5th photo challenge is all about Photo Illusions without photo manipulation - only 9 entries made it this time to the dp+ Pick. Though the judges still have varying ideas on the theme - there were a few dominant entries that became common picks which is a definite improvement from past photo challenges. Plus the entry with the top score got picked by for 4 out of 5 judges as part of their top 3 choices. As was customary, there were 5 judges and only their scores and remarks would appear, not actually naming who picked who for impartiality. Here are the judges' top 3 picks each with corresponding scores on each criteria and their remark on why it was part of their top 3 choices:
Judge 1
3rd pick - Entry 32 - Danny Cruz - "Suspended banana eggplant" Nikon D90
Quality - 27/30
Creativity and Originality - 25/30
Theme Adaptation - 20/20
Overall Impression - 18/20
TOTAL - 90/100
Remark: It gives an illusion that it is a chocolate stuffed banana. The image followed the theme and it is nicely done. Great work here, simple yet creative.
2nd pick - Entry 1 - Juanito Vinluan - "Your grill or mine..." - Canon 60D
Quality - 27/30
Creativity and Originality - 30/30
Theme Adaptation - 20/20
Overall Impression - 19/20
TOTAL - 96/100
Remark: The image is amazing, considering how he got to that result with only pure skills. The image did an awesome job with the illusion. Overall the image is almost perfect, great work!
1st pick - Entry 37 - Nada Stambuk - "Dreamy" - Olympus PEN E-PL1
Quality - 28/30
Creativity and Originality - 29/30
Theme Adaptation - 20/20
Overall Impression - 20/20
TOTAL - 97/100
Remark: The best thing I like about this one is that it is not scripted. She did a good job in spotting this one and took her time to take it. The shot is simple, yet has a big impact.
Judge no. 2
3rd pick - Entry 1 - Juanito Vinluan - "Your grill or mine..." - Canon 60D
Quality - 10/30
Creativity and Originality - 30/30
Theme Adaptation - 20/20
Overall Impression - _10/20
TOTAL - 70/100
Remark: I like how the technicalities are done in this shot. Basically using the slow shutter and separating the main subject with a flash. I, however, find the colors too saturated. But over all it is a nice shot.
2nd pick - Entry 37 - Nada Stambuk - "Dreamy" - Olympus PEN E-PL1
Quality - 20/30
Creativity and Originality - 15/30
Theme Adaptation - 20/20
Overall Impression - 20/20
TOTAL - 75/100
Remark: I like the colors and proper exposure on the shot, not too technical and fancy, but effective.
1st pick - Entry 9 - Matthew Matchinsky - "Water lens" - Nikon D90
Quality - 20/30
Creativity and Originality - 30/30
Theme Adaptation - 20/20
Overall Impression - 15/20
TOTAL - 85/100
Remark: To be honest this is really a tough shot among the entries, it may look simple but it is really a hard shot to make. Timing, Fortunately he was able to deliver what is exactly needed. very nice.
Judge no. 3
3rd pick - Entry 37 - Nada Stambuk - "Dreamy" - Olympus PEN E-PL1
Quality - 30/30
Creativity and Originality -25/30
Theme Adaptation - 15/20
Overall Impression - 15/20
TOTAL - 85/100
Remark: Illusion ought to be something that remains a mystery, a riddle. In this entry, it took no time for me to see the illusion the secret of the photo is very evident to be inversion. Technically very sound..
2nd pick - Entry 14 - Victor Ursabia - "Defying gravity"- Canon 50D
Quality -30/30
Creativity and Originality - 25/30
Theme Adaptation - 20/20
Overall Impression - 15/20
TOTAL - 90/100
Remark: Technique is sound producing a high quality black and white image. The illusion effect, however, is a common and hardly original technique. Overall this is still very good.
1st pick - Entry 1 - Juanito Vinluan - "Your grill or mine..." - Canon 60D
Quality - 25/30
Creativity and Originality - 30/30
Theme Adaptation - 20/20
Overall Impression - 20/20
TOTAL - 95/100
Remark: The illusion effect done here is subject manipulation rather than photo manipulation. It leaves the viewer puzzled on how the photo was taken without photo manipulation. It requires a great deal of thinking, fishing idea on how to come up with the concept. A good use of the lighting is evident but some glare noted which for me reduces some quality properties to the photo. Still the best for me.
Judge no. 4
3rd pick - Entry 4 - Monching Corpuz - "The Amazing conjoined 'Siamese twin' giraffes - Nikon D90
Quality - 23/30
Creativity and Originality - 30/30
Theme Adaptation - 20/20
Overall Impression -20/20
TOTAL -93/100
Remark: Another good example of illusion photography which could probably be even more improved with a little better positioning of the photographer.
2nd pick - Entry 13 - Lily Vinluan - "Fairy godmothers" Canon 600D
Quality - 25/30
Creativity and Originality - 30/30
Theme Adaptation - 20/20
Overall Impression -20/20
TOTAL - 95/100
Remark: A great example of illusion photography, very creative. The ladies did a good job.
1st pick - Entry 38 - Zandro Cenizal- "Out of the way" Nikon D90
Quality - 29/30
Creativity and Originality - 30/30
Theme Adaptation - 20/20
Overall Impression - 20/20
TOTAL - 99/100
Remark: I like the creativeness of this photo - very much in accord with the original theme of the contest.
Judge 5
3rd pick - Entry 3 - Lara Juan - "Man's bestfriend" - Nikon D40
Quality - 20/30
Creativity and Originality - 25/30
Theme Adaptation - 15/20
Overall Impression -15/20
TOTAL - 75/100
Remark: A crisp and clear photo illusion - contrived but an effective photo illusion just the same, simple but well presented.
2nd pick - Entry 38 - Zandro Cenizal- "Out of the way" Nikon D90
Quality -28/30
Creativity and Originality - 30/30
Theme Adaptation -20/20
Overall Impression -18/20
TOTAL - 96/100
Remark: What I like about it is how it looks candid enough to be contrived. It's like the photographer just happened to notice the scene and just clicked and the story is all written in the man's face. Composition is solid, an undeniable photo illusion. If not for aesthetics this could have landed as my first pick.
1st pick - Entry 37 - Nada Stambuk - "Dreamy" - Olympus PEN E-PL1
Quality - 28/30
Creativity and Originality - 29/30
Theme Adaptation - 20/20
Overall Impression - 20/20
TOTAL - 97/100
Remark: No fancy technical stuff - that just did it. A simple yet effective photo illusion. Sheer aesthetic appeal placed it on my top pick, for at the end of the day, when theme adaptation is exhausted and when all is said about technical stuff, the bottom line is still how a photo would look and on that score - this entry is a winner.
Note: Just click on each photo for an enlarged view.
