Last night was the final round of POTY 7 which was themed Environmental Portrait and saw some quite excellent images.

02 (40) Ben – Steve Pears Scores 15.83 9 19 I 5.21 3 7 C 5.21 T 5.14

He seems cheery, his face is well lit – maybe a tad too much considering it’s a grey sky?
Sharp everywhere except on person when zoomed in. Need to focus on face

03 (42) Bob – Dave Varnham Scores 13.38 9 17 I 4.47 3 6 C 4.33 T 4.53

Could do with more concentration on the subject as the person is small in frame, needs cropping and processing, especially on face
Also Dog is slightly cropped, Whole dog or no dog please

04 (28) Bratwurst Boys – Graham Townsend Scores 17.69 10 22 I 6.07 4 7 C 5.67 T 5.73

was taken at Birmingham Christmas Market, 28/11/16. It was really dark. 1/400 f3.2 ISO 400. Overall a bit dark, benefit from dodging and burning on faces but well captured moment expression on middle man makes it.

05 (6) Caught In The Act – Paul Steans – HELD BACK

06 (9) Caught In The Buffers – Ken Chesterman – HELD BACK

07 (9) Coffee Break – Isobel Chesterman – HELD BACK

08 (33) Emerging From The Dive – Alan Wardropper Scores 17.25 12 21 I 5.86 4 7 C 5.43 T 5.86

The divers expression makes i. A little out of focus on his right arm – the sharpness seems to be on the bottles in the front.  Nice image but not much of the subject as lots of equipment and not much portrait

09 (6) Fire Eater – Julie Holbeche-Maund – HELD BACK

10 (25) GCR Loco Driver – Steve Bexon Scores 17.83 10 23.5 I 6.04 4 8.5 C 5.57 T 6.07

Driver is too clean would have helped to see just a bit more train to give the environment

11 (25) Green Braids – Peter Lawrance Scores 17.83 14 22 I 6.5 4 8 C 5.79 T 5.57

The young lady with green hair was walking in London and as you can tell from her expression she was really pleased that I was taking loads of photos of her. Eyes need to be a little sharper and a squarer crop would have been nice.

12 (27) Haute Cuisine – Peter Lawrance Scores 17.75 13 21 I 6 4 7 C 5.86 T 5.79

The Food seller was in Camden market and decided that I must have been hungry as I had stood in the same position by his stall for so long.
Nice image although top half of face a little dark, eyes not sharp

13 (36) Just Popping Out – Gary Wood Scores 16.85 12 21 I 5.53 4 7 C 5.73 T 5.53

Needs more dodging and burning to improve tones

Street band in St Ives, Cornwall. Taken on a iPhone 4S. Drain was removed, background darkened, lamppost signs made less distracting in Photoshop also the image was squared up.

Might have looked better without the lamp post – but made me smile

15 (8) Lady In Waiting – Julie Holbeche-Maund – HELD BACK

16 (23) Latin Dance Competition – Chantal Cooper Scores 18.08 12 24 I 6.3 4 8 C 5.93 T 5.83

The dancers are beautifully clear. Difficult to crop because of background but possibly a better angle or zoom when taking photo as the adults are distracting-crop to just above their knees

17 (1) Master Mason – James Botterill – HELD BACK

18 (38) Missing Person Search Briefing – Debbie Lowe Scores 15.92 10 19 I 5.5 4 8 C 4.93 T 5.29

Too many people which causes the middle person to be obscured. Lacks eye contact from anyone

19 (14) Mr G – John Smith Scores 19.85 15 24.5 I 6.7 5 8.5 C 6.67 T 6.47

Darken to right of ice cream van

20 (4) Mr Valet – James Botterill – HELD BACK

21 (41) Persimmon Workers – Roger Leck Scores 14.46 10 19 I 5 4 7 C 4.73 T 4.73

Bloke in the centre, whatever is in his hand is very distracting, looks like a scratch. Unbalanced. They appear to posing in an ideal position so why squash them at the edge of photo

22 (35) Preparing To Launch – John Denny Scores 17.13 12 22 I 6.04 4 7.5 C 5.5 T 5.57

