ICM Challenge - July 2023 - Lines and angles - Charlotte Bellamy Photography

Welcome to the seventh of the 2023 ICM challenge publications. After last year’s massive success, I have decided to organise once again, an annual ICM challenge for my creative group.

I created this ICM challenge, to offer a friendly competition within the creative group I run for all previous course attendees and mentee students. It is to encourage interaction in the group and to offer a reason to share or make photos in reaction to a prompt. Each month in 2023, a new challenge subject will be set in the group. It may be interpreted however an individual wishes, but the ICM technique must be the overriding element in the image. I have chosen an outside judge for each challenge to offer a wide variety of feedback and varying outlooks on ICM photography.

This is a cumulative competition: • Points 1-10 are awarded for the top 10 placings each challenge. (1st place gaining 10 and 10th place 1) • A point is awarded to every entrant to say thank you for submitting.

In December there will be an online awards evening, with some small prizes, and to celebrate everyone’s achievements.

Lines and angles The lines and angles challenge is now complete. I set this challenge because I use lines and angles a lot in my ICM photography, and I think rather than a specific subject sometimes, a concept is fun to work with as well. Working with or against the lines in a composition when using ICM can yield some varying results. Learning the ways to work with different lines and angles and the results can be a really valuable learning experience to build your skills on.

Once again, a wonderful selection of images submitted, congratulations to all that entered, and as always, a wonderfully diverse range of results for our wonderful judge to look through.

This challenge the entries were judged by Justine Ritchie. I met Justine last year in Scotland.

After hearing about her personal journey to move to and rebuild a cottage on the side of a loch with no access, running water or electricity I was in awe of her. I was then lucky enough to take part in a forest bathing workshop that she organised on the retreat. It was an amazing experience and beautifully led. Justine experiments with ICM, and I love the simplicity and purity of her work.

Do please go and check her work out, and follow her and let her know if you took part in the challenge.

Please go and check out her website and Instagram pages https://www.justineritchie.com/ https://www.instagram.com/justine.ritchie/

If you are interested in online or in person courses, please check out my website for more info www.charlottebellamy.com I also have a You tube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/CharlotteBellamycreativephotography/videos Please email with any questions or comments Charlotte@charlottebellamy.com Copyright remains with each of the photographers, please do not save in anyway the images from this document.

Without further ado – I would like to introduce you to your winners. Congratulations to the top 10.

Winner – Annabel Foot Judge’s comments The multitude of both curved and angular lines of the built environment along with the lines and curves of the solitary human form have been blended together well and show good use of the icm technique. This image tells a story with the lone figure creating a striking contrast to the vast architectural space filling the frame.

Runner up Anne Kleff Judges comment This reminded me of the Fibonacci spiral and golden ratio - drawing the eye and leading the viewer deep into the image. The use of the icm technique has blended a lovely palette of colours and created a dynamic and striking photograph. As well as the eye catching curves, the photographer has managed to blend in both both lattice and fan patterns which add to the geometric appeal of this image.

3rd place

Jaana Kotoneva Judges comment The lines and angles embedded in this varied green palette draw the eye and there is a seamless softness to the image. The painterly effect using a vertical pan has been well controlled creating a multitude of triangular shapes and curved outlines of the foliage.

4th Place

Tommy Chronholm 5th Place

Mirriam Manners

6th Place

Steve Knight 7th Place

Angie Robertson

8th Place

Janne Ruud Ostby 9th Place

Ania Rolinska

10th Place

Mary Seddon

The other entries

Moy Calverley

Lorraine Grey

Michelle Jackson

Camilla Rutayisire Gore

Birgitta Larsson

Barbara Kato McKenzie

Morina Reece

Christine Griffiths

Federica Morgan

Malcolm Brown

Joy Tracey

Sue Woodbridge

Dawn Westwood

Debbie Christie

Charlie’s picks This year I am going to pick a selection of images out of the challenge after the judging is complete – so these images will never be the same as the top 10. I just wanted to have the opportunity to recognise even more of the beautiful images. There is not a set number each month, so some months you may see more in this section than others, especially if I agree with the judge on all their choices! These images all achieve a bonus 2 points.

This month’s images are:

Lou Sayers I love this image, and have picked it here, because it’s a bit different from the rest – I love how Lou has found lines and angles in nature. The ICM movement is delicate and holds the lines of the grasses, and I love the light and the black background.

Valerie Huggins The colours of this ICM are super. I love the intricacy of this image – the longer you look at it, the more you see. The diagonal lines, triangles and flow of the image are super and the ICM gives it a sight veil of mystery.

Maureen Stuart I have chosen this as one of my picks, because I love how strong the vertical lines are in the avenue of trees. Then you get to the gate at the end with its spindly iron bars. Finally, the beautiful diagonal lines of the road edge. I could feel as though I was there and I think the ICM adds a lovely softness to the image.

Reiner Heisel This image reminds me of a spider’s web. I love how the lines have been kept very clear, but slightly smudged with the ICM movement. That movement almost creates shadows on every line from dark through light. The whole image gives you so much to look at.