There's been a great response to this Forum Competition, so thanks for all your attempts - there are some clear winners for me, but the rest were good attempts too. Here are my comments, in the order of the images entered:
Paul:
I love this image - great pose, lighting, angle taken from, and an effective shadow on the wall. Do the lyrics apply to the model, or you?
Given the fact that you have taught me so much on photographing models/lighting (and I really thank you for that), I feel inadequate making any suggestions on your image, but the only thing I would
personally change on this is that I'd increase the exposure slightly on the model's face, so that I can see it a bit more clearly. I love the way you've interpreted the lyrics - very saucy!
John Riley:
A very sharp photo, and a well-positioned model in the frame. I would suggest two modifications that this image would benefit from (in my humble opinion) - the removal of the white object to the left of her waist, and cloning out the window at the top of the image - they lead my eyes away from the model. Also - have you painted some red onto the image - there seems to be a red band around the hairline on her forehead - or is it hair dye?
Graham:
I really like this image - nice and sharp - level horizon, and taken at just the right moment. You've got the statue as a silhouette, a great sunset sky, and some lovely reflections in the water. And the "..now his hand is on your shoulder..." signifies the arrival of night, portrayed as human form. A good interpretation of the lyrics.
Andy:
Good candid shot Andy (I'm assuming that this wasn't a set-up shot). I worry about this family - they all seem to be asleep, yet from their possessions, there's obviously at least one child around - who's looking after the child? The lyrics state "Sand dunes", and you've captured a pebbly beach, so this has not quite made it on the interpretation.
JoJo:
I absolutely love this shot, Joanne, and although the face is slightly out of focus (it would have probably been better if you had focused on the fingers touching her face) the image fits the lyrics absolutely perfectly. Brilliant attempt.
JohnJm:
Good interpretation here in this composite, John. I think you learned a lot from Thursday's presentation on the liquify tool?
However, the blending of images might benefit from matching the lighting, and the cut-out from feathering. Good attempt, but there are stronger images in this competition.
Mike Kay:
I love the effect that you've created here in this image, Mike - perhaps you could do a demo at ADAPS on how you have done this, on one of our Saturday morning sessions? With respect to the lyrics, I don't see any rain, sea, surf, sand, clouds, sky or bird in the image. I do see a tree and a sad-looking lady who might be weeping. So, even though I love this excellent effect, it's not quite a full interpretation of the lyrics for me.
Janice:
I've never thought for one minute that you've been pecked in the head Janice
! Good interpretation of the lyrics, and I like the profile composition. The image is not quite sharp (but I guess it was taken from some distance away), and I think it would benefit from reducing the shadows in Camera Raw. Good attempt.
Mike Aspinall:
Another excellent interpretation of the lyrics here, Mike. Lots of atmosphere in this image, especially with the wet cobblestones. Have you enhanced the effect on the street lamps? They look over-exposed. I don't think that this is a composite (if it is, then it's a good one) however I don't quite understand how the right side of her hair is lit, because from the angle of the light from the lamp I would have thought it would be in some shadow? Ignoring those points, I think this a really excellent attempt.
Rianne:
Good sharp picture here, Rianne. I don't know if this is taken on a slope, or whether the lower steps have sunk, because the top step looks absolutely level, whereas the lower step seems to slope to the left. The contrast and colours are absolutely spot on. You've got the stairway, but it would have been nice to see some movement blur in the trees, given that the wind is mentioned twice. Good effort here.
RESULTS:
Although I prefer music of the 60s and 70s, I have judged the images on interpretation of the lyrics in the first instance, and then image quality thereafter. However, it just so happens that the winning entries fall into the era of my preference - but not deliberately!
3rd place: Graham Otty - for his Mr Blue Sky lyrics.
2nd place: Mike Aspinall - for his Sound of Silence lyrics
1st place: Joanne Johnson - for her "You've got to hide your love away" lyrics.
I really struggled between Mike's and Joanne's images for first place, but I had to make a choice, and Joanne's did it for me.
So congratulations and over to you Joanne to choose the next subject for the Forum Competition!