Perspective

Forgotten

This competition has now closed.

Winners

1st
Abandoned Chateau
Matt Emmett
2nd
PitMan
Nikita Khadnevich
3rd
Old Boots
Elena Nikolaeva

Commended

Our new competition theme is ‘Forgotten’. We forget things, things are left to rot, to decompose, to biodegrade. Some things are just left, to be covered up, eventually buried with the passing of time.

Sometimes people feel that they are forgotten, they sit alone with their memories, every line on their face, every twinkle in their eyes a testament to the life they have lived and the wisdom they now have, the stories they would love to tell, if there was someone who would hear them.

The challenge for this competition is for you to capture something or someone that has been forgotten and show us the beauty that can be found within it.

Competition Judge

Stuart Forster

Stuart Forster is a professional photographer with more than a decade’s experience within the industry. He is the director of www.whyeyephotography.com. His work has been published in the UK’s national newspapers, travel magazines and international publications. Stuart specialises in food, travel and people photography. Stuart frequently travels to research stories, aiming to capture the spirit of places and events. His passions include trying local cuisine, exploring history as well as experiencing the culture and contemporary attractions of destinations. To view more of Stuart’s work, visit his travel and food blog, Go Eat Do.

Abandoned Chateau

Matt Emmett

First Prize

This photograph is a powerful, beautifully composed photograph that makes excellent use of daylight to emphasise the dusty abandonment of what appears to be a once grand room. The theme of this competition was ‘Forgotten’ and this image encapsulates a sense of that. The apparently condemned building is littered with details such as empty picture frames and peeling wallpaper that tease the eye of viewers seeking details. It’s rich in texture and even the colour of the scene hints at the dustiness of the room, which I could almost imaging I could smell as I looked at this winning photo.

PitMan

Nikita Khadnevich

Second Prize

In the modern world we are more connected than ever, thanks to digital technologies, yet so many people have a sense that they are abandoned and forgotten by the society in which they live. This is an evocative, well-composed photograph that symbolises a moment of loneliness. The man sits looking somewhat forlorn in the centre of the scene and, arguably, appears deep in thought ahead of making his next move. What will he choose? Which of the three options available to him will be select? Photography can be about storytelling and this entry reminds us that photography has the power to draw attention to people who would otherwise be forgotten.

Old Boots

Elena Nikolaeva

Third Prize

This photograph makes positive use of heavy saturation to help create a warm, subtly illuminated scene that invites the eyes to explore a photograph of cobweb-covered old boots. It’s masterfully executed and artful. There’s a clear link with the theme of the contest. This is a fine example of how an essentially simple composition can be symbolic of so much more.

Veil of Reluctance

Niraj Gera

Commended

It is not very easy to face the world, knowing that the world is not going to look at you the same way as it used to. The photograph shows a survivor resorting to veil by compulsion because of the stares and insensitivity which instills reluctance in them. Since their natural face has been spoilt by acid, their relatives & world has also forgotten them shunning their remaining hopes.
This is a masterfully composed and thoughtful portrait of an individual with a disfigurement. The photograph captures a sense of beauty, portraying the subject with dignity almost willing onlookers to want to know more about the story of the person depicted. Are they a forgotten victim of warfare, violence or mistreatment? The low key image has depth and is a fine example of how to create negative space withing an image. The competition attracted many portrait entries, many depicting old women or individuals in forlorn looking settings, not all of which related obviously to the theme of the contest; this portrait stood out because of its obvious strength of composition. Less can be more in photography, as this photograph conveys.

Nicolina

Cosmin Racianu

Commended

This well-composed factory scene makes good use of reflection and daylight to convey the abandonment of a former industrial site. The perspective of the roofing beams leads our eyes into the image. It hints the question of what happened to the people who worked at this location? Have they been forgotten by modern society or have they gone on to better things? The sense of abandonment of the factory has an obvious connection with the ‘forgotten’ theme of the competition.

Mirror

Евгений Беляев

Commended

This image shows how strong composition can make an interesting photograph of everyday items that would otherwise be easy to walk past without a second glance. The abandoned mirror, glass and the boxes hint at being forgotten at the back of a residential building; therefore this photograph relates directly to the theme of the competition. It’s an image that provokes thought. Where is the scene captured? Why is a good mirror being thrown away? Who lives in the building reflected in the mirror? Arguably the mirror could be the centre of square composition too. This image stood out among other photos of abandoned items because it felt un-contrived and has an understated power.

Message from the sky

Yevhen Samuchenko

Commended

A handful of astrophotographs were entered into the competition and this one caught my eye because it is strong image depicting an abandoned aircraft under the Milky Way. The plane, in the bottom centre of the composition, is by no means entirely forgotten as it is is a well-photographed location in Iceland. This photograph is well-executed, beautifully lit and soulful. It’s in many ways symbolic of forgotten landmarks around the planet.