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And The Winner Is...
Diane Jarosy
"It's always good to have different media in a competition like this - although it makes it much harder for the judge! This poem captures not only the feeling of the season, but also its inner meaning for many pagans. It is full of strong visual images, 'fingers of light' and 'past years dance' and would make an excellent theme for meditation on the morning of the Solstice. A very beautiful poem - it deserves a special place in your Book of Shadows. "
Altar Photo by Briony Dawkins
"This is a wonderfully atmospheric photograph that captures the sense of being between worlds. The dramatic tilt in colouring towards the blue end of the spectrum gives the viewer a strong feeling that we are seeing something very special indeed, and the juxtaposition of pentagram, candles, flowers and human profile show clearly the links between the practitioner and magical and religious practice."
Snowmen cards by Katy with hand crocheted scarves
"This is a deceptively simple arrangement, with the image of the snowmen reduced to basic circles. However, the grouping is interesting and effective, as is the idea of giving them hand crocheted scarves - this turns a 2D image into a very effective group with real depth. The snowmen - especially the two on the left, are interacting with each other very effectively! As a group the snowmen now have a sense of communal identity."
"This is a very dramatic piece - the colours successfully evoke this time of year, there's a nice sense of patterning and the glowing colours and glitter all add to the spirit of the season. Human faces are never easy to paint, and this one captures nicely the otherworldly feel of the Dryad, I particularly liked the spiral on her left cheek. Very atmospheric."
Old Crow by Seawitch
"This captures wonderfully the sense of stillness with the crow sitting on the fence post and the barbed wire forming an effective spatial barrier between the viewer and the other crows. Placing some birds in the sky and on the ground also leads the viewer's eye around the picture - all the birds are busy, even if they are far away. There is a great sense of mystery, of expectation. Even if the viewer knows nothing about the folklore of birds, this picture conveys the sense of the great intelligence of these birds. A haunting image of the dark days of winter."
Dawn at the Henge by Hatty
"A visually striking image of frosted berries set against a background of tangled branches. I particularly liked the frozen droplets of water, caught and held in suspension. The round berries are a vivid reminder of the sun at this time of year, frozen, suspended at the solstice but waiting to return. They contrast well with the straight lines of the background. A very timely reminder of the natural world around us."
Yule Log Burning in Bonfire by Mouse Pentreath Laity
"I love bonfires at Yule! This is a very dramatic vision of the Yule log going up in flames. A light in the darkness at the darkest time of year, a warm fire in the heart of winter. A powerful sense of light heat and movement, a roaring fire that will challenge and quite literally 'chase the cold winter away.'"
"This is very stylised, in the manner of a stained glass window, but with a pagan theme. The viewer's eye is drawn around the picture by the clever use of small motifs such as the robin in the Maiden's hand and the small (thorn? Glastonbury thorn?) trees. I would love to see that made up into a full size window - that would be quite something! A clever use of pattern and colour especially the small red triangles inserted into the sky. Very effective."
"Very unusual and beautiful. The combination of colour and linear images is very effective. I particularly like the depth you have managed to get in such a tiny piece - the moon and the snowy horizon really do feel much further away than the trees. The 'berries' on the tree are more effective for being translucent, inviting the view to look through them to the sky and the moon beyond. I also like the twisted trunk of the tree in the left hand imagine, and the tiny striations in the snow."
Yule by LuSete
"A very effective combination of words and imagery here. It would make a beautiful Yule Card. This poem also emphasises how Yule is a time of hope and growth. The picture cleverly contrasts curves (the moon, the base of the trees) with the straight lines of the water and the coulisse effect of the mountains in the background. A great sense of depth - with the words appearing from the infinity of the heavens.."
Yule photo by Vikki
"A combination of clove studded fruits, evergreens and dried grasses laid on the snow. Very effective in its stark contrasts the tones in the picture range from deepest darks to pure white. The orange and red fruits add a welcome splash or warmth to the cold shadows in the snow. I particularly like the way the shadow of the basket handle has been cast on the snow - arches and hoops being traditional in magical healing and cleansing rituals. These hoops shapes are then echoed in the patterns of the cloves studded into the fruit. Very effective."
"Very impressing in the feeling it presents of raw cold. You've made good use of straight lines to give an impression of spatial depth, with the tree trunks receding into the distance. There is also the sense of fleeting time, the creature is about to descend the slope and will quickly be lost from view. The economical brushwork, particularly the diagonal shading on the fur, is very effective at conveying the captured moment."