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"Contrasts" photo competition - these are the winners

Reading time: 5 minutes - October 21 - by Niels Stiefeling

In keeping with the theme of our current issue of Schnappschuss magazine, we invited you to submit your best pictures on the subject of "Contrasts". Almost 770 participants responded to this call and sent us a wide range of around 2000 photos. Above all, it became clear that contrasts in pictures cannot be created solely by large differences in color or brightness, but that contrasts in content can contribute to an interesting picture.

After a long back and forth, our jury decided on the best five pictures, which convinced the jurors in one way or another. The different approaches chosen by the photographers can be clearly seen. While one picture is perfectly staged and no detail is left to chance, the other thrives on spontaneity and a loose depiction of the surroundings: It is the contrasts that make these photos special and ensure that they stay in our memories.

1st place: Stephan Opitz

The winning photo 2019 - cyclist in Shanghai

Our first-place winner Stephan Opitz wasn't actually in the Chinese metropolis of Shanghai to take photos, but was only there on business. During two days off, however, he was able to pursue his hobby there and tried to capture the prevailing contrasts of this big city in a photo series. What at first glance could be a lucky snapshot is in fact a deliberately constructed and planned photograph. First the image section was determined, then it was just a matter of waiting for a person to fill the selected frame. After a few minutes, a cyclist happened to cross the scene.
The result is a wonderfully atmospheric black and white image that shows clear contrasts in the huge city. In the background the modern high-rise buildings and housing estates and in front the simplicity of the cyclist. Both are additionally separated by the wall, which emphasizes the contrasts. You can find more pictures from the series and other works by Opitz on his homepage or on Instagram.

2nd place: Wolfgang Laimer

2nd place - Intergenerational care

The second-placed picture in our competition was taken in the company of a small family in Upper Austria. The old lady in the picture was being cared for by the family and lovingly fed by her grandchildren. Amateur photographer Wolfgang Laimer was able to capture this moment and thus create an atmospheric memory for the family he knows.
Small details such as the light shining in from the right or the religious symbols in the background create a very special mood and image effect. Despite the large age difference, an emotional bond between the two people can clearly be seen and that different generations can benefit and learn from each other in many ways.
Further works by our runner-up can be found on his homepage.

3rd place: Mikhail Kapychka

3rd place - Rusky Temple in Moscow

Mikhail Kapychka has created an interesting picture in the center of Moscow. Both new and old architecture can be seen in his composition. With their glass fa?ades, the modern office buildings form an exciting frame for the old Rusky Temple, which also looks interesting due to its rather unknown construction. The view is guided by the deliberately chosen lines. The reflections in the puddle round off the picture and make it a real eye-catcher.

4th place: B?rbel Bartosch

4th place - The door

4th place is excellent proof that spontaneous shots can also make an impression. It doesn't always take perfect planning and execution, sometimes it's much more the eye for the right motif and a pinch of humor that lead to interesting pictures. B?rbel Bartosch noticed the contrast between the door and the lettering on Lanzarote and simply wanted to capture this motif. She ran out of space on her memory card and almost didn't take this picture. Fortunately, the door found its way onto the storage medium after all.

5th place - Paint it Black

The photographer of our fifth place winner has also taken an everyday scene and created an interesting picture. The picture is full of contrasts and was therefore perfect for our photo competition. He himself describes his picture as follows:
"'Paint it Black' shows an almost ordinary scene. A Berlin house facade is being given a new coat of paint. However, the contrasts create a strong symbolic power. The combination of black and white stands for opposites. This duality is repeated in the work clothes of the painters, who, hanging on ropes from above, pursue their 'black painting'. "

You can find more from Jonas Becks on his Facebook page.

5th place: Jonas Beck

Summary of the Contrasts 2019 photo competition

In addition to the five winners, we naturally also received a number of interesting images that stayed in our minds or raised questions. Many pictures only just failed to make it into the top five because the theme of our competition was not exactly right or the jury could not reach a consensus.

We would like to thank all participants who once again presented us with a difficult but also exciting task. We are already looking forward to interesting entries for our next competition, which is sure to come in the near future.
Until then, we wish you lots of fun and enjoyment in taking photos and exciting places and experiences that are worth capturing!

Contrasts" photo competition - All pictures

The prizes

1st place: Fujifilm X-T30 + XC 15-45 OIS PZ
Stylishly compact - the impressive all-round system camera.

2nd place: Phase One Capture One Pro 12
The image editing software for a fast workflow.

3rd place: Hawke Endurance ED comp. 8x25
Handy binoculars for high demands.

4th place: Gariz carrying strap XS-CHLSNBR2
High-quality genuine leather strap in an elegant design.

5th place: SanDisk SDXC Extreme Pro Video Speed Class V30 128 GB
Fast and robust memory card.

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