kindly given feedback on every single one of her top 10 which I hope you will all appreciate and learn from for your own image, but also from the feedback given on the images of others. As a result, this publication is a little longer than the previous ones, to allow the space for this, but I am absolutely delighted that Stephanie has chosen to do this for the entries in this competition. She said about judging the whole challenge
The ‘Abstract’ challenge is complete, and once again a brilliant turnout from all of you who submitted. So much colour this time, it was a really joyful set of images to look at, and I hope you all enjoy each other’s creativity, and interpretation. Of course, abstract images need not depict the object or element being photographed, and that is when you can let you mind run wild. Sometimes it’s quite hard to let go this much. But if you think initially that an ‘abstract’ image is one of a non discernible subject….then not overthink it, your ICM images can be literally of any subject at all, as long as you think about light, lines, colour and interaction of elements within your images.
I am proud to have been featured in the online mag early on in its production, and I know a number of the individuals in my online creative community have also had that wonderful Ifexperience.youhavenot yet found the magazine, check out these links Website ~ ICMPhotoMag Facebook ~ ICMPhotoMag Instagram ~ ICMPhotoMag
Facebook ~ StephJohnPhoto | Instagram ~ StephJohnPhoto | LinkedIn ~ Stephanie Johnson
This challenge the entries were met by an ICM judge who without question knows her ICM inside and out! Stephanie Johnson is the creator of The ICM photo magazine a brand encompassing an online ICM photography magazine, an active and massively supported online community page on Facebook, and also the ICM photomag network an online environment where you can continue your online learning of ICM with the support of Stephanie and a number of other individuals.
Stephanie(StephJohnPhoto)hasvery
Stephanie is also a wonderful ICM photographer, as well as championing the ICM cause for others. For her personal work, please take a look at these links.
Website ~ www.stephjohnphoto.com
As this was an ICM challenge, and the ICM technique should be the primary focus of the image, there were some images that I felt took creative post processing a bit too far, which essentially removed the special element of ICM for me.
“I really enjoyed seeing the creativity with the Abstract theme. There was quite a range of techniques, styles, and outside the box thinking. I commend everyone who participated for pushing the limits to create uniquely individual images that speak to your own creative visions.
Copyright remains with each of the photographers, please do not save in anyway the images from this document.
• Points 1 10 are awarded for the top 10 placings each challenge. (1st place gaining 10 and 10 th place 1)
So, for a one off time only (unless other judges do the same) you have two images as the Iwinners!created
• A point is awarded to every entrant to say thank you for submitting.
This is a cumulative competition:
You will see all Stephanie’s feedback on the top 10 with each of the images. Interestingly, she had a tricky time choosing the order, you will see a couple of times, she would have liked to award a tie!.............
• A bonus 5 points are awarded to each of Charlie’s top 5 each challenge. In December there will be an online awards evening, with some small prizes, and to celebrate everyone’s achievements.
this ICM challenge, to offer a friendly competition within the creative group I run for all previous course attendees and mentee students. It is to encourage interaction in the group and to offer a reason to share or make photos in reaction to a prompt.
If you are interested in online or in person courses, please check out my website for more info www.charlottebellamy.com
In the end, the images I selected as the Top 10 were, I felt, the result of very creative thinking and artistic vision, which enabled the photographers to produce wonderful, thought provoking images that showcase the art and beauty of ICM”.
Without further ado I would like to introduce you to your winners. Congratulations to the top 10.
From mid July to early December, a new challenge subject will be set in the group. It may be interpreted however an individual wishes, but the ICM technique must be the overriding element in the image. I have chosen an outside judge for each challenge to offer a wide variety of feedback and varying outlooks on ICM photography.
