AG|WPJA The Artistic Guild of the WPJA

Judges Comment: I don't recall ever seeing anything like this before. At the least, I think we could all agree that it's an anomaly. Check it out…absolutely NO ONE is trying to snag that tossed bouquet. Every bouquet-toss image I can remember has been filled with flying hands, feet and torsos. Some are so physical that you wonder if the toss could become a new event at the X Games. But here, in this image, these singles are apparently contented with their relationship status.

Judges Comment: How can you not like an unsuspecting rip of the pants, especially when pretty much everyone seems to know about his brief bursting buns except for the man himself, who is apparently too busy ripping up the dance floor to even notice. Maybe that's one reason why those singles in our first place image aren't leaping for that bouquet.

Judges Comment: This image speaks with a frenetic gasp. I can't help but feel half-panicked and stressed just looking at it. The bride races to keep up as the man ahead of her smokes what must have been a frantic last puff. I love the way their postures are stiff and tense and the way that solid brick wall behind them sends the same feeling.

Judges Comment: The photographer has done it all in this image. First there is the moment itself. That man is clearly exhausted - even his flower is wilted. Combined with a super-wide lens and the desaturation, this image speaks to the moment right down to the tilt of the camera. It's as though the entire image wants to lie down and rest.

Judges Comment: I've seen thousands of images of musicians performing at weddings, but I can't recall any that include the shadows of attendees dancing on the wall behind the performance. That extra layer of shadowy information catapults this from a nice "record" shot to an intriguing image.

Judges Comment: Wow. What a passionate image - romance twirling through the night - a direct flash momentarily lighting them in a spotlighted stage of their own making.

Judges Comment: The tonal range in this image and it's lightly warm tint mixes well with the beautiful, if not elaborate moment. It's a wonderful image that blends strong composition with exacting skill.

Judges Comment: This is a lovely blend of a "green pearl" style of bloom with desaturation. It's a perfect place to use this approach, as it echos the overall feel of the moment. I love the passion this image exudes, from bride and groom to the photograph itself.

Judges Comment: An image that is almost a parody of itself - a painterly approach to a room of paintings and photographs. The filter use is a good choice for an image as sublime as this. When combined with color and composition it all comes together for a visually intriguing image.

Judges Comment: The wedding party looks like trophies lined up on a shelf - a strong linear composition supports the partially silhouetted figures. Furthermore, if you look closely - there in the middle just above that wedding cake - you'll find a moment, as the bride looks at her uniformed groom.

Judges Comment: Can you think of a better time to use a super-wide lens? This is a great opportunity to exploit that approach, but what is really amazing is the lighting. Follow the shadows and you'll find the lights.

Judges Comment: This was a great opportunity to use a panoramic camera. For those of us who have used them, a scene like this could have any number of mishaps. But, the photographer has pulled it off with aplomb and provided us with a delightful image.

Judges Comment: Okay, sure, most of us have either seen or shot a scene like this before. But this one wins because it's done better than most of the rest of its kind. I love the way the jacket engulfs the child. It provides a sense of her size and age and speaks of her father's loving care. It's simply a lovely image.

Judges Comment: Besides some great execution by the photographer (and, perhaps we should add, the groom) this is a wonderful moment found in the bride's playful expression. It's a comical visual "gasp."

Judges Comment: I couldn't help but think about candy when I saw this photo. Or some plasticized rendition of the song Copacabana. Barry Manilow is singing and these people are dancing and the whole thing makes me feel like changing the channel if I could just stop tapping my feet. In short, what this image does well is create an immediate mood or feeling in the viewer. It's nicely done.

Judges Comment: Here's a good use of tilt in an image. The viewer is thrown back along with the bride. We can almost feel the movement of dance. I also like the soft "noise reduction" kind of filter used here. It provides plenty enough detail for us to engage with the moment but not enough that we miss the first dance.

Judges Comment: I remember a photo of my grandmother wearing a dress like that during the early 1920's. The portrait of her was, like most others in the era, somewhat static and stoic. But when I looked at it I could always imagine her looking something like this image with all those frilly strings swaying in motion to the moment. But while we're discussing this, consider one of the amazing abilities of a single image to trigger a narrative in the mind of the viewer. Nonetheless, it all begins with a moment - both memory and images.

Judges Comment: I think the composition, weighted to the right, helps accentuate this wonderful moment. But, let's not rule out the left side either. The woman holds her hand to her mouth and the other looks at the embrace with a knowing and sentimental visage. All of the elements lead us to a moment that is unmistakable and universal.

Judges Comment: On occasion, a photo is chosen about which you have little to say other than, "What a nice photo." But if you dig, there is always a reason why. In this case I enjoy the symmetrical balance of shape and form…it's almost like a bell curve. And I also like that it's a partial silhouette, particularly the way the rims of the carriage are highlighted against that dark horizon.

Judges Comment: The bride's shadow helps form an entry point into this image. I liked the direct light on the bouquet that helps make it the focal point of the action.