Wiki Loves Heritage Jury Report 2024
Wiki Loves Heritage is an annual photo contest run by Wikimedia Belgium. We use the jury tool Montage to judge the photos to determine the winners of the photo contest.
Why are we organizing this competition?
This is the seventh time we have organized Wiki Loves Heritage, as an extension of the global Wiki Loves Monuments that has been organized since 2010.
It builds on the Belgian Freedom of Panora from 2016, and the year of European Heritage in 2018.
The reason why we are organizing Wiki Loves Heritage is to:
- to preserve heritage and monuments on Wikimedia Commons
- to build an inventory on Wikidata and structured Data oo Commons
- images to be used on Wikipedia
Some participants contribute only to Wikimedia Commons, while others work on multiple Wikipedias or Wikidata. Users are encouraged to use structured data on Commons.
Winners
The winners of Wiki Loves Heritage 2024 in Belgium are:
Woestijnkapel of Gooik
(Leo Van Vreckem)
Good lighting, lovely colours, modern and beautiful composition and perfect exposure where the sunlit chapel manages to be unassuming next to the splendour of the trees against richly hued white-blue sky. A nicely framed photo where the white of the chapel contrasts well with the striped blue sky. By size, the tree dominates the photo, by bright white; the chapel. The overcast lighting, while soft, lacks contrast, which could have enhanced the textures of both the chapel and its surroundings and given the scene more depth and visual interest.
A simple and rather classic picture. A postcard-like image. Embedded in its surroundings, the chapel exudes a serene atmosphere of peace and contemplation. What works well visually in the photo is 1/ the play of a limited set of colours (for blue, green, red, white, brown and a little grey) and 2/ the play of the clean lines of the human elements (mainly chapel and bench) with the jumble of lines in the natural elements (mainly trees).
This picture reflects the purity and simplicity of the landscape, a mixture of natural colours slightly disturbed by activity in the sky, with the passage of high-flying aircraft not disturbing. The building is the focal point of the image, with the entrance door inviting visitors to enter. The leafless tree provides protection for the site and acts as a counterbalance in the scene.
The photograph captures the perfect embedding of the chapel in its surroundings. Against a wide backdrop, the deep landscape, tree and sky enhance the religious character of the sober building standing there in silence, its spire reaching for the sky. The colours contribute to the picture's success: the red of the door, repeated in the red shed in the background, the green of the grass and the blue of the sky tempered by the autumnal brown of the leafless tree trunks, hold each other in a special harmony.
Begijnhof of Bruges
(Thaler Tamas)
While this photo shows autumn well, it captures the historic atmosphere of the Bruges Begijnhof, but lacks a strong focal point. The photo expresses the tranquillity that a beguinage should offer. Beautiful composition and colours. A sober colour palette. The wide framing spreads the focus and the lighting does not do full justice to textures or architectural details, missing an opportunity to add depth and impact. The photograph has a rhythm through the combination of the windows, tree trunks and posts in the foreground. Because of the large foreground, the photo exudes a degree of detachment that creates calm.
Truly the picture of Bruges. Only the beguine is missing to make it complete (just kidding). Reflects a place of peace and quiet, exactly what it really is. A classic image of the Venice of the North, a deserted plain during church service. The crooked trees and dead leaves ready to blow away reflect the fierceness of the wind. A city view on the flat land.
The beguinage portrayed from a nice angle - beautiful autumnal play of colours. One enters the beguinage walking on the cobblestones. In silence. No hustle and bustle of cars or voices. Not the individual self rules. The rules for life and of the community, reflected in the architecture of the houses, are fixed. The photograph manages to capture Bruges' historical and religious heritage in its splendour, at a moment when nature is colourfully hushed.
Namur Castle
(Giles Laurent)
This photograph of Château de Namur gives a clear and balanced view of the castle and captures its scale and surroundings well. Good image of the building in its surroundings, crisply situatable in the history with moat. However, you could experiment with different angles or a slightly lower perspective to enhance the sense of grandeur. Additionally, a stronger contrast in lighting - perhaps at sunset or sunrise - could bring out the textures and details of the castle, adding depth and a more dramatic feel.
