January competition - Food

Prize

Sponsor

There was an interesting selection to look through for this theme. We noticed quite a few newcomers have entered too...thanks for joining in. I hope you become regulars. What I really liked about this competition is it attracted a fair few high quality food still lifes that wouldn't look out of place in recipe book illustrations, some of these, along with a few mad ones...made it to the shortlist.

The winning shot, taken in a market cafe, hit a soft spot for the judge...not only does he love Henderson's relish, but was also brought up in Sheffield and experienced meals in that very cafe. But it's not just about pleasing the judge, the shot records the experience of eating in such as cafe with great skill. The low angle, muted tones, shallow depth of field, inclusion of people without giving away their personality, all bring together a brilliant piece of street photography/photo journalism that should be archived for future generations.

We had a few alphabet style shots but the cleanness of the second place is what gave it the edge. Crisp detail and lushness in the sauce...makes you want to grab the knife and fork and dig in. An arrangement that could quite easily have been overdone. Keeping it simple worked here.