RNLI lifeboat crew getting ready for training launch at Tenby, Wales. Background separated and levels adjusted, background people (4) removed, some writing removed, glare on visors and highlights edited.
Can’t see faces. Fluorescent lights are too bright. Don’t need the left hand side, needs dodging and burning to get rid of bright lights and enhance people

23 (37) Protecting Richard III – Debbie Lowe Scores 16.79 12 23 I 6.07 4 8 C 5.54 T 5.29

Shame about the onlookers as figures in background are distracting – and the feet missing from the subject – otherwise very emotive. Could be sharper, person at front too dark, lighten and raise clarity. Windows overexposed

24 (16) Putting The Kettle On – Ian Waite Scores 19.67 14 30 I 6.46 4 10 C 6.86 T 6.68

Nice effect. Needs details enhancing and some work on the mono tones to give more impact

25 (21) Re-enactment Indian – Roger Leck Scores 18.73 13 23 I 6.5 4 8 C 6 T 6.13

Right side too bright either step to the right and recompose which would also help to remove distracting stick on left. Or in post production could have been improved by a squarer crop cropping from the right, tone down highlights on person.

26 (24) Rescued Baby Badger – Chantal Cooper Scores 17.88 14 21 I 5.97 4 8 C 5.93 T 5.93

Background too bright

27 (42) Return Of The Coach – Andy Freeman Scores 13.38 10 17 I 4.6 4 6 C 4.6 T 4.2

looks very blurry to me, Poor focus. Too much empty space. Nothing looks sharp, crop off left side

28 (22) Salman – Steve Pears Scores 18.42 14 23.5 I 6.14 4 8 C 6.18 T 6.14

That’s one way to cut your toe nails. Square crop may work better?

29 (39) Sausages And Bacon – Dave Varnham Scores 15.85 12 19 I 5.6 4 8 C 5.07 T 5.13

It would have been better if Carl was facing the camera. Could be improved with a little cropping and details and colours enhancing.

30 (32) Say Hi To The Peaky Blinders – Al Simms Scores 17.33 13 26 I 6.07 4 9 C 5.96 T 5.61

Love the eye contact. Needs dodging and burning. Guys face is soft so losing detail

31 (30) Spit And Polish – Andy Freeman Scores 17.38 12 22 I 6.07 4 8 C 5.53 T 5.73

His face looks out of focus (might be me), Plane in focus, person isn’t losing detail in face, Sky is too bright

32 (11) Stable Girl – Graham Townsend Scores 20.42 13 26 I 6.77 4 9 C 6.87 5 9 T 6.67 4 9

(Perhaps stretching the theme a bit here as it is really a studio portrait, but she is in a stable 🙂. Perhaps skin tones could be improved on face as a little flat

33 (13) The Barber – Paul Steans Scores 20.17 14 28 I 6.89 4 9 C 6.71 5 10 T 6.68 4 10

Nice image, could have a bit less of the mirror frame on the right. Personally – I’d have liked to have seen a bit more of the lower face, Lighten the shadows a little on barbers face? Shame the customers head isn’t all in the picture

34 (30) The Corner Shop – John Smith Scores 17.38 14 26 I 6.3 5 8 C 6 4 9 T 5.43 3 9

Great image, but a lot of noise.  Crop in slightly from left

35 (18) The Horse And Jockey – Phil Mallin Scores 19.33 14 25 I 6.39 5 8.5 C 6.61 4 9 T 6.36 5 8

The Horse and Jockey- Phil Mallin Taken on location whilst a friends’ son was in training to be a jockey. Crop in slightly on left

36 (18) The Last Check – Alan Wardropper Scores 19.33 14 25 I 6.61 4 8.5 C 6.75 5 8.5 T 6 4 8

3Nice image.  Portrait very small in overall picture so hard to see detail

37 (29) The Proprietor – Gary Wood Scores 17.54 13 21 I 5.9 4 7.5 C 5.77 4 7 T 5.8 4 7

Probably the processing but colours tones look a bit flat, person looking away so no eye contact, Would have like the subject to be looking at the camera. Would have like to see the full shop name

