Server Crash [news]
We would like to apologise for a server crash which caused our latest album, Love, to be reset. We have restored the names of all the entries, however we were unable to restore the comments posted on this album since Sunday 29th August 2010.
We are very sorry for the inconvenience and taking steps to ensure that this does not occur again.
The Photography Ashes
Winner of Birds Theme - Pete Hanysz [news]
Once again we congratulate Pete Hanysz on his winning shot, this time “Robin in Winter” in our last “Birds” theme.
Pete achieved a tack-sharp shot here with the robin excellently placed in the frame and a fantastic barren background which accentuate the colours of the subject.
(...)
Winner of Clouds Theme - Pete Hanysz [news]
Congratulations to Pete Hanysz for his winning shot "Ferry to the City" in our last "Clouds" theme.
The shot was taken in NZ across Auckland harbour from Devonport to the city. The clouds have fantastic depth in the photograph and almost appear to stretch out from the city. With the shades of blue, a beautiful composition of clouds and a picturesque scene to compliment them, this is a wonderful shot all round (...)
Winner of Metal Theme - Mayukh Chakraborty [news]
Congratulations to Mayukh Chakraborty for his winning shot "Metal Craftsman" for the "Metal" theme. This is a fantastic bleak and mysterious shot of a metal worker welding in the darkness. The photo oozes concentration and intensity. (...)
Winner of Performance Theme - Gaylord Mink [news]
Congratulations to Gaylord Mink who stole the show this week with his stunning action shot, "Hitting a High Note" in the "Performance" theme.
Snapped at a live performance in Seattle, Gaylord has brilliantly captured energy and passion of the concert, whilst negotiating the technical minefield of capturing crisp action shots in low light conditions. Moments like these are over in the blink of an eye, we think think Gaylord did brilliantly to capture this shot.
Gaylord will now choose the title of the next theme which will be published here in the near future. (...)
Winner of 3 Theme - Dr.M.Rangarajan [news]
Congratulations to Dr.M.Rangarajan for his winning shot, "Three Bubbles" for the theme "3"!
A wonderfully original interpretation of the theme which brilliantly captures the fragile motion of the bubbles as they float across a back yard.
The bubbles also provide an interesting effect as they contort the background as well as reflect parts of the surroundings which are out of view. Dr.M.Rangarajan has therefore chosen the next theme which is published here. (...)
Winner of Still Life Theme - Pete Hanysz [news]
Votes are in for the most recent theme, "Still Life" and congratulations to Pete Hanysz for his winning shot, "Pinks on Black"
"Pinks on Black" was photographed on black silk with a little tweaking in Photoshop. An amazingly simple yet powerful still life scene, contrasting a delicate desaturation of the stalks with the natural colour of the flowers to emphasise the wonderful pinks.
Pete has once again shown that a keen eye, a good subject and attention to detail are often the key ingredients to a photograph that stands out and remains memorable. (...)
Winner of Age Theme Pete Hanysz [news]
A huge congratulations to Pete Hanysz from the United Kingdom for his winning shot "100!" This is Pete's third win on the Photography Ashes and he is certainly proving to be a force to be reckoned with.
"I was asked to photograph this lady on her 100th birthday. I used available light with fill in flash. The image didn't need much editing apart from blending in the background with the chair and slight airbrushing to the face."
I am a member of Cannock Photographic Society, a club for camera enthusiasts in the midlands. The club meets on a weekly basis for lectures and have monthly competitions reviewed by external judges. I recommend anyone, with a keen interest in photography, to seek out their (...)
Winner of Work Theme - Pete Hanysz [news]
Congratulations to Pete Hanysz for his winning shot "Blind Busker" in the previous theme, Work. This is Pete's second win in a row and it seems that he will be a tough one to beat! Pete kindly submitted some background to the shot:
The "Blind Busker" is the result of an image shot in an Auckland street market, in the spring of 2009, during a visit to New Zealand. The gentleman was part of a busking duo but the original photograph was far too cluttered, so I used a tight crop, blurred the (...)
Winner of Red Theme - Pete Hanysz [news]
Congratulations to Pete Hanysz from the United Kingdom for his winning shot "U.S War Vigil" for the theme "Red". The image captures the mood brilliantly with the red poppy serving to provide subtle contrast without detracting from the subject matter at hand.
Pete has kindly sent in some background to his shot:
"The photograph was taken on a visit to an American WW11 cemetery in Normandy last autumn, using a Nikon D80 fitted with a Nikon 18 - 200 VR lens. It is a crop of a much larger picture. The man in the bottom right of the frame is a friend of mine who just happened to wander off and sit down to rest (as he is awaiting an operation on his knee). He had no idea I had taken the shot. The image was desaturated and (...)