Charlotte Bellamy Photography - ICM Challenge 11 - Festive

The ‘festive’ challenge is complete, and once again a brilliant turnout from all of you who submitted. This was the last of the 11 ICM challenges, and was to encourage creativity as much as possible, with a theme inspired by the time of year. I was delighted by the entries, some very creative, some made me really smile at the imagination unleashed!

This challenge the entries were judged by the super creative Glenys Garnett. I have followed Glenys’s work for a while now, loving her creativity , but also her willingness to share her experiences and tips, which can help others to experiment with their creativity. Glenys’s work is imaginative and I love it. She very kindly spoke to our group recently about concertina books for photography, which was wonderful and inspiring

Glenys has a wonderful web page https://www.ggcreativeimages.co.uk/ and a super You Tube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/glenysgarnett . She is also on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ggcimages/ Please go and have a look at these and show her some support, as a thank you for judging this challenge.

I created 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. 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.

This is a cumulative competition:

• Points 1 10 are awarded for the top 10 placings each challenge. (1st place gaining 10 and 10th place 1)

• A point is awarded to every entrant to say thank you for submitting.

• 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.

If you are interested in online or in person courses, please check out my website for more info www.charlottebellamy.com

I also have a You tube channel https://www.youtube.com/c/CharlotteBellamycreativephotography/videos

Please email with any questions or comments Charlotte@charlottebellamy.com

Copyright remains with each of the photographers, please do not save in anyway the images from this document.

Without further ado I would like to introduce you to your winners. Congratulations to the top 10.

Glenys said - I love the simplicity and colour of this image, it immediately caught my eye. Good use of ICM but still maintaining some detail so we can see it's a Christmas tree. A great image to put on a Christmas card

Winner Jaana Kotoneva

Runner up Colin Smith

Glenys said The abstract crazy zaniness and confusion of this image grabbed my eye. I found myself wandering over all the details and it really sums up the blast of lights we get to see at this time of year in all it's glory and a great use of ICM

3rd place

Glenys said Bokeh balls and baubles a lovely soft ICM image with the colours of Christmas

4th Place

Birgitta Larsson

Scottee Cantrell

5th Place

Christine Griffiths

6th Place

Kim Stevens

7th Place

8th Place

Mary Seddon

Debbie Christie

9th Place

Angie Robertson

10th Place

Sue Woodbridge

The other entries

Barbara Kato McKenzie

Federica Morgan

Malcolm Brown

Christina Webb

Marion Woodman

Dawn Westwood

Michelle Jackson

Janne Ostby

Margaret Stapper

Miriam Manners

Charlie’s top 5

Now if you were looking for your image in there and it was missing, there is a reason You are in this section.

I really appreciated Glenys judging the ‘festive’ challenge for me. In addition to her placing I also wanted to award my own top 5.

Congratulations to Jaana, Colin and Mary for making top 10 and top 5. Congratulations to Valerie and Camilla for their top 5 placings here.

My top 5 are not in any specific order so all these images have been awarded a bonus 5 points.

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 reasons.

Camilla Rutayisire Gore

I loved this image the minute I saw it. Then this weekend, while I was in Bruges, I saw a very similar set up, and realised how hard it was to get this with ICM! I love the slight feel that this was shot through the rain (not sure if it was) but the lovely red baubles on the tree are just lovely with the reflections onto the cobblestones below. The golden, blue and red colours work brilliantly.

Valerie Huggins

This is maybe one of the more understated images of the challenge submitted, but I think that is why it caught my eye. I love the soft pastel colours in the background, almost like a rainbow, and the hint of a sparkly angel created with the ICM movement. I love how the ICM movement adds the sparkle to the angel, but very softly.

Mary Seddon

In complete contrast to the previous image this just brought a huge smile to my face. Unabashedly Christmas! But the use of ICM in this image is superb, adding an atmosphere of misty evening, dark, cold skies with stars and the sound of chatter and Christmas music this image gives me all that, and that’s why it is in my top 5.

Colin Smith

Now, if the previous image made me smile, this made me grin from ear to ear. I absolutely LOVE how brave Colin has been here with this image. This one stood out and shouted Christmas and fun. I love how all the background has utilised the ICM technique and various different textures and patterns have been weaved together. The addition of the wording adds to the ICM, rather than taking away from it, but I still feel the ICM is the main component of the image. I love the colours of blue, gold, pink, purple and red, and the multitude of textures created with the ICM technique.

Jaana Kotoneva

This beautiful ICM of a Christmas tree would look beautiful gracing the front of a Christmas card. The ICM technique used is careful and displays a texture which you can relate to the tree its self. I love how the movement created a slightly fluffy edge on the right side of the tree. Also, the bokeh around the edge of the tree adds a softness and glis tening effect. The red and gold colours are rich and the composition is super. A worthy challenge winner and top 5 placing.