It had been a while but a couple of weeks ago, one of my photographs was chosen as the Geograph photo of the week. My prize, as usual, was to pick the next week's winner from a shortlist of fifty images published by the nominated selector.
That task didn't take me long. Very soon the image shown above sang out to me and became my winner for Week 13. The judging process is proudly subjective.
The winning picture was titled "The Mould Maker" and it was taken in The Gladstone Pottery Museum near Stoke-on-Trent. In England, we refer to that area of the Midlands as "The Potteries" for it has a long history of creating all manner of pottery from fine tableware to ceramic drainage pipes.
Standing in the old mould room, the man in the photograph belongs to a group of actors called The Ragged Victorians who try to add an air of authenticity to the museum experience by playing the roles of Victorian workers.
I appreciate the way the light streams in from the right and the uniformly grubby appearance of the various moulds on display. And I also like the fact that the actor was obviously not saying, "Cheese!" In fact, he looks distinctly disgruntled.
By the way, this was my own winning image, taken at an old quarry just outside Sheffield by the Hathersage road...
Sounds like a museum worth a visit, but possibly expensive.
ReplyDeleteTo Yorkshiremen like us, all tickets are expensive.
DeleteYou picked an awesome winning photo -- such an enigmatic figure and atmospheric setting. I love your own winning photo too -- those cows are beautifully lit by the golden late afternoon sun.
ReplyDeleteGlad you like 'em Debra.
DeleteGreat choice. Yours too!
ReplyDeleteThanks DB. Does DB stand for "Done Busking"?
DeleteI agree with you. That top photo is excellent. The photographer wisely included a bit of the window with the light streaming in but the costumed actor and the dinginess of the room made me think of an old painting. Your photo also uses the light, shining on the cattle. Good work, Neil, both for your photo and for your choice of the other one.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first saw The Mould Maker, I also thought it was an oil painting.
DeleteI love that pottery photo, and the cows are lovely as well:)
ReplyDeleteI was honoured to select The Mould Maker.
DeleteThe lighting in both photos is wonderful. Cows make delightful subjects. One of those was keeping an eye on you.
ReplyDeleteI was hoping they wouldn't stampede.
DeleteIt's a grubby place bit it makes for a good photo.
ReplyDeleteMost workplaces are grubby.... unlike school classrooms!
DeleteThe Mould Maker is very deserving of its first place and so is your photo of the cows.
ReplyDeleteThe Mould Maker really stood above the crowd Elsie.
DeleteAh yes. Both photos are excellent, and it's a lot about lighting in both photos.
ReplyDeleteOr as our pal Steve might say - shadows and light.
DeleteI can see why both pictures made "Picture of the Week". They are very different in many aspects, but have in common that they are both great.
ReplyDeleteYou are very kind.
DeleteBoth images are exquisite but I do find yours much more calming, not so busy as the first one.
ReplyDeleteA couple of weeks ago we had a trip on the "Northern Belle" for a special birthday . As part of the cheeseboard there was a cheese called "Sheffield forge"' it was the tastiest cheese I've ever had. Might have to drive over to Sheffield to buy some!
You lucky man living so close!
Well, I had never heard of Sheffield Forge. I must look out for it.
DeleteI prefer your photograph than the pottery one. I have worked with lots of grumpy people like the man in the top photo. Factory work is so depressing and every day seems the same and you spend your days watching the clock.
ReplyDeleteThough you never post pictures of yourself, I imagine that you look something like that bloke.
DeleteI've worked in factories and loved it.
DeleteBoth photos are winners. The totally different subjects show the versatility of the photographers.
ReplyDeleteA generous comment. Thank you.
DeleteGreat images, congrats. Moooo!
ReplyDeleteDo they allow cows on ocean liners?
DeleteThe light effect in the top one makes it look almost like an AI generated image.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it isn't but it has a vaguely surreal look to it.
That is what I first thought. In fact I contacted the photographer to check the picture's veracity.
DeleteThe first one looks almost like a painting to me.
ReplyDeleteBoth are quite nice.,
Both photos so different from each other. Both photos so beautiful.
ReplyDeletei had to double take the photo you showed us of the mould maker - it does have a very "manufactured" quality about it..... per'aps a little post production buffing up maybe...... good photo though..... seems to dip between an oil painting and a photo quite well..... other worldly.....
ReplyDeleteI prefer yours. The cattle look happy and the potter doesn't.
ReplyDeleteYour photo is great, Neil. I love how the light shines on the hills in the background and also on the lovely cows. The photo you selected is also well done. I love the detail on all of those moulds.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great photo - somehow it also has kind of a surreal touch to it. (Which in turn reflects what is told about the context in which it was taken...)
ReplyDeleteWell done for winning again. The cows look as if they are having a picnic under the shelter of the trees. I love the one you have chosen too. But for it being in colour, it could have been taken two hundred years ago.
ReplyDeleteBoth of those images could be paintings!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like a Norman Rockwell painting
ReplyDelete