Judges Comments

The feeling one gets looking at this picture of the bride – as Hindu women spread a turmeric paste on her face to ward off bad energies in her marriage – is pure happiness. Loving hands frame the bride’s face perfectly and the light concentrates the attention on her beautiful smile. The color adds to the scene’s warmth. There is nothing but positive energy in this photographic moment.

This image captured the joy of bride and feeling of sharing the happy day with loved ones through expression and composition.

Judges Comments

What drew me to this photo was the eyes and hands of all the women, and the intensity of the moment of getting ready. The composition was really well done, the women themselves frame the edge of the photo, then the mirror frames the faces. Each expression brings you to another face and then back around so your eye keeps moving around the photo. Nice job.

Judges Comments

The bride sits gazing at her wedding gown hanging from a chandelier in the center of the room as if imagining how she will look as she walks down the aisle. The overhead light and the light coming in from the window seem to surround the wedding gown in an eerie glow. Whatever she is thinking, it’s a magical moment. From the looks of the turn of the century wallpaper and carpet this photograph most likely has more impact in black and white than in color.

Judges Comments

There is so much pressure to ensure the wedding day goes well, ahhh putting the dress on. The expression on the bride is priceless as her bridesmaids pull the dress over her head. Well composed, nice moment.

Judges Comments

Great body language that reads "anticipation". Great work by the photographer.

Judges Comments

Wider angle effectively steps back to place the sanctity of the upcoming wedding in perspective as loving family members and friends share a special time before the ceremony with the excited and happy bride.

Judges Comments

This goes to the number of people around to get the bride ready for her big day. The reflection helps to add to this effect, yet the bride isn’t lost in the reflection and stands apart from the crowd. Well composed chaos.

Judges Comments

Great repose that reads, "downtime before the big event".

Judges Comments

Wonderful moment between two opposite generations. Great expression.

Judges Comments

The more I looked at this photo the more I like it. It wasn’t just the fact they were both smoking, but their stance was so similar. It was as if they were twins, thinking the same thoughts, both wondering what’s going to happen next. Taking advantage of the window light was nice touch to make the subjects stand out.

Judges Comments

Quiet moments before the wedding are as important to the wedding narrative as the ceremony itself. A bride taking a last look in the mirror is a timeless image. Here the photographer underexposes to let the room go dark and the bride and her small mirror become the focal point. It’s a lovely composition.

Judges Comments

This is one of those photos the more you look at it, the more you like it. A very tender moment between the two, I’m guessing father and son, (no caption info so I’m not sure) helping him get ready for his wedding. The moment is so intimate, and the lighting outlines them both. Touching, I want to know more about them.

Judges Comments

A bride taking a last look in the mirror is a timeless image. The photograph is well composed. The bride is photographed from behind looking in a full- length mirror. Her back and shoulders in the foreground are slightly soft focused and direct attention to her full image in the mirror in front of her. The bridesmaids leaning in to get a look at the expression of happy satisfaction on the bride’s face make the image and the moment complete.

Judges Comments

Clean, simple, honest moment that captures a reflective instant in the midst of the chaos involved with getting ready.