ICM Challenge - September 2023 - Reflections - 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.

Reflections The reflections challenge is now complete. I absolutely love photographing reflections using the ICM technique. It is possible to bring a very fluid feel to an image with ICM and reflections that blurs the boundaries between where the subject finishes and the reflection starts. Sometimes, the reflection alone is adequate and very beautiful.

For the first time, I have judged this challenge. I hope this is not a disappointment to those who enter! I have judged the images on their attributes, not the individual who made them. I always save them straight away against a number, and have deliberately waited a while before judging them so I have virtually no idea who has made the images. And as a bonus, and way to help you understand my choices, I have written a small piece of feedback for each of the top 10. There is no extra ‘Charlie’s picks’ in this challenge.

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 – Debbie Christie Judge’s comments I have chosen this image as the winner of the challenge because I felt it had everything I was looking for. A strong reflective element, super use of the ICM technique, and an intrigue that made be keep coming back to it. The colours, composition and balance are super. The ICM has softened the reflections to make the edges softer and more fluid. Beautiful image.

Runner up - Maureen Stuart Judges comment This image grabbed my attention for all the right reasons. I love the reflective element within the image. It’s not trying to dominate the image, and is beautifully balanced with the edges of the canal water. The ICM movement has almost created a stippled effect, which suggests to a whisper in the trees. The colour is lovely, especially as green is my favourite colour – but the more you look at this image, the more greens you see. Super image.

3rd place

Reiner Heisel Judges comment A very clever use of light, ICM and reflections for this image. I love the way that the ICM movement has created patterns with the lights, almost sculpting structures that dance across the top of the water. The colour palette is really gentle and reminds me of all the precious metals – bronze, silver and gold. The composition and control of light is also great.

4th Place

Janne Ruud Ostby Judges comment This image reminded me of a Gaudi painting. I love how it makes me look, and look again to see if I can figure out what it is that I am looking at. Sometimes the intrigue can add to create an image that holds your attention for longer. The ICM has softened the already curvy lines.

The simple muted colour palette adds to the ease of looking at this image for longer.

5th Place

Steve Knight Judges comment This image captured my eye for its contrast and colours. I love the way the strong ICM image has been combined with the sharp element of the twigs sticking up out of the water. The combining of the elements has been done really well. It feels like there is a rainbow cascade in the background, then the twigs offer your eye somewhere else to move to in the image.

The balance between reflection in the water and the non-reflection is great as well. I love how smooth the ICM lines are.

6th Place

Joy Tracey Judges comment I picked this image in my top 10 for its subtle reflective beauty. At first glance you may not even notice the reflection, but the reflection is the light onto the breaking waves. I love how my eye follows the lines zig zagging up through the image. The dark horizon adds a story to it all. The ICM movement has brought a very peaceful and harmonised feeling to this image.

7th Place

Miriam Manners Judges comment I love the simplicity of this image. I also love how I cannot tell where the reflection starts and ends, because of how the ICM movement has joined reality and reflection together. A super composition – simple and balanced. I love the blue and gold colours and how light and dainty the whole image feels.

8th Place

Angie Robertson Judges comment Another take on the reeds and reflections. This time, I loved it for the effect that the ICM has created. It is almost like it is a wax crayon drawing. The whites of the reeds are a beautiful gentle contrast to the colours in the reflection. I like the square crop, as it adds to the abstract feel of the image. The pastel colours don’t compete with the ICM subject matter and the whole image has a lovely harmonious feel to it.

9th Place

Valerie Huggins Judges comment This one I picked for my top 10 as it’s a really interesting interpretation of reflections. I love that it is the wet paving slabs that are offering the surface on which to capture the reflective element for this challenge. The ICM adds a softness and almost dulls the otherwise wet and busy feeling that being out in the rain brings. It makes me think of the song ‘dancing in the rain’ as the movement seems fluid and almost floating. The pop of colour has lifted this whole image.

10th Place

Anne Kleff Judges comment Ten out of ten for managing one of the hardest (I think….and so do most of you) ICM subjects – animals, and bringing it into an ICM challenge not just for that subject. I love the effect the ICM has brought to the image, softening the feathers so I almost feel how soft they are by looking at the image. The reflection is lovely and I feel the composition and exposure are super.

The other entries

Annabel Foot

Michelle Jackson

Birgitta Larsson

Lorraine Grey

Moy Calverley

Federica Morgan

Christine Griffiths

Jaana Kotoneva

Morina Reece

Barbara Kato McKenzie

Mary Seddon

Dawn Westwood

Ania Rolinska