spectrum for Best of 43 (14 Oct – 20 Oct), Rue Du Lavoir for Theme 43 : Begins with “H” and Twiggy for Technique 21 : Free Lensing. Congratulations!

Celine and I are permanent guest judges and since the middle of the year we switched the roles a little. She has to pick one favorite from the winning pictures and I have to pick several “non-winners”.

Each week I will try to shed some light on some of my choices.

• For Best of 43 (14 Oct – 20 Oct): I loved the expression in Spectrum‘s and Deja‘s pictures and am glad they are among the winners. I picked Fotochuk for a powerful black and white, Pictografio for a great moody shot with a nice contrast and Xerraire for a delicate shot of a beautiful bird.

• For Theme 43 – Begins with “H”: I love Batman and am really happy to see he’s the greatest hero and the winner of this challenge. I liked the Heron from Tede, the Hogweed from Ellebelle, the Hare from Day One but I settled in the end for the Hawk of Joel Schilling

• For Technique 21 – Free Lensing: If have a soft spot for heroes and action figures among others. That’s why I naturally picked up the action figure from Shaker.

My pick of the week is Joel Schilling for is sharp view of the hawk for Theme 43 – Begins with “H”. I love a good bird picture!

By Sebastien Grobelny

Photoblog Challenges : Results #9

This week on Photoblogchallenges, the winners are Spectrum for Best of 41 (30 Sep – 06 Oct), Boxman for Theme 41 : Straight lines, Deja for Technique 20 : Macro of metal and Larans is the big winner for the Monthly Project 09 : Photo Hunt . Congratulations to them!

Celine and I are permanent guest judges and since the middle of the year we switched the roles a little. She has to pick one favorite from the winning pictures and I have to pick several “non-winners”.

Each week I will try to shed some light on some of my choices.

• For Best of 41 (30 Sep – 06 Oct) : I picked Orchard for a very joyful portrait and Xerraire for a beautiful silhouette with great colors.
  

• For Theme 41 – Straight lines : I picked Deja, Remus for the vibrant red and beautiful light and Shaker for the dynamic composition and a great title.

• For Technique 20 – Macro of metal: I picked Ellebelle for the repetition and the great metallic feel, Love2b because I’m a sucker for rust and textures and Wanderungen for a picture full of symbolism.

• For Monthly Project 09 – Photo Hunt: This project was slightly different from others and I was able to pick freely one picture as my favorite in each of the 5 categories. I picked Twiggy for the apple category for a tasty shot full of textures, Larans for bridge for a stunning light and great composition, Love2b for red for a great light and a vibrant red, Shaker for street for a nifty effect and Day One for “any” for a picture with a lot of story behind.

My pick of the week is Deja for Theme 41 – Straight lines. I love the pattern and the abstract feeling of that shot.

By Sebastien Grobelny

Photoblog Challenges : Results #7

This week on Photoblogchallenges, the winners are  Wanderungen for Best of 39 (16 Sep – 22 Sep), Mittened Hands for Theme 39 : Night Photography and Larans for Technique 19 : Water Droplets.

Celine and I are permanent guest judges and since the middle of the year we switched the roles a little. She has to pick one favorite from the winning pictures and I have to pick several “non-winners”.

Each week I will try to shed some light on some of my choices.

• For Best of 39 (16 Sep – 22 Sep) : I picked Deja for a great composition and a very flashy electric color, Orchard for a very peaceful zen picture and Tapio for a great nostalgic shot full of history.
  

• For Theme 39 – Night Photography : I loved the tender picture from Mittened Hands and the magical sky from Vaido and am glad they were among the winners. I picked My Glass Eye and Thorgun for a beautiful reflection of a magical castle.

• For Technique 19 : Water Droplets : I loved that Larans was able to integrate a foreign object within the shot. I picked Red Rock for playing with the colors and the liquid and Twiggy for the cool optical effect well mastered.

My pick of the week is My Glass Eye for Theme 39 – Night Photography. I love the management of the colors and the lights trailing off. Since he joined us 3 weeks ago, Owen has put good submissions after good submissions. Really curious to see his next takes.

By Sebastien Grobelny

Photoblog Challenges : Results #5

This week on Photoblogchallenges, the winners are Mittened Hands  for Best of 37 (02 Sep – 08 Sep), Harmonie for Theme 37 : Candles and Ruimnm for Technique 18 : B&W High Key.

