Alia Naughton has won Australian Photography + digital magazine's November ’Black and White’ photo competition with an striking photo of a frozen lake in Northern Alaska.
“The lake was completely frozen over and it had the most wonderful patterns in the cracked ice,” said Alia. “I think changing it to monochrome enhances the cold, desolate factor, even though the lake was a myriad of blues and greens. And one doesn’t often see landscapes in black and white. Ansell Adams was famous for his black and white landscapes and they can look very dramatic.”
Australian Photography + digital editor Robert Keeley praised Naughton for her creativity and technical skill. “We liked this shot because the patterns on the ice created a very distinctive composition, but also because of the great detail from the foreground through to the background. The major cracks in the ice draw us through the scene to the mountains and bare trees in the distance. Though the white snow is a little blown out on the right, there’s plenty of interest in this image. Well done!”
Naughton has won an Epson Stylus Photo R2000 valued at $1099 courtesy of Epson Australia. Two other photographers were highly commended in the monthly competition, Michelle Harper and Jake Randle. The monthly Your Best Shot photo competition is open to subscribers of Australian Photography + digital magazine and members of the Australian Photographic Society (APS). To see all the judge's comments and a selection of the best images from the competition check the September issue of Australian Photography + digital, available in newsstands, via subscription and on iPad.
Alaskan Winter Lake by Alia Naughton. (Nikon D3s, 16-35mm @ 16mm, 1/400s @ f/10, ISO 200, tripod. Edited in OnOne Software, Perfect Photo Suite 7 using a black and white filter and brushed in more tone and detail.)