Drone technology reveals this beautiful architectural complex, built at the foot of the citadel just after its demilitarisation. The pointy flowerbeds replicate the structure of the surrounding fortifications, making the presence of the car parks hard to miss. The photographer has managed to highlight the massive character of this castle, or more precisely hotel, as well as its accessibility. It is a great way to promote the place.
The most successful drone photo out of all the entries. The added value of aerial photography here is that it captures the building in its completeness, depicts it in perspective and nicely situates it in the vast surroundings while still drawing all attention to it. The composition is central and thus very classical but very efficient. Nice line play that avoids the photo becoming trivial and boring.
Brussels city hall
(Kaho Mitsuki)
This photo of the Gothic hall in the Hôtel de Ville de Bruxelles (Brussels City Hall) beautifully shows the complex architectural details and grandeur of the room. To enhance the composition, capture the hall from a slightly lower angle to emphasise the height and add more depth.
Majestic hall beautifully portrayed. Remarkably well-taken photo that captures the majestic character well. A photo that creates an atmosphere through the play of light and colour that emphasises the Gothic character of the hall. The placement of the red elements in the image make all the difference. Majestic appearance, probably full of ancient stories and modern rumours. The picture is reserved for those who want to admire the woodwork, murals and glimpses of the central square. Beautiful photo - the perfect lighting further highlights the grandeur of the magnificent hall.
Heavy in tone and shade, the photograph captures the symbolic weight of what took place. It gives an overall view of the interior space with its artfully panelled walls and ceiling. Dark and intimate, with a mixture of warm wood and red velvet, this room does not immediately respond to our modern tastes, but the photograph captures the fullness of an official space that captures the imagination, from a deep perspective.
Pottery
(Herman.vandenbroeck)
Classic cultural heritage portrayed. Nice shot of the ‘finger play’ during pottery, well-framed. This photo is well focused and detailed. Beautiful monochrome photo. Very classic in design. The image is a short extract from the time, and highlights it with great attention, patience and delicacy in shaping the spinning hunk of clay. Beautiful after all, these working hands willing to obtain such a fine result. A craft that is regaining attention, and rightfully so. A skill that should not be lost. The close-up image & mono colour choice emphasise the fine work of this craft.
A very wise choice to use black and white to draw attention to this potter's work! A conventional, sharp, precise photograph that both freezes the movement and reveals the volume of the object being made. We tend to detect the artist's eyes and satisfaction, but the photographer has decided otherwise - it is his choice and the value of the picture.
The artisanal manufacture of an earthen pot is done on a turntable and requires meticulous handwork. This black-and-white photograph accurately captures this activity: it portrays skilful hands as they level the clay from the spinning base with a cutting tape mirette. An esthetically successful picture that vividly captures the potter's action.
La gare de Mariembourg
Lost history brought back to life. A steam locomotive ready to leave, in need of another load of coal. The balanced composition highlights the architectural details, while the soft lighting creates a warm and inviting atmosphere. A treasure of the industrial revolution, this locomotive! Smoking, it rides in this beautiful region. Standing still, it enjoys the care of the operator who waters it. A beautiful scene from the world of transport, a well-framed image in which we can distinguish the movement, attention and effort of the men refuelling it. A beautiful machine and a wonderful photograph.
‘Just a little refuelling and then move on’, not with gasoline or electricity, but with coal. The image shown captures just this action, documenting the energy supply of trains of yesteryear. In the picture, the heavy and complex locomotive is central and imposingly outlined against a lead-grey sky; the worker sideways from the monster he feeds, is small and supported by more machinery in performing his task. This photograph vividly recalls a former industrial reality and confronts us with a bygone era that is not so far behind us after all.
