Photos of the Month Contest

November Results for P.O.M.

The November edition of Photo of the Month was judged by former Montreal Gazette photo editor Marcos Townsend.

FEATURE

1. FEAnovAPR1

TORONTO, Ont. (03/11/17) - The moon rises over Toronto on November 3. Photo by Andrew Ryan

2. FEAnovYAG1

BELLEVILLE, ONT (11/28/17) — Charlene Mcintee stands in the doorway of her late sons bedroom. Her son, Thomas Martin passed away on Feb. 29, 2016 after a long fight with Gliomatosis Cerebri, a rare form of brain cancer. Thomas was first diagnosed in 2014 after a seizure sent him to hospital. On average, 1,000 children a year are diagnosed with cancer in Canada. Of these, 100 will not survive. The families of these children are often critical of the pharmaceutical industry that directs less than five percent of funding towards childhood cancer research. Photo by Yader Guzman

3. FEAnovAPR2

BELLVILLE, Ont. (16/11/17) - Royden Baker and Sylvia French participate in the Quinte Ballet School's Dancing with Parkinson's class. The class helps to alleviate some symptoms of Parkinson's disease and promote mobility. Photo by Andrew Ryan

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First - An evocative sunrise photo that illustrates a strong sense of colour, exposure and composition. The CN Tower nicely balances the moon. The rule of thirds is also well applied in this image.

Second - A poignant moment, nice composition, and--to illustrate Thomas's various interests--appropriately tight framing on the wall and door elements.

Third - When presented with the few elements in this obviously sparse room the photographer took care to place those elements across the frame in a way that gives the viewer a sense of the moment. It might have been difficult to work any more subjects into the frame.

NEWS

1. NEWnovAXI1

OTTAWA, Ont. (11/11/17) — Diane Abel, the 2017 Canadian Silver Cross Mother, weeps during the Remembrance Day Ceremony on Nov. 11, 2017 in Ottawa, Ont. Her son, Cpl. Micheal David Abel, died in an accident Somalia in 1993. Photo by Andrej Ivanov

2. NEWnovAXI2

OTTAWA, Ont. (11/11/17) — People lay poppies at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Ottawa's War Memorial on Nov. 11, 2017. Hundreds gathered on the cold Saturday morning to commemorate war veterans who have died in the line of duty. Photo by Andrej Ivanov

3. NEWnovAPR3

TORONTO, Ont. (17/11/17) - Anthony Wilson places flowers in a makeshift memorial to his late-wife who died of an overdose in Moss park. Wilson said "The funny thing is she wasn't into drugs at all before she started on prescription pills". Photo by Andrew Ryan

HM NEWnovAXI3

MONTREAL, Que. (11/12/17) — A child reaches for the balloon she let go of during an anti-hate march in Montreal, Que. on Nov. 12, 2017. Photo by Andrej Ivanov

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First - Abel's break from the rigid postures and distant looks of those around her is complete enough to make her stand out and the composition is loose enough to give the viewer a clear context without being so loose as to distract from Abel's emotion.

Second - One of the rarer occasions when cropping most of the people in a photo off at the neck still works. The women at left and centre, the capped soldier and the poppies in focus on the statue create a clear oblong that keeps one's eye circulating in the image. The shallow focus helps the keep the non-essential elements of the crowd out of mind.

Third - It might have been good to see a moment before or after since Wilson's expression is hard to read in this moment and emotion's the overriding element in this situation. Perhaps it wouldn't have worked for this photo, but sometimes the action of turning to or from an act makes a more engaging photo than capturing the act itself. Perhaps capturing Wilson as he turned away from the memorial or paused after placing the flower could have worked.

HM - Though the main elements (the child and the balloon) are no quite enough to have a strong impact on the photo, the photographer deserves kudos for trying to get something different.

