In November and December, the number one Dutch speaking newspaper in Belgium (De Standaard) hosted a photo contest on their website. In total, 16968 pictures were submitted by over 8000 photographers. You can see the article by clicking here. If I run it through google translate, it comes up as below.
Yes, I got the second place with a street photograph called ‘Street Religion’, taken in Harlem in New York (the photo is included below). Since there is no money in street photography, it is hard to value or rank street pictures. But this is certainly an encouragement!
The photo contest ran from November 9 to January 3 at De Standaard Online. Readers were submitting their pictures around four themes: portrait, action, street and landscape. Based on the number of votes on the site, each theme was also granted an audience award.
In total, 16,968 photographs were submitted by over 8,000 photographers. This made the task for the jury intensive. “It was relatively easy 20 to 30 images to select a break in level tasks,” said juror Sofie Stevens, chief photo of De Standaard. “Inside it was difficult to select a winner.”
Titus Simoens finally got the upper hand with his photograph “Las Vegas, Sun City”. “It is a very powerful image that emanates from” Sofie Stevens said, “You are sucked into it. The subject is however trivial: a group of people cross the street. It is the light of the sun, probably through a building just off screen, reflected on the faces. Their shadows make for an interesting game on the ground.
The second place was Wim Van Gestel ( “Street Religion”), the third spot for Martin Devoldere ( “Moving”).
The game was also on our French sister site Actu24.be. There the winner Guy Delwiche the picture “Mer”.
The jury consisted, besides Sofie Stevens, Joachim Devedeleer further, Canon professional imaging specialist from Belgium, Jacques Duchateau photographer and photographer Jimmy Kets.
Street Religion
Karolien
January 20, 2010 at 11:20
I knew this was a magnificent shot, but it’s so nice to hear your work is being appreciated by people who really know what they are talking about too. Great job!
Siegfried
January 21, 2010 at 02:13
beautiful picture indeed. You can tell from the other pictures that there were strong competitors, so congratulations!
Jesse
January 21, 2010 at 02:56
Congrats, Wim!!!!!
Wim Van Gestel
January 21, 2010 at 09:03
Thanks guys!
LiVe
January 22, 2010 at 23:36
congrats with your second place!
Thanks to De standaard I discovered this nice photoblog!
I’ll return frequently to enjoy your Story-telling-pictures!
Wim Van Gestel
January 22, 2010 at 23:44
Hi Lien,
Thank you so much for stopping by and for your kind words. I’ll be sure to pay your blog regular visits too!
Peter Vandijck
January 25, 2010 at 06:11
Great job, Wim!
Congrats, and keep up the good work!!
I’m a fan, but you knew that before
Enjoy your expedition!
Wim Van Gestel
January 25, 2010 at 10:02
Thanks, man!
Iris
February 3, 2010 at 01:04
Hoi wim,
IK vind jou foto’s allemaal geweldig mooi!!! proficiat ook met jou overwinning!! en terecht gewonnen! HEel mooi.
De buurt waar je de foto’s hebt ge maakt is ook supper mooi.
Jou zwart wit foto’s vind ik ook zeer moooi.
Proficiat!! groetjes
Wim Van Gestel
February 3, 2010 at 01:19
Merci voor de tijd te nemen om iets te komen zeggen, Iris! Ik hou ook erg van zwart wit, net omdat ik vind dat kleur iets speciaals hoort te zijn. Kleuren moeten zichzelf verdienen, vind ik.