City Competition 1 2014 - all cities!
Results
Winning Photo

This photograph spoke to the jury on so many levels: The opulence of what the billboard is hawking juxtaposed in a provoking way against the man in the mobility scooter whose cap reads the message that "Life is a gift". When looking at the airbrushed beauty of the model in contrast to the smiling eyes of the elderly gentleman, we might step back and ask ourselves the question, "what really does fulfill us?" It's hard to miss that only one is smiling. Besides being technically well executed with a superb composition, the image succeeds from an thought provoking standpoint as well.

First, I would like to thank the jury for the recognition. It was captured with Leica MM and a Summicron 50. My daily world is largely immersed in financial transactions but photography is my deepest passion and my escape from the insanity and pace of my financial career. I travel often to exciting cities to such places as Milan, Paris and NYC where it is easy to be photographically inspired. Yet, whilst home, I found myself wanting. So, I now force myself to take just one image per day outside my work place. By doing such, I am finally seeing things that have always been there. I had walked by this poster and this man for years. But never before had I seen the juxtaposition that was constantly before me. And never before had I stopped to talk to Jim. He is bound to a mobility scooter and lives on charity but his spirit and his love of life lives up to the motto on his hat and the warmth in his smile. I am quite sure he has a leg up on Cameron Diaz and her fancy watch.