[Leica] World Photo Awards: What makes these great?

[Jack Milton]

I see your confusion. Every contest is a world unto itself; the judges have to choose from amongst what’s entered. That means a style, a “look,” a message, social relevance, a trend, or simply difference can separate the chosen winner. One contest-winning trend in recent years is black and white which appears to give an advantage, especially in documentary style photography.

Other things to consider are the structure and rules of the contest: who is eligible to enter, is there an entrance fee, do you give rights away by entering, who are the judges, or is there only one judge, will all places be awarded?

Note that I didn’t mention the quality of the photography.

In this particular case, it’s a stylish and intimate group of photos portraying a young immigrant caught between two worlds. It’s black and white. It ticks almost all the boxes, doesn’t it?

Jack Milton

On Mar 31, 2020, at 10:11 AM, Frank Filippone via LUG <lug at leica-users.org> wrote:

I do not understand what makes these pictures so great that they win a
major award.  I am serious.  I want to learn.  I see nothing in most and
only a glimmer of work in the others that would get the taker to the goal
line.  And yet, he won the whole enchilada.

On the LUG we have an amazing amount of talent, many pros from all types of
photography.  We discuss in depth what makes our own images good or bad.
So I ask you all....
What makes these images great?

https://www.worldphoto.org/sony-world-photography-awards/winners-galleries/2020/zeiss/winners/winner-metamorphosis-kyeongjun

Frank Filippone
BMWRed735i at gmail.com