38 (15) The Stoker – Ian Waite Scores 19.71 14 23 I 6.64 5 8 C 6.43 4 8 T 6.46 5 8

Image sharp overall but face loses detail when zoomed in

39 (2) The Sweeps Work Is Done – Al Simms – HELD BACK

40 (17) Up In The Air – Ken Chesterman Scores 19.5 13 24 I 6.43 4 8 C 6.64 4 8 T 6.29 5 8

Probably more impact in colour or colour popped

41 (5) Waiting For The Whistle – Steve Bexon – HELD BACK

42 (12) Will This Do – Isobel Chesterman Scores 20.38 16 28 I 7 5 9 C 6.82 5 10 T 6.79 5 9

06 (9) Caught In The Buffers – Ken Chesterman Scores 20.46 16 25 I 6.93 5 8 C 6.79 T 6.75

A bit more of the environment would have been nice. Lost detail on top of head, benefit from dodging and burning. Is he happy he’s in the photo? Is the bottom left corner grainy or is it me?

06 07 (9) Coffee Break – Isobel Chesterman Scores 20.46 15 26 I 6.82 5 9 C 6.75 T 6.89

was taken in Coventry Town Centre. Face skin tones could be improved, darken bag but otherwise works well as a monochrome image

15 (8) Lady In Waiting – Julie Holbeche-Maund Scores 20.75 13 29 I 6.64 4 9 C 6.89 T 7.25

Taken in a Victorian style house. Lighting set to High Speed Sync so that the outside could be seen. Love the lighting. Face soft and needs dodging and burning to improve mono tones

05 (6) Caught In The Act – Paul Steans Scores 21.29 14 27 I 7.21 5 9 C 6.96 T 7

Those eyes are amazing! They jusy hold you and draw your focus. Cute picture, square crop works well. Well captured pose

09 (6) Fire Eater – Julie Holbeche-Maund Scores 21.29 12 29 I 7.07 3 10 C 6.75 T 7.36

Taken on a lake on an estate. Joel wanted to have an image of him on a burning boat. Lighting set to High Speed Sync. Just after this shot, Joel jumped into the water and forgot that he was filming himself on a GoPro at the front of the boat, which caught on fire and melted.
Well captured, reflection adds. Found the little grey flecks distracting, but really loved the power of the picture. Can’t see much face detail

41 (5) Waiting For The Whistle – Steve Bexon Scores 21.79 15 27 I 7.18 4 9 C 7.14 5 9 T 7.36 5 9

That face has a story to tell. Great image, works well in black & white

20 (4) Mr Valet – James Botterill Scores 22.31 14 26 I 7.43 5 9 C 7.27 T 7.3

Inside of van a bit dark

43 (3) Wood Maiden – Phil Mallin Scores 22.92 18 29 I 7.46 5 9 C 7.57 6 10 T 7.96 6 10

Taken in Harts Hill Hayes Nuneaton, using lighting set to High Speed Sync.

39 (2) The Sweeps Work Is Done – Al Simms Scores 23.75 15 27.5 I 7.64 5 9 C 7.71 5 9 T 8.04 5 9.5

Mono processing handled well with good tones

17 (1) Master Mason – James Botterill Scores 24 15 29 I 8.2 5 10 C 7.53 T 8

STRIKING! Perhaps crop in slightly from the right. What’s the smoke about, it doesn’t fit

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01 (36) A Winter Walk – Debbie Lowe

Scores 16.65 12 21 I 5.32 3 101 C 5.89 4 112 T 5.42 3 103

This image as strong impact due to use of portrait orientation and strong verticals provided by the trees which are the framing element.

Composition is good but main subject i.e. the person is quite small would a tighter crop would be better? Looks soft. The footprints add a nice leadin element.

Technically there looks to be a blue colour cast on snow and trees so a minor adjustment to the temperature and saturation

02 (39) Ashby Canal – Debbie Lowe

Scores 15.76 9 21 I 4.95 4 94 C 5.47 4 104 T 5.26 5 100

Impact again comes from the strong framing element

But compositionally poorer as I find I first follow the canal rather then the tow path so miss the people who would have worked better if they were approaching rather than retreating.

