A colourful, long-exposure photo of Bondi Beach has snared the top prize in the australianphotography.com 'Abstract' photo comp. The image, by James Breslin, drew the praise of this month's guest judge Marc Gafen, editor of professional photo magazine, Capture.
"Shooting a great abstract image requires planning, consideration of the subject and how best to represent it in abstract form as well as solid execution so that the final outcome is very much based on intrinsic form instead of an overly literal representation," commented Gafen.
"James Breslin's Bondi landscape would be recognisable by most Sydneysiders given careful observation. The use of a slow shutter speed and deliberate camera movement has produced a work that shows characteristics one might find in something by Monet or Turner. While the competition was particularly strong with many images instead focusing on abstract subject matter per se, Breslin has created his image in camera."
Other strong contenders for first place included Iris Petal by Mike Byers, Copper Spiral by Mark Glancy and Sydney Opera House by Ray Cooper.
Breslin has won a $250 voucher for a Deluxe Photobook from leading Australian photobook maker Momento.
A total of 25 images were shortlisted in the February competition and are published below. The theme for the March competition is 'Eyes'. Images must be submitted by midnight, 31 March 2013
WINNER: 'Bondi Motion,' by James Breslin.
HIGHLY COMMENDED: 'Copper Spiral,' by Mark Glancy.
HIGHLY COMMENDED: 'Iris Petal,' by Mike Byers.
HIGHLY COMMENDED: 'Sydney Opera House,' by Ray Cooper.
