AG|WPJA The Artistic Guild of the WPJA

Judges Comment: Here is a powerful moment that not only speaks to the emotional moment portrayed but also to culture and traditional roles. Even the lighting, imbued with the feeling of office fluorescence, adds to the uncomfortable dichotomy of all things gracefully awkward. The background also adds to the overall mood and feeling of this photo as the plasticized vertical design mirrors the shared symmetry of their tears while also accentuating societal boundaries.

Judges Comment: The banquet table awaits but the newly married couple could not. This is a lovely image of newlywed bliss. The angle, lens choice, warm light, postures of each person in the photo all speak to the singularity of romance shared. It matters little that well-wishers fill the room. Instead they seize their moment. The world can wait.

Judges Comment: Another lovely moment found not only in the expressions of each but also in the juxtaposition of ages and eras. Composition plays a role in this image also as the arched ceiling of the church merges with the flowing veil of the bride beneath.

Judges Comment: The high key lighting of this image forces the viewers eye to the stark contrast of the dark lashes against the white handkerchief, isolating it into the singular expression of a moment shared by brides worldwide.

Judges Comment: The bride holds what appears to be a letter, perhaps read to her father or vice versa. The lighting gives a backstage, behind the scenes feel to the moment that adds to its poignant immediacy.

Judges Comment: This image is bereft with the veracity of a documentary. The surroundings are somewhat cluttered, the image itself grainy but what does it matter? It portrays a powerful moment given to us by a photographer who rightfully left ego aside to allow the emotions found to simply be.

Judges Comment: The stark monochromatic style backed by composition that uses the back of the groom to bring our eyes directly to the bride’s face accentuates the simplicity of the single tear falling from the corner of her eye. Such subtlety would have been missed if not for the proper framing of the image.

Judges Comment: There is no angst in this image like one often feels in a mo-ment such as this. That isn’t entirely the result of the subject either. Instead, take a look at the oblique sharp angles of everything object in the background and then look at the shapes found in the subjects. The room itself asks us to smile with them in this warm moment.

Judges Comment: It’s a scene replayed literally tens of thousands of times but here the stark contrasts of lighting flare and the dark background isolate the subject matter and forces us to focus on the minutiae of the moment found in their face and the bride’s hand.

Judges Comment: In this image, the angle of the bride’s arm leads us directly to the blissful expression of the groom. As such, even the low contrast, high key style of the photo can’t obscure the tear upon his cheek.

Judges Comment: The ambiguity of this image creates a feeling of intimacy as though we are the friend across the table and know this bride well enough that we need no explanation.

Judges Comment: Only the flowers hint at the subject of their shared laughter. It is a classic moment with beautiful composition that would be as comfortable in an advertisement as it is as a delightful moment from the wedding.

Judges Comment: Ohh.. such misfortune at the hands of a mother’s matter-of-fact expression. His cries will not grant him freedom from the slavery of the tie so he grasps it like the hangman’s noose it has become for him in this moment. He’ll survive. Mom is sure of that.

Judges Comment: If there was ever a good opportunity for high key lighting such as this - then it is this. Body and arm lead our eyes to their foreheads pressed together and then keep us there, caught in the circular framing of face, fingers and arm and back again. And how delightful to find a tiny detail at bottom right - bride’s new wedding ring.

Judges Comment: Poor child, his facial expression accentuates the awkwardness of his bow tie pulled tightly beneath his chin. It is a moment of such strain that even the girl by his side feels his displeasure.

Judges Comment: Their body posture echoes the pure delight of this meeting. The surroundings vanish in a blur as they share in the moment. There are hugs and then there are moments like this where a wonderful moment is preserved with good lens choice and composition.

Judges Comment: One can almost hear her subdued chuckle as she receives the blessing of a child’s loving kiss. For a brief moment the day belonged as much to her as it did the bride - well, unless of course she IS the bride.

Judges Comment: The lighting in this image and the choice of lens is exactly what was needed for an added punch to an already “punch” moment of frivolity.

Judges Comment: The soft light and flowing curtains works well with the blurred reflection in the background to create a layered image that takes nothing away from the moment itself and the flowing tears upon a cheek.

Judges Comment: Everything is wrong about this photo and yet, so right. The cluttered background, the out-of-focus foreground, the tilted horizon... yet, ironically these “flaws” are what lead us to the subtle juxtaposition of shape and action in the mirrored wipe of a tear.