Technical colours are a bit dull but light handled well as sky isn’t burnt out.

This has resulted in the brickwork being a bit dark. Could possibly lift shadows to get more detail in walls.

Cropped too tight to the horizonal bridge walls.

03 (20) Ashby Castle In The Frame – Ken Chesterman

Scores 18.5 12 25 I 6.06 5 109 C 6.39 4 115 T 6.06 4 109

Matches theme well but hasn’t got the impact of the previous 2

Compositionally title implies main subject is the castle but that’s cropped by the framing element

Technically this time the sky is burnt out better processing needed to improve background detail and bright areas, Could use more contrast

Frame within a frame but recession hindered by darker wall in centre perhaps lighten this and darken far wall leaving figure lighter as somewhere to lead the eye.

Multiple framed capture – good spot. Maybe lower the brightness beyond the far wall as eye drawn to upper windows though.

04 (18) Baddesley Clinton Sculpture – Isobel Chesterman

Scores 18.56 13 24 I 6.22 3 112 C 6.39 4 115 T 5.94 5 107

Impact from the bright frame but green of frame overpowers tree

Compositionally Lone trees all though small work well normally but this is spoilt by the converging frame verticals.

Technically Bright frame and dull background and its believed to be a composite image as light looks wrong and there’s a tell tale selection issue at the top

05 (37) Behind The Five Baa Gate – Peter Lawrance

Scores 16.44 10 23 I 5.44 4 98 C 5.78 5 104 T 5.22 4 94

Good framing idea but lacks impact. Compositionally good

Technical Don’t like texture and BW conversion, and spoilt by being too bright on LHS with strong shadow on right

06 (21) Bosworth Tree In The Frame – Ken Chesterman

Scores 18.38 15 23 I 6.06 2 109 C 6.17 3 111 T 6.22 3 112

Impact from colour but appears a little oversaturated,

Compositionally good framing element leads you to subject although its upstaged by the background trees. But the frame has no top

Technically has Nice pastel autumn colours and a natural frame but feels rather flat although sharp throughout and strange hazy bits at the edges

07 (34) Burbage On The Horzion – Alan Wardropper

Scores 17.13 11 22 I 5.89 4 106 C 5.56 3 100 T 5.61 4 101

Impact from Good bright colours, nicely natural frame..

Composition Road in the foreground is distracting Could have cropped the road out a bit and cloned the rest of it out.

The subject in the frame is very distant so difficult to hold interest.

Technical Looks like an imported sky. Too warm and oversaturated, strange greens hues and false sky colours

08 (6) Carla In White – Phil Mallin

09 (2) Cathedral Cove – Julie Holbeche-Maund

10 (22) Como From Varenna – Ian Waite

Scores 18.19 12 26 I 6.22 4 112 C 6.06 5 109 T 6 5 108

Impact comes from the pillars RH pillar very dominating and the lack of the top of the arch diminish impact

Compositional The frame is the subject, not “In the Frame” Three frames but none have a good view due to angle of image

Technical oversaturated

11 (8) Cromer View – John Smith

12 (4) Driving Home For Christmas – James Botterill

13 (12) Fairest Of Them All – Graham Townsend

Scores 20 12 28 I 6.89 6 124 C 6.22 6 112 T 6.89 5 124

Great idea. Good image The chair provides a second frame to the mirror and the contrasts of white against the richer leather and skin tones is excellent.

It’s an ‘In The Frame’ competition yet the main subject and composition area is not in a frame

It’s more about the part that’s not in the frame? Perhaps needed right half cropping out as legs are too dominant.

Marked down because the frames around the mirror don’t have a top.

Strange angle possibly better lower and no books showing and she has lost her feet. Also I thought the frame should be natural?

Unbalanced image

14 (16) Finely Balanced – Alan Wardropper

Scores 19.5 13 25 I 6.61 4 119 C 6.11 4 110 T 6.72 5 121

Face too close to edge, top of frame chopped off, for this competition was hoping to see a complete frame

Good image, the skin colour need to be constant,

Same comments as last outing, great pose but ideally would have had more space on left and less on right.

Sharp image but unfortunately the model isn’t framed.

