Sometimes “tough” lighting is really an opportunity to interpret subjects in a different way. Here’s a contre-jour shot that earned Chris a top ten in the WPJA’s recent contest. Entered in the “Silhouettes, Shadows, and Good Light” category, it checked in at 9th place.

Comments from the judges:

Nice composition of busy scene. It’s rewarding to look closely at the details.

We like the way the window treatments provide a natural frame, the trees add just a touch of color to the monochromatic scene, and the toast glasses provide dimensionality to what could have been an overly flat presentation of Kimberly and her bridesmaids.

The interaction of the backlit figures is also a case of life imitating art.  The image from Kimberly’s wedding reminds us a lot of this series of sculptures in Albany, NY, taken back in 1989 :

Judges for the contest:

• DARCY PADILLA – San Francisco based documentary photographer whose  work has appeared in publications including  The New York Times, and The Washington Post.
• WILL YURMAN – 2003 National Press Photographers Association Region 2 Photographer of the Year.
• ANN JOHANSSON – Freelance photojournalist whose publications include work in  the New York Times,  and Associated Press.
• TOM REESE – award-winning photojournalist including Best of Photojournalism and World in Focus