to Margaret Soraya for judging the Water challenge. I’ve been a follower of Margaret’s work for some time now, and I love her approach towards photography as well as her actual images. Margaret is pioneering a creative weekend this year in the autumn, embracing creativity from all angles, not only with the camera, and I am delighted to be offering workshops and a presentation at the Creative Light event in October. This year tickets were barely released before they were sold out, so if you missed out this year, I encourage you to keep an eye out for the 2023 addition!
As always, I am delighted and really appreciate the outside judges input into the judging of these challenges, so please go and have a look at Margaret’s website
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.
the Creative Light event https://creative-light.co.uk/
Ihttps://quietlandscapes.buzzsprout.com/createdthisICMchallenge,toofferafriendly
From mid-July to early December, 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:
And last but not least, Margaret has a wonderful podcast that I encourage you to listen to and sign up to receive all the latest conversations with various creatives
Points 1-10 are awarded for the top 10 placings each challenge. (1st place gaining 10 and 10th place 1)
So, the ‘water’ challenge is complete, and once again a brilliant turnout from all of you who submitted. Some really lovely interpretations of the concept water and each challenge I’m seeing a few of you stepping outside of the box with your submissions, and I love to see this. Remember even if the judge does not reward you with a placing, if you are brave enough to submit something you love, you have already won on a personal level and I am really proud of Manyyou.thanks
Morehttps://www.margaretsoraya.com/infocanbefoundhereabout
A bonus 5 points are awarded to each of Charlie’s top 5 each challenge. In December there will be an online awards evening, with some small prizes, and to celebrate everyone’s achievements.
A point is awarded to every entrant to say thank you for submitting.
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 Charlotte@charlottebellamy.comPleasehttps://www.youtube.com/c/CharlotteBellamycreativephotography/videoschannelemailwithanyquestionsorcomments
Malcolm Brown ‘A weir in Cambridge to stop the River Cam flooding’
Many congratulations to the winner of this challenge.
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.
Birgitta‘AbstractLarssonsea’ 3rd Place Sue‘Cascade’Woodbridge
4th Place Emma Jane 5th Place Barbara Kato McKenzie
Federica Morgan 7th Place ‘Drowning’Huggins
Valerie
6th Place
8th Place Marion Woodman 9th Place
Camilla Rutayisire Gore
Debbie Christie
10th Place
The other entries
Daniela de Rosa Sue KennethWhiteMeijer
Colin ChristineSmithGriffithsMichelleJackson
Christina Webb
Angie Robertson
Jaana Kotoneva Lyn RostronCarol
Sinclair
MaryTraceySeddon
Martina McEnroe Joy
This image stood out for me for its wonderful colour contrast palette. I also love the contrast in the textures – the straight lines vs the soft curves. It’s an image that offers depth and interest throughout. It has a slight Chinese feel to it with the shapes that run through it – a really well put together multiple exposure with ICM.
Now if you were looking for your image in there and it was missing, there is a reason – You are in this section.
I really appreciated Margaret judging the ‘Water’ challenge for me, but in addition to her placing I also wanted to award my own top 5. One you will see appear chosen by us both, but the rest were completely different choices – and that reflects how we each enjoy and perceive art in different ways. Congratulations to Barbara for making top 10 and top 5. Congratulations to Mirriam, Kim, Gunilla, and Amber for their top 5 placing here. My top 5 are not in any specific order – so all these images have been awarded a bonus 5 Startingpoints. this challenge though, I am going to add a little bit of feedback on why I made my choices, as I think it is really interesting for you to see what I see. For me, images that speak to me and grab my interest are those that will make my top 5- but you will see from my comments on each – all for very different reasons.
Charlie’s top 5
Mirriam Manners
Kim Stevens
Gunilla Steen
Capturing a whole scene with ICM on the coast is tricky. Getting the balance of sky, sea and land is a challenging choice, and then matching the ICM movement so that this all works together in harmony is not easy. This image has a feel of an old painting, with the slightly muted colours. The ICM has added a softness to the wild seas, which is reflected in the sky above.
The minute I saw this I felt like I was being enveloped in a beautiful and calm, but energising experience. The rich colours are super and I love all the variations from the yellow through to almost purple. The textures and ICM movement are super and the eye is drawn beautifully to the darker point of focus.
Amber Burton
This image is a super example of how ICM can create something very unique. The light, and colours and movement in this image are all very subtle, but it is one that I would hang on my wall and enjoy. I see bronze, silver and gold shimmering in the dark. The balance, composition and control of exposure and colour is super and this image is well deserved in my top 5 and top 10
When I saw this image, it made me smile. I could hear the water of the stream bubbling and rushing by. I just love the contrast between the foreground green foliage and the grey water behind. Again, a challenge to balance both these elements in one ICM image, but this has been brought together well and the image has depth and quiet energy.
Barbara Kato McKenzie
