We had an absolutely fantastic response to our April competition themed on the unprecedented lockdown situation in which we all find ourselves.
IOP Students gave us a wide range of excellent shots to choose from, some directly interpreting the brief and others providing more visual metaphor for lockdown.
When choosing the winners and highly commended photographs, we tried to represent those who were shooting subjects only available to them at home or in the garden as well as those who interpreted the brief creatively and thoughtfully.
WINNER – Leanne Suttle
Great photography not only represents a moment in time but creates and captures a mood and that is beautifully illustrated in this image. In some ways, it is depicting the mundane. It is simply a teenager in a house. Yet, the framing of the subject, the composition and the rich tonal range give this a depth and intrigue that enthrals the viewer. Our subject is imprisoned, he looks pensive, a captive. It evokes in us feelings of loss and sadness as we reflect on what freedoms have been taken from us in the last six weeks.
SECOND PLACE – Claire Hammond
We love this shot by Claire. Firstly, we very much appreciate the amount of effort and time she has taken to arrange this still life, which is an art form in itself. Getting the right composition is a real challenge and Claire has done an excellent job in choosing the objects in the frame. From the books which give us food for thought, to the nod to family and freedom as well as a hint of her hobbies paints a rich picture. Professionally taken, well thought out and right on brief means this shot takes a well-deserved second place!
THIRD PLACE – Julie Gardner
We had many macro entries and perhaps unsurprisingly, insects were a common theme as people spend more time in their gardens. We chose to award this shot third place because it is well taken and well-composed but also is an interesting visual metaphor for the lockdown situation. We all hope to be like the subject, emerging from our places of safety so that we can resume a normal life again.
HIGHLY COMMENDED SHOTS
The standard of entries was extremely high this month and we had a really difficult time choosing the winners. All of these photographs had artistic merit and/or were created with a high degree of technical skill. Thank you to everyone who entered this historic competition. Perhaps generations will view your images in the future as an interesting historical record of unusual times!
