Judges Comments

I am sure that I have mentioned this in the first judging that I did for WJPA, but its worth saying again. Howard Chapnick was the owner of the photographic agency Black Star and a great editor (and my mentor for a lifetime). Howard used to look at a photograph (they were photographs in Howard’s day, not images) as a collection of elements. Action, composition, emotion, timing, yes focus too were some of these elements. If one element was strong, perhaps the others didn’t matter, but generally a combination of strong elements combine to make a prize-winning photograph. This photograph has both composition and timing.

This is just a great picture. I’m glad the photographer shot this from the child’s eye level. The family will treasure this.

I have no idea what's going on, but the boy's innocent but mischievous expression as he stands on the bride's dress and the saint's disapproving glance from his painted vantage point made me smile.

This photo really works. A great moment, great expression on the child on the wedding dress. The man’s legs on the right balance with the painting of the guy looking at the boy. It all just works.

Judges Comments

This is beautiful use of color, texture and perspective. The photographer did a good job taking a chance with something different than the usual "money shot." A slightly tighter crop all the way around the couple would have made it pop even more and added to the abstraction.

This is an excellent photograph. The angle works so well with the color pedals. Very nicely composed.

Judges Comments

There are good photographers and then there are good lucky photographers. A lucky photographer has to have the timing and ability to take advantage of the lucky draw that he or she has been given. It looks like this photographer saw the situation developing, got into position and got the kiss along with the added lucky element that makes this a winning photograph.

Judges Comments

Beautiful colors. Nice composition and moment.

Judges Comments

What a great fall scene. The color is great.

Judges Comments

Fun moment and again, a good job at looking for a different slice of life from the ceremony. The strong slice of light coming through the door leads my eye straight to the subject.

Judges Comments

There's a sense of successfully controlled chaos here that makes the photo compelling as it combines humor and poignancy and joy. The big smile in the background, the tender hug while a woman fixes something on the bride's dress, the groom leaning over to talk with the woman in a wheelchair.

Judges Comments

The photographer was in position to get the bride and the carriage, but didn’t miss this young man diligently going about his important part of the wedding. This picture conveys a great deal of information and that’s what it's all about.

Judges Comments

Strong graphics, both the simplicity of the black and white and the echo of the girl's arms in those of the women standing behind her, add to the strength of the image. One wonders what has caught the attention of the young girl; the unanswered question actually makes the image more interesting.

Nice composition. The B&W helps to emphasize the graphic elements.

Judges Comments

I like how the crowd of people form a circle around the bride and groom. All the faces and details really helped this photo and brought it above others. I wish there was a little less distortion in the ultra-wide angle, but at least it adds to the content of the image.

The high angle makes this shot. The photographer used the background perfectly. The black and white makes this a classic.

Judges Comments

Good job of seeing and capturing a quiet, unscripted moment as the bride reaches out to the flower girl, who seems to have lost interest in the ceremony. Wish the person officiating could be seen a bit better (or not at all - the partial head is distracting), and a tighter crop might help, but the moment trumps those concerns.

Judges Comments

Nice composition. The B&W helps to emphasize the graphic elements.

Judges Comments

Good eyes! A photograph that no one at the wedding would normally see.

Judges Comments

The groom's reaction - especially the slight lean - really makes this photo stand out. It's a nice clean image that is straightforward but it works. The smiling woman in the background is nice too.

Judges Comments

Great light coming through the door, and a great moment.

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Great action shot.

Judges Comments

The photographer did a nice job standing back and letting things happen naturally. Nice image.

Judges Comments

There is something a little surreal about this image which I find intriguing.  I can't put my finger on it. Perhaps it is the color and the expressions of the ladies' faces.

Judges Comments

Ah, the dangers of a long veil. The unplanned moment is humorous and beautiful at the same time, and it's nice to see that the bride finds some humor in it (though the groom doesn't seem all that pleased). Being able to read the expressions of most of the guests, the majority of whom seem to find the situation amusing, makes the photo even stronger.

Judges Comments

Nice reflection.