Too much shadow

15 (27) Hill House – Steve Pears

Scores 17.75 9 22 I 5.89 5 106 C 5.83 4 105 T 5.78 4 104

Hill House is a unique building, interiors and collection by Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh.

The Hill House is ‘dissolving like an aspirin in a glass of water’ according to the National Trust for Scotland.

To protect the Hill House, National Trust Scotland has embarked on a pioneering conservation programme.

The first stage was the construction of the Hill House Box, a protective steel frame structure covered in a chainmail mesh designed to

protect the house from the rain. This is to allow the walls to dry and prevent further damage.

Certainly a dominating frame but very busy.

IMO would have been better taken from a distance and if possible under more interesting and contrasting lighting to illuminate the house slightly.

Grey sky, frame and house a bit too much.

I’d prefer only one side of it.

Unusual! What’s going on here? What’s the story?

Well spotted but too busy and cluttered for me for ‘In the Frame’

16 (13) Icebound – John Denny

Scores 19.94 9 26 I 6.5 6 117 C 6.67 6 120 T 6.5 5 117

Nice composition, interesting image Winter shot with subtle colours. Some interest in the sky

Composition would improve with both sides of the bridge in shot yet someone else felt left side and top need cropping to make more of the framed scene

Would have liked more contrast to give depth to image.

17 (15) Ironbridge – Chantal Cooper

Scores 19.88 9 25 I 6.63 5 126 C 6.47 6 123 T 6.47 5 123

Impact from Great sky although it does look over saturated

Compositional Liked this but kept getting drawn to roof of building caught in frame of bridge. A few steps to right would possibly have improved this.

Think could have cropped off the river and removed the greenery bottom right. Or got a bit lower and to the right to get all of the house within the frame of the bridge.

Technical A bit oversaturated, scene in frame not very interesting and bottom right corner is distracting. Sky looks odd.

Good sky replacement, but reflection is the wrong way and Chromatic aberration visible in the bridge.

18 (30) Kingswear – Ian Waite

Scores 17.56 8 21 I 5.67 5 102 C 5.5 4 99 T 6.06 5 109

Image is more about the arch that the view through the arch A bit less wall and a bit more scene would improve this?

Compositional As with previous images a couple of steps to right would have put boat in the frame and improved image a great deal.

19 (1) Mesa Arch – Phil Mallin

20 (5) Mirro Lake – Julie Holbeche-Maund

21 (26) Old Climbers – Dave Varnham

Scores 17.82 13 22 I 5.84 4 111 C 6.26 4 119 T 5.68 3 108

Different type of shot and frame works well. Nice group image but Let down by subjects almost exclusively looking away from image taker.

Presumably at someone else taking the same shot. Could have lifted shadows of figures at the rear of shot.

22 (40) Old Doors In Marble Frame – Roger Leck

Scores 15.69 10 24 I 5 5 90 C 5.39 5 97 T 5.44 5 98

Door is completely framed but needs to be vertical and not the most interesting of doors

Shame the doors are closed would have worked better with someone in the door way

Would have benefitted from more dodging and burning and keeping all of top brackets in the image.

A simple shot like this needs something in the contrast and colouring work to keep the audiences interest.

23 (25) Old John In The Frame – Isobel Chesterman

Scores 18.13 13 21 I 6.17 3 111 C 6 2 108 T 5.83 3 105

A well found shot with good leading line of path towards Old John.

Good composition but Old John needs to be stronger in picture as the frame and interest is really only RH side of image.

Again the frame doesn’t seem complete?

Appreciate the interest in the branches on right but might have been better cropped into portrait.

Could be improved with some dodging and burning and saturation, especially Old John which is the framed subject

24 (13) Pigeonholed – John Denny

Scores 19.94 14 25 I 6.78 3 122 C 6.61 3 119 T 6.5 5 117

Simple but effective., The title made me smile.

Better as a square crop with cute pigeon in the centre of image

Good detail in the pigeon, Sharp head on bird and good eyes with an interesting frame.

As the Pidgeon is so shallow perhaps crop into portrait removing the out of focus rocks which appear very dominant in image.

