WPJA Award Winning Photos

Here below a collection of Carlo Carletti’s WPJA award winning photos .

The Wedding Photojournalist Association (WPJA) is a professional organization composed of photojournalists and wedding photographers from all around the world. What sets its members apart in the industry is their candid, documentary approach – a distinctly artistic vision toward wedding photography.

JUDGES COMMENTS: A change in format doesn’t necessarily help make better pictures, but if the photograph works then it works and I liked this photograph for a variety of reasons. The light is wonderful on her scarf, the repeating smiles on the faces of the women in the background and the general feel of the photograph. The thing I wish I could’ve seen a bit more of was the women’s faces in the foreground. I just felt that it was so close to completely blowing the other pics away, but the fact that the expressions were a bit hard to read. I loved the feel of the picture and I also liked the composition and the risk of using a different format.

5

5

JUDGES COMMENTS: The textural depth, moody appeal and architectural features in this image combine to create a timeless and classic setting for an iconic bride whose anonymity enhances the power of this image.

5

5

5

5

JUDGES COMMENTS: The photographer did a good job to anticipate, and make this image. All of the elements fell into place, including the unpredictable birds.This image has peak moment, a strong composition and wonderful sense of joy and place.

5

5

JUDGES COMMENTS: A complicated picture full of little stories to unwrap. This photographer worked hard to find sense in the chaos of the moment. Everything works together: the hands primping hair, the hug, the look of the man at right. It’s urgent and busy and intriguing.

5

5

JUDGES COMMENTS: I don’t think every wedding photo has to look like it was spotless. I cherish reality. It’s nice to see a true—yet still quaint—behind the scenes view. What happened here? We don’t know, but we’re intrigued. This is an unusual wedding picture, which is why it catches the eye. All the elements are there, but dirty dishes and flowers that don’t look ready for prime time surround them. Most of us would have walked past this picture without thinking of raising our cameras.

5

5

JUDGES COMMENTS: This is a great shot with great light, nice reflection and mood. The quality of light is terrific.

5

5

JUDGES COMMENTS: A very intriguing photo, with echoes of Ellis Island. A very original wedding photo.

5

5

JUDGES COMMENTS: The sense of place in this photo is intense. Foreground, background, and the group of people in which each person is both distinct and anonymous, all contribute to making me feel the place. If any one of the elements had been out of place, this photograph would have come crashing down. Nicely handled.
5

5

5

JUDGES COMMENTS: Nice risk-taking in stepping back to include the empty chairs.
5

5

JUDGES COMMENTS: Everything combines to make this a memorable photograph. A great moment, wonderful expressions, and effective framing help the viewer to “feel” just as the people in the background likely did while witnessing it.
Fun! It’s sometimes hard to catch this kind of moment just right.

5

5

JUDGES COMMENTS: Great moment of the girls. They seem unaware of the photographer.
5

5

JUDGES COMMENTS: There were some very nice images in this category. But my favorite is this one because it shows intimacy with the subject, as it is not the way a bride would hang a dress before the wedding. Shooting through the curtain adds to the voyeur effect.

5

5

JUDGES COMMENTS: I love the depth of this picture. I start at the bride, then move back into the picture to each of the many, many details in the layers behind the bride. Also, the photographer waited for a precise moment, when the bride’s body language adds a sense of mystery, when one person looks at her over the shoulder, another person takes a picture, oblivious to the bride, and a conversation continues uninterrupted to the left of the frame. The panoramic frame help emphasize the broad sweep of the experiences of the people, and makes the angled buildings seem even more three-dimensional. A very complex, well-controlled photograph.

5

5

JUDGES COMMENTS: The wide angle view of the plaza, the disinterested people and the happy couple kissing in the center of the frame create a romantic and interesting panorama in black and white.A sweet moment between a couple complemented by the looming sky.

5

5

JUDGES COMMENTS: Well thought out and artistic moment. Very nice seeing. The fact that it appears to be the bride and groom walking through the puddle really adds to the image, as well as the elegance of the building reflected. This is almost a gimmick shot, saved by the hands holding up the dress and the deliberate step of the man on the left. With those two elements, which are moments caught by the photographer, it becomes a picture about negotiating a wet day. Nicely done.

5

5

5

5

5

JUDGES COMMENTS: Hands down winner for me, no pun intended. The hands make it, photographer took a different and interesting high angle and waited for the composition to come together. Others tried it, but only this photographer pulled it off. Nice color palette.

5

5

JUDGES COMMENTS: Immediate, active picture that does an excellent job of capturing the feeling and excitement of the rice toss. Like the tight cropping, the bit of layering and slight blur as they work together to put the viewer right there.

5

5

JUDGES COMMENTS: An appealing image in this category as it effectively provides a good sense of place and captures the intimate mood of this small reception. Good use of asymmetry in the composition. I also appreciate the strong use of complementary colors – blue of the sky against the warm tungsten glow of the reception, although shifting the color balance setting more toward the Kelvin of tungsten could have eliminated some of the more egregious orange/red while at the same time intensifying the blue of the sky.

5

5

JUDGES COMMENTS: The photographer has captured the ambience of a reception that’s being held on the grounds of a beautiful historic home, with an ensemble playing soft background music. This is clearly an elegant, sophisticated wedding.

5

5

JUDGES COMMENTS: Great moment, use of light and composition. The photographer made good use of natural light silhouetting the bridesmaids repetitive gestures while providing nice rim lighting on the bride. The dark door frame also frames the bride, which accentuates the light on her face.

5

5

JUDGES COMMENTS: What a fantastic display for a reception! The couple are framed beautifully by the pillars, leading lines of smoke and fireworks and the table setting below is a nice touch. Splendid composition and light.

5

5

JUDGES COMMENTS: Well framed. Great face–the faces make this image.

5

5

JUDGES COMMENTS: Though very simple, I appreciate it when a photographer takes a step back and to see even a basic moment and doesn’t let it slip away because there is mystical love in this image.

5

55

JUDGES COMMENTS: Wondrous moment where a journalist approach shines the power of communication…in this case, for a wedding.

55

5

JUDGES COMMENTS: Lovely feel, brilliant light and sense of love and solitude. Something tells me the photographer could have moved back futher but either way, very nice.

5

5

JUDGES COMMENTS: A really interesting picture, almost magic. The groom seems to be surrounded by angels. Beautiful, intense.

5

5

JUDGES COMMENTS: A fantastic moment about culture, ethnic identity, friendship, love, complicity. It’s not just a wedding picture.

5

JUDGES COMMENTS: Choice of wide angle in close with well-toned black and white made this photograph of getting ready transcend the situation. An endearing portrait that combines the reality of pre-ceremony activity while also revealing a sentimental feel.

5

5

5

5

JUDGES COMMENTS: Quick thinking on the part of the photographer in seeing the moment and then composing through nuns evokes an elegant sense of urgency as the bride seems to be hurrying to get to her ceremony. Offers a sense of place that will nicely supplement some of the more traditional photographs from the ceremony. A very different feel and one that will certainly evoke fond memories in the years to come.

5

5

JUDGES COMMENTS: This photo has a lot of action that makes it a strong photo. Expression of the groom in the middle of all the chaos is a funny moment. Again the photographer has done a great job recording this moment where not one person is looking at the camera!