SPORTS

1. SPTnovSDS2

Belleville, Ont. (29/11/17) – Belleville Senators center Max Reinhart fights for position in front of the Laval Rockets goal during a home game. The Senators went on to win the game 3-2 in overtime. Photo by Sasha Sefter

2. SPTnovAXI1

BELLEVILLE, Ont. (11/01/17) — Belleville Senators Rightwing Ben Sexton, 26, throws a punch at Syracuse Crunch Defensemen Daniel Walcott, 85, during the B. Sens first home game in Belleville, Ont. on Nov. 1, 2017. The newest AHL team beat the Crunch 4-3 in a 2nd overtime shootout. Photo by Andrej Ivanov

3. SPTnovAPR1

BELLEVILLE, Ont. (01/11/17) - Belleville Senators right wing Tyler Randall escapes the Senators' defensive zone with Syracuse Crunch's Cory Conacher on his heels in Belleville's first home game of the season. Photo by Andrew Ryan

HM - SPTnovSDS1

Peterborough, Ont. (04/11/17) – Rachelle Mannete and Kiersten Bennette celebrate after placing third in the OCAA Women's 7's rugby tournament in Peterborough. Photo by Sasha Sefter

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First - Good timing and though composition in sports is somewhat dependent on forethought about your shooting position, cropping also plays a part. The picture was well executed on both counts.

Second - Nice level of awareness on the photographers part to be in the mix and capture Secton's punch and the grimace on Walcott's face. The referee's hand coming through is a welcome element.

Third - Good sports photos are about riming and peak action. I would have liked to see the next frame when one of their sticks might have been on the puck, but the Crunch's Conacher body position and focus - also reflected by the faces in the crowd - are what make this photo.

HM - Nice composition and subject isolation. Though they're not posing for the photographer, it is still a posed photo which works against it as a sports photo in this photo contest.

PORTRAIT

1. PRTnovAPR1

KINGSTON, Ont. (29/11/17) -- Ashleigh Rider waits for her daughter Chloee, 9, after school in Kingston. The two were separated after Rider entered a drug rehabilitation centre. Rider's recovery from substance abuse might have been quicker had rehabilitation centres accommodated mothers with children. The proposed Kingston House of Recovery for Women and Children addresses the difficult decision faced by mothers fighting through addiction often have to make. Photo by Andrew Ryan/The Globe and Mail

2.PRT_Nov_AW1

3. PRTnovAPR2

BRIGHTON, Ont. (19/11/17) - Laura McLean adjusts a bedside memorial photo of her son Jessie Borris at her home in Brighton. Jessie died of an overdose in 2014 which spurred McLean to open a transition home honouring his memory. Photo by Andrew Ryan

HM - PRTnovAXI1

TORONTO, Ont. (02/11/17) — A woman in calavera makeup poses for an image at the Día de muertos (Day of the dead) celebration in Toronto's Harbourfront Centre. The Day of the dead is a holiday celebrated on Nov. 2 in Mexico to commemorate friends and family who have died, as well as a time to gather, pray and celebrate. Photo by Andrej Ivanov

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First - Though there's not a lot to read into the subjects emotion, but the exposure uses the light and sadow very well. It draws one's attention to Ashleigh's choice of brightly coloured clothes for the park, and the mic of closed and open postures (watchful eyes, arms crossed possibly against the cold, etc.) That the sole of her boot is illuminated is a nice incidental touch. The composition with the playground objects, the bench, the house and even the curving slide returning attention to the centre of the image are nice.

Second - The photo conveys both emotion and nicely illustrates suggests the ambiance. It would have been good to capture more visual detail of Rushnell's face, but the surroundings draw the viewer into the image. This makes the viewer linger and perhaps consider what goes through Rushnell's mind as he works.

Third - Most of the character insight comes from the incidental items in McLean's room. Considering the circumstances it is fitting that her face is obscured by smoke.

HM - The photo is striking though, if the subject weren't wearing makeup the picture would be much less remarkable. This would score higher if it related something about the subject bu illustrating one of their actions.

MULTIPIX

1. MPXnovAPR1