2006 Winter Contest
Toasting/Speeches
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1st Place: Stephen Loh from Singapore, SingaporeJudges Comments
Great faces and excellent framing of the central figure in the crowd made this one a clear standout. Nice use of a longer lens in a situation where most photographers reach for the wide lens. Love the girl in the back with the hair up in the air….a nice touch.
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2nd Place: Jessica Johnson from Michigan, United StatesJudges Comments
Graphic design always works when content becomes hard to find. The lights add a second element of pizzazz to the picture – I think if the photographer would have used a bit of fill flash to get some light in the one face looking down the picture would have been just a bit better.
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3rd Place: Sean McLellan from Tennessee, United States -
4th Place: Michael Faas from Colorado, United StatesJudges Comments
The photographer did a great job of being in the right place when the moment unfolded.
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5th Place: Sean Flanigan from Washington, United StatesJudges Comments
The expressions and the careful use of focus especially on the groom make this work so well
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6th Place: Paul Johnson from Florida, United StatesJudges Comments
This photo has such a lovely feel. It feels so unobtrusive, like we are just one of the guests at the table. I can appreciate the challenge of having to shoot a toast at a big table like this but the photographer did a wonderful job of bringing us there to that wonderful moment. Excellent use of muted and subdued colors adds to the quiet brilliance of the photo.
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7th Place: Hun Kim from Washington, United StatesJudges Comments
Very simple but dynamic composition. The emotion is captured well and the hand gesture of the groom mixed with the whisper make for a magical moment. The champagne glass partly obscuring the groom's face adds a certain tension as well
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8th Place: Michael Faas from Colorado, United States -
9th Place: Tony Cabrera from Illinois, United StatesJudges Comments
I loved the fact that the photographer kept his/her eye in the viewfinder and his finger on the shutter and stayed with this shot after what most would consider the peak action. It is not a perfect photo, but it is a damn good try.
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12th Place: John Santerre from Maine, United StatesJudges Comments
The gesture and the faces make this work so well as does the photographer's low angle, looking up
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13th Place: Stacy Sodolak from Central Texas, United StatesJudges Comments
Just fun. She looks truly happy and the picture captured the moment.
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14th Place: Bill Getty from Maine, United StatesJudges Comments
As she is completely blurred, I'm not sure how the bride would regard this photograph. However, I love the rich texture created by the blurring that serves as background to the champagne toasts
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Judges Comments
Pros: The story in the image is heightened by the subject's isolation and the obvious way he is practicing. Cons: Though tilted horizons can add something, not so here. I would have used the dark curtains to the left and right to set up outer borders where the main white space ends, where the subject stands alone.
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16th Place: Brett Carlson from Illinois, United StatesJudges Comments
Everything comes together perfectly in this classic toast picture. The setting is perfect, the moment of the kiss is sincere, the body language is great on the couple and there is a great expression on the speech giver. Everything is there….nailed it!
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Judges Comments
Excellent composition and use of the glasses to frame the subjects
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18th Place: Bradley Hanson from Washington, United States -
20th Place: Matt Adcock from Quintana Roo, MexicoJudges Comments
I just imagine when the bride looks back at this photo; tears will always well up in her eyes. The framing and lens choice are excellent. You don't need to see the reaction from the couple….you can see it in the father's eyes. Very nice.
