Vote for the April Challenge

[Alan Beastall]

This is what I wanted to see, some powerful images of women in our society, for better or for worse and you have let me down. Some great images for this months challenge. Many thanks for all those who entered. It as been very difficult to pick the 12 finalist shown below from the 53 images entered. 

 

You have until Midday on the 30th April 2019.

 

Alan.

 

 

1) Colin Woods CTWATH Freedom

 

2) Michael Ventura AA8YKX A Woman Firefighter

 

3) John Mitchell DTHNH2 Young Homeless woman with her dog

 

 

4) Sally T2719A A woman getting tattoos

 

5) Eden HJ0FHC Anti Trump rally

 

6) TeeCee BT4AYF OAP ambassador Joan Bakewell

 

7) MizBrown HRHH9K Deaf Nicaraguan girl

 

 

 losdemas E5YX45 Young woman with an opinion

 

9) Avpics M5RAXC When I grow up

 

10) NYCat HJPCNJ Maasai woman with water barrel

11) vpics EWBR8Y Soldiers

 

12) andremichel J6C154 A Lifeguard at Bondi

[NYCat]

Thank you for including my Maasai woman. So many wonderful images.

 

Paulette

[Sally]

Thanks for including one of mine in your shortlist.  Great competition topic.

Edited April 26, 2019 by Sally

[Michael Ventura]

Thanks for including one of mine Alan.  Love the topic!  

[MizBrown]

Thanks for including the deaf girl studying at Mayflower Medical Outreach's refuge for deaf Nicaraguans.

[Eden]

Thanks for including mine!

 

[andremichel]

Thanks for including my lifeguard. 

 

Andy

[Alan Beastall]

And the winner for the April Challenge goes to Michael Ventura with his image of the Woman Firefighter.

Many thanks to all those who entered the challenge and voted.  So over to you Michael for the May 2019 challenge.

 

Alan

[Michael Ventura]

Thank you Alan and thanks for all the votes!  I will have a new challenge up by tomorrow.  

 

I want to give some background on the female firefighter photo.  I shot this many years ago, for stock, to illustrate this very topic. The woman was a girlfriend of mine and she is wearing my brother’s fire gear.  He was a career firefighter for the city of Washington DC in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s...during that time there nearly no women firefighters on the force....and sadly he liked it that way.  It was a “boys club” for him.  He is now retired and things have changed.  So fast forward to today, I have a daughter who is 23 years old and has always wanted to be a first responder of some sort.  Against my brother’s advice she became a volunteer firefighter, for our community, and also works in a hospital emergency room as a nurse.  It does make nervous that she goes into burning buildings but so proud that she does (and can do now) what she loves.  Though I cringe at the stories I hear from her after a shift.  

[NYCat]

How wonderful, Michael. I love the people who put themselves in harms way to keep us safe. Your daughter sounds wonderful. And your girlfriend did an excellent acting job in that photo. She supplied the emotion. Congratulations on your win.

 

Paulette

[losdemas]

Oh gawd - late on parade again! Second inclusion in as many months - just wasn't expecting that! Thanks for including me. Winner was never in doubt - very powerful portrait. Very well done all! 

[TeeCee]

Yikes - bit late but just found this - thanks for including one of mine!

😀