Celine  and I are permanent guest judges and since the middle of the year we switched the roles a little. She has to pick one favorite from the winning pictures and I have to pick several “non-winners”.

Each week I will try to shed some light on some of my choices.

• For Best of 37 (02 Sep – 08 Sep) : 10 votes were not too much this week as I loved a lot of submissions. Mittened Hands was in my preferred due to its great memories of childhood. I also liked Shaker very much  for giving us some last thoughts of summer. I picked Different Sensations for all his blue, Joel Schilling to bringing me back to the majesty of Bryce Canyon National Park and Remus for its festive feeling.
  

• For Theme 37 – Candles : I felt this subject very intimate. I picked up Deja for being different and original, Shaker for a very moving focus, Steve Rice for showing us a bit of culture from down there and Tapio for an heavenly flare.

• For Technique 18 : B&W High Key : Another challenge where it was very difficult to pick favorites. I picked Day One for her beautiful flower, Deja  for a very cute picture that makes me smile and Different Sensations for a very creepy picture that makes me cringe but is very good and on point.

My pick of the week among the winners was the submission for Best of 37 (02 Sep – 08 Sep) by Different Sensations. This picture is in fact the work of Giacomo, Walter’s son.  Giacomo is 3 years old. I really loved the peacefulness and zen of this picture.

Picture by Walter’s son, Giacomo, 3 years old

By Sebastien Grobelny

Photoblog Challenges : Results #3

This week on Photoblogchallenges, the winners are Remus for Best of 35 (19 Aug – 25 Aug), Deja for Theme 35 : One Flower and Xerraire for Technique 17 : Sun Rays.

Celine  and I are permanent guest judges and since the middle of the year we switched the roles a little. She has to pick one favorite from the winning pictures and I have to pick several “non-winners”.

Each week I will try to shed some light on some of my choices.

• For Best of 35 : Decisions were tough this week. I picked Hapzydeco for the fresh look on these cute birds, Klaus Neuner for the very expressive look of his dog and Leovi for his crystal clear fresh shot. 
  

• For Theme 35 – One Flower : I really liked the poetic touch from the ladybug in Ben’s shot. I picked Buntscheck for the very dramatic processing, PhotoLeoGrapher for a sharp view of an orchid and Rye Du Lavoir for a delicate shot once more.

• For Technique 17 – Sun Rays : The submissions were amazing an it took me the 2 weeks to decide who to vote for. You should really check this challenge out! I picked Monica and Pictografio as their sun rays were the major actor in their dramatic shots.

My pick of the week among the winners was the submission for Technique by Twiggy. It’s always a pleasure to see Twiggy‘s submissions as she is very creative and has a great eye.

Photoblog Challenges : Results #1

This week on photoblogchallenges,  congratulations are in order for Treur, Fototopia and Rue Du Lavoir winners for Best of 33 (05 Aug – 11 Aug), Theme 33 : Begins with “F” and Technique 16 : Macro of insects.

Celine and I are permanent guest judges and since the middle of the year we switched the roles a little. She has to pick one favorite from the winning pictures and I have to pick several “non-winners”.

Each week I will try to shed some light on some of my choices.

• For Best of 33 : I particularly liked the submission from Treur for the great silhouette and Tapio for the adventures of his ladybug. I picked Deja for his intriguing macro, Leovi for a sharp fresh abstract,  Light Impressions for a very detailed flamingo with amazing colors and Remus for a puzzling work in Black and White.

• For Theme 33 – Begins with “F”:  Treur and Joel Schilling had great frog renditions with amazing details and I’m glad they were picked. I picked the flower from PhotoLeoGrapher for the great use of the depth of field and a very fresh green. My second choice was Red Rock Photography with a splendid field.

• For Technique 16 – Macro of insects : I’m really amazed by the level of details from Rue Du Lavoir and pretty envious. This challenge was the first for Lena Ericsson and her delicate butterfly is among the winners. Welcome to Photoblogchallenges Lena! I picked Thorgun and her bumblebee for the details (look at the pollen!)  and Twiggy for making a creepy crawler look beautiful!

My pick of the week, among all the winners would have to be Rue Du Lavoir for is macro of insect. Here it is.