Change

This is a compelling image and it is technically excellent with an interesting composition. Monochrome suits this image very well adding to the starkness of the scene. Change here is on a huge scale with the demolition occurring through the entire image. I felt that it fitted the remit in that I took this to be the aftermath of an earthquake - these are may become more frequent as the environmental changes and the earth warms. Technically it is excellent with a full range of tones from white to black but with plenty of details in the middle grey tones. The snow in the foreground shows lots of details - it would have been easy to overexpose this. Focus is maintained throughout the frame with a recession in tones giving depth to the image. Compositionally the lead in from the left along the buildings draws us into the scene; the angled debris in the foreground on the right acts in the same way leading us towards the centre activity. The low angle of taking the photo accentuates the complete devastation in the foreground. Two elements, the pile of snow on the left and the barbed wire across the sky, stop our progress into the image - normally something to avoid in a composition. But here to me it is all part of the story telling us that we are not welcome here and maybe the change for whatever reason is not welcome with the people.

Another excellent black and white image; although colour might have added to story of the pollution by debris on this beach, the monochrome helps to simplify an already busy image. Again we do not know the reason for this change but I am reading it as the result of a natural disaster such as severe flooding, which will become more common as the weather systems become more unstable. We have the story of a great change from what was obviously a beautiful beach to an eyesore. The presence of the figure searching the piles of debris gives great impact to the image. Technically a good monochrome image with good tonal range achieved in the monochrome processing. The camera technique is good with differential focus used to start our journey on the left at the in focus bin. We are led through levels of focus to the figure which cuts the horizon tying the whole image together.

My third choice represents the effects of environmental change on the planet's wildlife. Here a whale beached may be the result of early melting of the ice pack, changing water levels and ocean currents and the consequent absence of their natural krill food. A very pleasing and cohesive image drawing on a very limited palette going from the warmer front colours of the whale which stand out well against the bluer background hues, giving colour depth to the image. A very attractive sky completes the image.