'Wheels' was the brief for our September photo competition and it drew more than 520 entries covering a range of subjects from cars to Ferris Wheels. Regular AP contributor Anthony McKee, fresh from his win in the Documentary category of the 2014 Australian Professional Photography Awards, was the obvious choice for the role of guest judge and he took the chance to cast a critical eye over the shortlist and offer some useful tips for anyone wanting to improve their photography.
Here's what he had to say about this month's entries:
"Call me a square, but sometimes I think wheels are overrated. A lot of entries in this month’s Wheels competition focussed on the obvious romance many of us have with our wheels; there were photos of new cars, old cars, dead cars, motorbikes, crashing motorbikes and kids on bikes… and some of these photos did made the short list.
"But the wheel should not just be typified by transportation. Wheels can be found everywhere, including in nature, machinery, clocks, toys… and thats before we start getting metaphorical.
"There were a few images of giant Ferris wheels and one of these caught my attention. 'Wheels Go Round,' by Shari Mattox is a rather simple capture, but it is the overall treatment that, for me, adds magic to this photograph. There is a complexity to this image, and yet it doesn’t feel 'overcooked'.
"As I look at it we can well imagine the wheel going around, but the textures and colours bring nostalgia to this photo, and the soft, out-of-focus highlights add an almost cosmic element. In as much as we can imagine this wheel going around, it also quietly reminds me that we are on a giant wheel of dust that is slowly rotating its way through the universe. As is often the case with any good piece of visual communication, the best stories and images are usually the ones that lift us beyond the obvious and inspire us to find our own interpretations of a situation.
"I am also going to nominate three commended photos. First mention goes to Andrew Lance for his image, Skates, of a skater jumping over a high bar somewhere in Paris. Personally, I feel this image would do well in a street photography competition, but still, there are wheels in the picture and it is a rather impressive capture.
"Doug Adie’s photo, MB of a classic Mercedes Benz, also gets a mention; I rather enjoy the repetition of circles throughout the frame.
"And finally, Penny Farthing by Megan Cummings reminds us that some wheels have been around for a long time.
"Well done to everyone who entered!"
Congratulations to Shari Mattox who has won a a Spyder4PRO from Kayell Australia, valued at $240.
ABOUT THIS MONTH’S JUDGE: Anthony McKee is best known for his documentary style photography, a genre that relies on a quiet presence combined with strong observation skills to capture unposed moments in time. Originally from New Zealand, Anthony McKee began his career as a reportage photographer but has been freelance for over a decade. His work has been featured in magazines internationally and exhibited in art galleries in New Zealand and New York. Now residing in Melbourne, McKee has won numerous awards including 2014 Documentary Photographer of the Year in the Australian Professional Photography Awards. He has also been NZ Landscape Photographer of the Year and a finalist for NZ Professional Photographer of the Year. Nowadays he is a regular judge at the annual professional photography awards in both Australia and New Zealand. McKee is also a feature writer for a variety of editorial publications including Australian Photography + digital and Australian Flying.
Winner: 'Wheels Go Round,' by Shari Mattox.
Commended: 'Skates,' by Andrew Lance.
Commended: 'MB,' by Doug Adie.
Commended: 'Penny Farthing,' by Megan Cummings.
'909 of the Storm,' by Scott McCrae.
'Aston Martin,' by Adrian Cooper.
'Bad Wheels,' by Mark Glancy.
'Best Seat in the House,' by Lee McCaffrey.
'Finke Desert Race Pain,' by Adam Booker.
'I'm Spinin' Around!' by Brad Smith.
'L Plates,' by Alyson Brimecombe.
'Me and My Shadow,' by Brad Smith.
'Spinning Wheels,' by Grace Rounds.
'Spinning Wheels, Mumbai,' by Lindsay Massey-Chase.