25 (30) Ready For The Day – Steve Bexon

Scores 17.56 9 23 I 5.89 5 106 C 6.06 6 109 T 5.44 4 98

A very moody BW contrasty image captures the Atmospheric conditions of the scene which is often taken from the other side of engines.

But from this angle the bridge provides the framing element

Very sharp but IMO a little to dark but this may have been authors considered intention.

Some thought Trains too dark, sky too light

26 (9) Roach End Barns – Steve Bexon

27 (33) Snowy Out – Gary Wood

Scores 17.18 6 24 I 5.74 6 109 C 5.84 6 111 T 5.37 6 102

A bit over bright in the centre.

Brightness contrast nicely with the darker area under the bridge. Like the contrast of the colours close to camera with the mono outside.

Details lost in bricks around top half of bridge due to removing too many shadows, background sky area needs darkening a little

I didn’t spot the snow at first.

Prefer other shot of this as this image seems rather too overworked in an attempt to get colours on brickwork and undergrowth on left.

Shame sky is just big bright spot. (But snowy skies are like that)

Some cloning done to left leaving smudges and to left hand side of the bridge roof is smudge.

Twigs across distant tree are distracting

28 (41) St Just In Roseland – John Smith

Scores 15.38 6 20 I 5 4 90 C 5.17 5 93 T 4.94 5 89

Greater depth of field needed

Nicely framed by the overhanging tree leaves and the water. Green cast & Oversaturated?

Possibly a few steps to right may have included more of end of church. Whole image quite soft and over processed IMO.

The composite has issues the leaves at the front creating the frame are false.

And some greenery has been added at the back and the colouration at the front does not match the image at the front.

Too warm and oversaturated, green hues look wrong. Frame only in corners, missing at the top

29 (7) St Mary De Castro – Andy Freeman

30 (17) Stags In Waiting – Chantal Cooper

Scores 19.12 12 28 I 6.58 5 125 C 6.05 5 115 T 6.58 6 125

good capture of some good looking stags with the main three looking towards camera.

Good shot but where’s the frame?

I like the way the photographer has created his own frame or emphasised what is already their.

Maybe wrong but looks like parts of the frame has been added and not very well

Wonderful shot of the stags but if this was framed by trees it is lost in what appears to be heavy vignette.

IMO in another competition this would be a much more successful image

31 (42) Stonebridge Lake From The Hide – Andy Freeman

Scores 15.13 9 19 I 5 5 90 C 4.78 4 86 T 5.22 4 94

Different style of image which is really just hinting at the view, which is mostly hidden by the hide! Inevitable graffiti which can be read if you want to.

A very heavy frame partially obscuring what looks to be beautifully coloured setting.

Would possibly be improved by shooting slightly closer to frame and having top, bigger opening dominant and therefore including more background.

Crop away a lot of the excessive frame.

Lake too obscured by plank of wood, the graffiti distracted me a little.

This is the frame, not in the frame

This pic is all about the bar, not the view beyond

32 (24) Summer – Gary Wood

Scores 18.18 10 24 I 5.84 4 111 C 6.05 5 115 T 6.16 5 117

A better image than the snowy one?

A contrast to image Snowy Out in that this is a different time of year so now the colour is outside rather than under the bridge.

Nice colours with good sky interest.

Can see more brick detail this time but strange colours in framed part of image and fence at front blocks the view

This is same view as pic 27, what a difference the weather makes. Could still open shadows up

What’s the subject?

Works better than other image from this spot as there is now somewhere to walk out of the frame

33 (28) Sunrise From Under The Pier – Al Simms

Scores 17.69 8 22 I 5.94 5 107 C 5.67 4 102 T 5.78 5 104

Good letterbox crop nice wide frame

Nice coloured sun rays through the clouds. Could be either sunrise or sunset.

Not obvious that it’s under the pier but is still framed uniformly.

Not very interesting. nothing sharp in image, strange colours for sunrise

34 (35) Sydney Model In Window Frame – Roger Leck

Scores 17 10 20 I 5.56 4 100 C 5.61 4 101 T 5.61 3 101

Not very interesting, would be better square. Need to balance amount of brick work

would have left a bit more brick on the right or taken a bit off the left.