I also have a You tube Charlotte@charlottebellamy.comPleasehttps://www.youtube.com/c/CharlotteBellamycreativephotography/videoschannelemailwithanyquestionsorcomments
What a wonderful example of outside the box thinking and creative vision. It is so unique, and it draws me in to explore the image more closely. The lines are sublime…both circular and vertical…and the use of light and shadow is brilliant. It feels like some sort of vortex between two worlds, with what appears to be hints, or traces, of what I envision as tall buildings in the background at top centre, with hints/traces of those buildings more in the foreground at bottom centre. The colour palette adds to the mystery and the mood of this image and makes a very powerful statement. The imagination is certainly rewarded with the magical world created here. I absolutely love this image, and I think it shows a real ability to craft an amazing story through the use of ICM.
Winner Marion Woodman
Marion also shared her process info which is really useful to help understanding when you are learning ICM or interested how images are created. It is a two photo multiple exposure with movement in both photos.0.6 sec at F22 for each photo
This image is a very close 2nd…and actually, if there can be a tie for 1st place, this image would be that for me amongst the 22 images submitted for consideration. The use of light in contrast to the dark is so compelling, and I love the hint of blue that is introduced at the upper right of the frame…but also with the tiniest hint of blue along the lines at the bottom left of the frame. The balance and movement from light to dark in this image really draws me in, as I imagine the turning of the pages of a book being read by the light of a candle. The imagination is truly sparked in a wonderful way with this image, and it is mesmerizing. This is another image that shows real skill and craftsmanship of the ICM technique, and I adore it.
Winner Jaana Kotoneva
Christina Webb
Another image that really sparks the imagination for me, and the pops of green and blue color add such a special quality to this otherwise monochrome look and feel. The inclusion of these pops of color make this image, in my opinion…especially because I feel it takes a certain degree of vision and crafting to get this right in camera. I think I might actually know the subject…or at least my imagination has been sparked to think about what it might be, because I have done some ICM work with this iconic building in Chicago, myself. The geometry, the lines, the use of contrasts are all wonderfully executed in this image, and it is a real treat to get lost in.
Runner up
Lyn Rostron
4th Place
This image is a close 4th…possibly another tie. The transition from dark to light in this image is wonderful and really draws the eye into the scene to explore all the lines and what appear to be reflections. The scene evokes the idea of a cityscape overlooking some sort of water feature. The light is perfectly managed and creates a magical feel that really sparks the imagination, and in my mind’s eye, I can see myself exploring the streets, in between the buildings, of this mysterious city. The mood and dr ama created, as well as the balance and symmetry, in this image are another fine example of skillful use of ICM to create an alternate vision of reality.
Debbie Christie
As I’ve been working with multiple exposure ICMs myself, I appreciate the way this image has come together to weave light and color together in such a magical way. This has the look and feel of a piece of beautifully patterned fabric, and I am drawn in to explore the richness more deeply. The use of contrasting light has been managed expertly to create a very compelling image.
5th Place
Camila Rutayisire Gore
Sue Woodbridge
7th Place
The use of color and line in this image is wonderful, as they move and merge together across the frame to create a very peaceful flow of energy. There is an Abstract Expressionist feel to this image that evokes the idea of Color Fields used by Mark Rothko in the early 1900s. The light was managed perfectly to achieve a beautifully pleasing aesthetic in this image.
This is a fun and playful image that capitalizes on strong color and reflecting light to create a whimsical scene that draws the eye in. Using a circular motion with the camera creates the feel of a vortex, and with there being stronger elements in the foreground leading to more complex elements in the center of the vortex, this image begs to be explored more deeply. The light, color, and contrasts are all managed nicely to produce a very pleasing result.
6th Place
Sue White
8th Place
The use of color and light work well together in this image, as well as the contrast of lines in different diagonal directions. The use of camera movement, and I suspect multiple exposure, blends colors in a very pleasing way to create a compelling image that is all about color, light, and line. If there was one critique I would make, it would be to work with the line of light at the very top to reduce the brightness in that streak of light. It feels a bit blown out, and quite a bit brighter than all the other lines of light, which draws the eye. Lessening the brightness in that area would create a more balanced overall feel, I believe. But, the image, the technique, the skill, and vision are all well executed.
