Here are the top ten images uploaded to Photocrowd from Round One, Black & White, with comments by the AP team and our guest judge
In association with MPB
Round One Black & White
Always by far the most popular round of APOY, it takes a lot for an image to stand out in this category. The judges were looking for an imaginative approach combined with top-notch execution and processing, and – above all – a valid reason for the image being in black & white as opposed to colour. It takes a clear vision on the part of the photographer to create a powerful black & white image – standing in front of a scene and seeing how it would work when stripped of colour takes practice, but when it works the results can be powerful and memorable.
The best part of this round is the sheer variety. Anything goes, so classic street shots, portraiture, still life and more are guaranteed to make an appearance. It makes the judging more of a challenge, but it’s always a satisfying and exciting one.
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1 Boris Bekelman Israel 100pts
Unknown
Guest judge Rachael Talibart says:
‘A well-thought-out still life with good use of light and shadow to ground the subject. This must have taken a lot of patience to set up. I appreciate the sense of humour in the title – “After Party” – and arrangement. These twigs are definitely dancing to the groove at the party. I enjoy the way the outside twigs are bent over with their “hair” trailing to the ground. Black & white is a good choice when making photos that play with our perception of reality, as colour is one of the ways we make literal sense of our world. Boris invites us to enter his imaginary world. I may never look at twigs the same way again.’
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2 Peyman Naderi UK 90pts
Nikon D750, 50mm, 1/125sec at f/10, ISO 400
There is a sublime grace to this image that makes it memorable. The way the pleats of the dress take up so much of the frame makes them appear like ripples on a lake, and the timing where the falling section of the skirt almost covers the model’s face is perfect. It’s been beautifully set up and executed, with a softness and gentleness that is all too rare. Gorgeous tones, too.
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3 Laura Allegri Italy 80pts
Canon EOS M50 Mark II, 18-150mm, 1/500sec at f/5, ISO 200
If there’s one thing that a b&w image can always create, it’s a sense of mystery. Here, Laura has captured a moment that’s like a still from a film noir. We are left wanting to know who the man is, where he has been and where he is going – but we have to apply our own interpretation, which is what makes the shot is so memorable.
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4 Boris Bekelman Israel 0pts
Unknown
One of the golden rules of photography (and indeed many other areas of life) is to keep things simple