Pretty shot presumably lit from inside. Unbalanced frame but maybe there was a distraction to the right side of frame.

Someone else’s artwork model in a frame. Badly cropped

The frame is IMO to modern and uninteresting for the image and could have been cropped.

I appreciate that this was how figure was placed but if possible could have moved her to left in the frame increasing void on right rather than left.

35 (11) Tempting – Peter Lawrance

Scores 20.13 15 29 I 7.11 5 128 C 6.61 4 119 T 6.61 6 119

Good connection with the shopkeeper. Interesting colourful objects but not sure what relevance to products.

Maybe should have shot slightly to the right and lower to get all of the wording on the sign and included all of the shopkeepers hat?

Well spotted colourful image, hope the author bought something. Perhaps slightly wider frame at edges if available to match top

36 (22) Tower View – Graham Townsend

Scores 18.19 9 24 I 6 5 108 C 5.83 5 105 T 6.17 5 111

36 Good balance of lighting and positioning to just get all of tower within the frame.

36 Nice frame and lighting held quite well. DOF could have been deeper as the frame is now dominant factor.

A slightly different viewpoint would have included all the tower and it could then have had verticals corrected and

which is main attraction in images which is the main

Nice image but too tight in the frame

Not a bad composite but the edges of the window frames need a bit of TLC

Perhaps a little less frame would have enhanced the scene more

37 (37) Venus De Medici – Paul Steans

Scores 16.44 9 20 I 5.39 4 97 C 5.5 4 99 T 5.33 4 96

A record shot that unfortunately has wrong DOF and frame itself is only partially well lit and soft on RH. Needs better cropping and processing

38 (10) View From The Grotto – Paul Steans

39 (3) Waiting For Santa – James Botterill

40 (19) Why Cant I Come – Daniel Wood

Scores 18.53 9 30 I 6.32 7 120 C 6.26 7 119 T 6.05 7 115

Certainly looks like the dog has a sad expression. Narrow depth of field forces the viewer to look at the dog.

Eye not in focus

Less is more. The close crop and mournful eye says more than a whole head shot.

Very nice photo. Simple but effective.

41 (43) Wintery – Al Simms

Scores 15 6 24 I 4.83 6 87 C 5.28 6 95 T 4.89 6 88

Good idea using a wire fence to frame the shot. Makes the viewer feel cold, as it should, because of the impression of a windy snow shower.

Good, different idea for a frame and B/W works well. Stark frame goes well with start landscape beyond.

Greater depth of field needed, not very interesting

Not sure about this one.

42 (29) Wolf Run – Steve Pears

Scores 17.63 10 25 I 6 4 108 C 5.94 6 107 T 5.67 5 102

Nice idea of framing a competitor but the person doesn’t convey the effort that a wolf run would require.

Novel idea although main protagonist soft compared to parts of the frame.

Think I would have cropped out the Wolf Run at the top to make the photo square.

43 (32) Workmen – Dave Varnham

Scores 17.29 10 23 I 5.53 3 105 C 5.84 5 111 T 5.84 5 111

Frame is obvious but subject matter not interesting IMO. If men had been facing camera would have improved greatly.

Lucky it rained and got a reflection in the puddle.

One man to dig the hole, one to point where the post needs to go and another to make sure they are both doing it properly. Good framing of the workmen with nice contrasting colours of their work clothes against the green of the field and wood behind.

Reflection in puddle is distracting

Tunnel does take you to workmen, puddle adds extra element of interest

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38 (10) View From The Grotto – Paul Steans

Scores 20.25 14 27 I 6.83 4 123 C 6.72 4 121 T 6.72 5 121

Great detailed frame but rather dominant but good clarity to back of image and lighting handled well on rocks.

Well spotted composition, needs a bit more dodging and burning on framed scene

26 (9) Roach End Barns – Steve Bexon

Scores 20.31 15 24 I 6.78 3 122 C 6.72 3 121 T 6.72 3 121

Nice view through the window with good depth of field. Nice layering of distant hills

Good location with in keeping frame. Lighting handled well on frame.

Good tone map /HDR, fringing on the trees.