Mirriam Manners
This image has a very warm and playful feel to it. The camera movement creates a wonderful texture across most of the image, and the lines flow in a very cheerful way. The colors are so vibrantly energetic, and the image is wonderfully abstract. It elicits a very happy response and is beautifully created.
9th Place
10th Place
Angie Robertson
There is such a pleasingly soft feel to this image with its pastel tones, flowing lines, and contrasting elements. The color palette is wonderful. It evokes the feeling of flowers, and I love the intricate details of line and texture created by the camera movement. The light is managed beautifully, as well, for a really lovely abstract image that is all about the amazing colors.
JacksonBirgitta
Larsson
Michelle
The other entries
Joy Tracey
FedericaBarbaraGriffithsKatoMcKenzieMorgan
Christine
Kenneth Meijer
MartinaHugginsMcEnroe
Valerie
Stephaniepoints.
Charlie’s top 5
My top 5 are not in any specific order so all these images have been awarded a bonus 5
I really appreciated Stephanie judging the ‘Abstract’ challenge for me. In addition to her placing I also wanted to award my own top 5. For the 1st time in all the challenges, all but one of the images in my top 5, also appear in the top 10. I think this shows how strong these and Stephanie’s winners were that they appealed to us both equally.
Gunillareasons.Steen
has done such a wonderful job with the feedback this time, I will just add little bit of feedback on why I made my choices, as I think it is really interesting for you to see what I see. For me, images that speak to me and grab my interest are those that will make my top 5 but you will see from my comments on each all for very different
I was really drawn to this image for its tones and lines, simplicity and abstract nature. The shapes are intriguing and my eye gently falls down the incline, then returns to the darker area of the image to start the journey again while I try and figure out what the image may be of. If I had a tiny suggestion it would be to crop off the tiny area at the top above where the incline starts, and this would also remove the light point in the top right of the image.
Congratulations to Sue Woodbridge, Lyn Rostron, Jaana and Angie for making top 10 and top 5. Congratulations to Gunilla for her top 5 placing here.
Now if you were looking for your image in there and it was missing, there is a reason You are in this section.
Lyn Rostron
A feeling of fun, energy and movement It evokes the feeling of being sat on a funfair ride, looking up and seeing the sky whirling around me. I absolutely love the colour combinations of yellow, blue and that pop of rust orange. The ICM movement is super and the light streaks add something to take your eye in a circular direction around the image.
This is a super abstract ICM image and like Stephanie, I see the city skyscraper landscape here in it as well, which I love that my mind creates this from looking at this image. The colour palette is really super, and the contrast between the dark background and the foreground is super, as is the light on the object being photographed. The square crop adds to the abstract feeling further.
Sue Woodbridge
This is a beautiful soft ICM image and I love how the whole frame is completely full of this beautiful movement and colour. A very simple colour palette together with the soft ICM movements creates an almost dream like feeling to this image. I like how there are a few darker elements within the image which give the eye somewhere to travel between, and the subtle lines that guide you around the image. A beautiful abstract ICM image.
A beautiful fluid, mysterious ICM image. Jaana had already shared this in our creative group and I found it beautiful the moment I saw it. It evokes the image of sand dunes in my head, with a night sky above. The beauty of how an abstract image can be interpreted in absolutely any way by the brain. The balance of light, lines and colour throughout this image is sublime, and very carefully presented in this frame. It is a very peaceful image and one I could image standing in front of in a gallery for a long time.
Jaana Kotoneva
Angie Robertson
In of HRH Queen Elizabeth II
Colin Smith Colin’s image gains an honorary mention this edition.
honour
Although not selected in the top 10 or top 5. I wanted to thank Colin for sharing it, and his accompanying comment “I thought this abstraction of St Paul’s Cathedral appropriate given the sad news this week”
I think it is wonderful, how we can express ourselves through our photography, and I felt this was a lovely tribute to HRH Queen Elizabeth II. Thank you, Colin
