There were 47 great entries, and we thank every photographer who took the time to participate. But there was little agreement about which three images qualified as the best of the best. Each judge came to the table with their top few picks — and no two were alike.
Everyone had strong selections, a strong rationale for each of their favorites, and a definite point of view.Kyle Davis sought bold, simple images that spoke to her on an emotional level.
Nick Markwardt wanted uniqueness — “I want something that's going to make me pause and take note.”
Grace Nakazawa was looking for photos that captured the drama, excitement and beauty of flight, and her three selections each exemplified one of those key characteristics.
Of course all the judges were concerned with elements like lighting, composition, technical excellence, and artistic flair.
We finally agreed on our favorites and turned the judging over to Nick. As BDN Art Director, Nick looks at dozens of aviation photos every day. He’s knowledgeable and passionate, with a great eye, so we knew the judging was in good hands.
First, some honorable mentions (click to expand the image):
Honorable Mentions |
|||
 |
Grace Says: "This shot is exciting. It has a lot to do with timing, and I was totally hooked when I noticed the reflection of the flares on the belly of the aircraft."
|
||
| "Flares! F-16s over Arizona" by Scott Dworkin |
|||
 |
Nick Says: "Teenage me would want this as a poster over my bed. I can smell the wet grass and engine oil. It makes me want to go flying."
|
||
| "North American T-6 Texan departs RWY 22 at Falcon Field in Mesa, Arizona" by Brent Clark |
|||
 |
Nick Says: "This image has a truly contemporary feel; it's all about balance and color. I'm in love with the gentle gradient from blue sky to warm sun and depth of color in the impeccably clean cockpit."
|
||
| "Student practices steep turns from the right seat over central Kentucky" by David Takahashi |
|||
And now, the winners of the the 2017 BDN Photo Contest (click to expand the image):
Third Place, $100 |
|
 |
|
| "A U.S. Navy FA18E Super Hornet creates its own weather while flying low level at sunset" by Kevin Whitehead |
|
|
Grace Says: "I kept coming back to this image. Nick Says: "I was a bit dismissive of this image at first, but on closer inspection I was taken in by the way the light catches in the vapor like a halo, and the streaks and shadows lend a terrific a sense of motion. |
Second Place, $200 |
|
 |
|
| "Boeing 777 breaking through the clouds" by Matthias Geiger |
|
|
Kyle Says: "There's something magical and other-worldly about this image that has me hooked." Nick Says: "Commercial flight is taken for granted and we're all a bit numb to it. It's really refreshing to encounter an image that makes you take notice of the majesty in the air above us." |
First Place, $500 |
|
 |
|
| "Heaven and Hell" by Jay Beckman |
|
|
Grace Says: "There's a simplicity to it. The saturation is great, and the ability to get the details on the aircraft demonstrates great technique." Kyle Says: "I had to be convinced that this was a winning shot, but the more I studied it, the more I came to appreciate the feeling of majesty this image conveys." Nick Says: "I knew we took a risk when selecting this image as our winner. It could be considered cliché, but it's done so right. Nothing is out of place and all of of colors come through. I geeked-out over the perfect highlight on the canopy; providing just enjough information to define the shape. |
This concludes our month-long series on photography. If you enjoyed this blog, you may also be interested in:
“
”
“Four Fundamentals of Great Aviation Photography”
“Creating 1 Image from 7: A Photography How-To”
With the end of 2018 in sight we're all about planning for the new year, so that's what our next few blogs will address. Stay tuned on October 10 to read about "The 10 Things Aerospace Marketers Should Be Doing Right Now."