But Left barn too close to the frame

11 (8) Cromer View – John Smith

Scores 20.38 12 28 I 6.89 6 124 C 6.72 5 121 T 6.72 5 121

Impact from the very atmospheric image The sky really adds to this image. The sort of framed view you would enjoy looking at.

Compositional second framing element is distracting would prefer it if it was cropped to show the one frame with the pier end only.

Lots of interest, ice picture but better if taken from higher position as beach detail cut off.

Technical Soft over processed background but frame sharp. The muted colours of pier and sky would be enhanced by reducing saturation of bright boats in the foreground slightly IMO.

29 (7) St Mary De Castro – Andy Freeman

Scores 20.44 13 25 I 6.72 4 121 C 6.89 4 124 T 6.67 4 120

Nice composition, interesting image, Good depth of field and nice lead towards church. Like the different textures.

Good frame the arch provides excellent frame to nice receding image.

Nicely processed image and lucky to have no parked cars. Needs a distant focal point on the empty road, could clone in a person, dog or cat?

The arch perspective on the left does not feel right 🙁

Would have liked more of top of arch in shot and also some more recession in image through darkening road and church slightly.

Couls have worked on RH verticals.

08 (6) Carla In White – Phil Mallin

Scores 20.56 13 28 I 6.5 5 117 C 6.94 6 125 T 7.11 6 128

Framing element is very subtle so impact from from subjects face

Good idea but don’t like the soft skin effect which loses detail

Technical Lovely contrasts of tones and a soft rather than hard/dark frame a nice contrast to other images.

Compositional would tighter crop would have improved it ? Might have taken a bit off the bottom. Not much though.

20 (5) Mirro Lake – Julie Holbeche-Maund

Scores 21.81 13 30 I 7.22 6 130 C 7.22 6 130 T 7.33 5 132

Great natural framing with clouds, Interesting reflection

Like the different bands of colour. Clouds and branches force viewer into the centre of the image.

Lovely light and nice, natural frame. Shame there wasn’t a way, without getting wet of capturing part of tree frame in reflection.

Not much of a frame but it works for this image

12 (4) Driving Home For Christmas – James Botterill

Scores 22.94 17 29 I 7.84 3 149 C 7.53 4 143 T 7.58 5 144

Another nice staged photo which uses the frame to draw your eyes straight to central character giving impact.

Cute image. Nice idea and well taken. Atmospheric background fits the image.

Good composition, depth of field is not consistent with the car and background.

Technical Lighting has been engineered very well despite some burning out bottom RH.

Could possibly lose the moon / sun in the sky as it distracts a little?

39 (3) Waiting For Santa – James Botterill

Scores 23.18 17 29 I 7.68 4 146 C 7.68 3 146 T 7.79 5 148

A frame within a frame and a very well captured look on model looking out through frame

Another nice staged photo. Frame cut off at top, bright light on top right

Good composite, depth of field lets the image down and the fact that the girl is too sharp.

Lovely photo. Possible put together in photoshop??

Nice lighting on the hair

Nice use of frost to frame model as well as using window frame, nice light on hair

Nicely constructed image. Well thought out. Dark reflection surrounding the child emphasises her light skin. Good lighting on her hair to show off the colour.

09 (2) Cathedral Cove – Julie Holbeche-Maund

Scores 23.81 16 30 I 7.67 5 138 C 8.17 5 147 T 7.89 5 142

Impact from the string natural frame and colours. Shape of far rock mirrors the opening

Nice composition great landscape which fulfils brief very well. Epitomises ‘in the frame’ from a pure art point of view.

Technical like the long shutter? Swirling sea timed well to get just enough water in the gap. Darken the left hand cave wall slightly

19 (1) Mesa Arch – Phil Mallin

Scores 23.88 15 30 I 8 5 144 C 7.78 5 140 T 7.94 5 143

Lots of interest and nice colours, Amazing light. Well taken and processed classic Arches image

The frame is the image for me. The subject rather a large slab of rock.

Could you have move left and lower slightly to enhance gap between arch and scene

Of course this can’t be changed. Excellent clarity from edge to edge of image.

Technical Brilliant view. Excellent lighting underneath the arch.

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