Casino of Middelkerke
This photo of the Middelkerke Casino is well centred but feels a bit flat. A different angle or time of day could improve the depth and detail of the building. Modern architecture by the sea. Nice perspective for this modern building, well lit. I did not yet see this casino with my own eyes, but the photo is inviting and may give a good idea of the reality.
Beautiful image of an original building. Great composition in which beach and dune grass dominate the otherworldly modern spectacle. Modernity along the coastline, a photographer must have felt the need to capture current events. The curves of the picture are well controlled. Perhaps the sea is missing, or the beach, or some bathers?
The undulation in this photo doesn't come from the landscape, but from the architecture of the majestic building: the combination of concrete and glass in an open and curved structure, supported by a wide platform whose curve is repeated in the railing, enthroned against a blue sky with clouds, captures everyone's eye. Including that of the photographer, who manages to capture a whole impression of building and platform from the right distance. Only the dune grass has yet to mature so that the stringy security will soon blend into its surroundings.
Antwerp Central Station
WLM (Reb-Elza-Art)
Beautiful representation of this exceptionally beautiful station of Antwerp. Nicely centred and lovely colours, but does not reflect the busyness that should be present on a platform. Where are the travellers? This picture is well framed and balanced. Nice symmetry and openness to the other world. How voluminous is this structure? Good framing that makes the monumental look good.
Beautifully symmetrical - reflects the grandeur of the structure. A structure and dome of steel and glass. Semi-open in depth. On both sides trains arriving or about to depart. With the hand placed in the foreground of the photo, no one doubts: the photo depicts Antwerp's renovated station hall. The perspective of this photo is unusual. From where the photographer is standing, she captures the station hall in its entirety and thus in all its spaciousness. Her interest is clearly architectural. Just one sleeping traveller: she is not concerned with the functionality of this otherwise busy place. Was the picture worth her getting up early?
Brussels Atomium
(Josfrnc)
An unusual view of the Atomium. Original point of view taken with a successful effect that nevertheless does not misshape the image. The reflection is creatively framed, capturing the unique shape of the structure through a reflective surface. Very special photo of the Atomium. Beautiful reflection and shiny colours: a photo that attracts attention due to its exceptionality and unusual perspective.
Yes, this picture is an innovation in the quest for musicality in the classical atomium. Well done, very well done. Success is a matter of a few inches. National monument originally portrayed - beautiful colours/reflection - it was my number 1.
The Brussels Atomium has already inspired so many photographers. But this photo is special nonetheless. From a frog's perspective, mirrored and with a perfect distribution of colour and lines, the photographer manages to create an exceptionally aesthetic image of this iconic construction. The photo renews our view of what everyone has thought they knew for so long.
Arenberg Castle of Heverlee
Arenberg Castle in all its glory! Symmetry thanks to the mirror pond. Nice postcard photo but there were more like these in this competition. The symmetry and framing are well done with the reflection, giving the scene a balanced and elegant look that emphasises the historical charm of the castle. Nice photo, blue bottom and top with reflection of the clouds in the pond. A classic holiday photo, but still beautiful. This beautiful property! The photo is beautiful, the reflection of the building in the pond, the few branches in the foreground, the perspective created by the benches, everything is just right.
Traditional photo - beautiful colours and reflection with attention to the nature around through leafy branches in the foreground. The castle in the distance. Its reflection in the water. The cloudy sky. The green and tree-lined surroundings. The hedge row on the left. The pond in the foreground. Everything in this picture radiates harmony with a perfect distribution of light and shadow. With a few branches in the foreground contouring the image, the photographer managed to frame the image perfectly.
Statistics
| Year | Images | Usage | Percentage | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 4348 | 1163 | 27% | 141 |
| 2019 | 1056 | 321 | 30% | 19 |
| 2020 | 840 | 329 | 39% | 17 |
| 2021 | 2076 | 447 | 21% | 37 |
| 2022 | 1248 | 161 | 13% | 28 |
| 2023 | 1381 | 63 | ||
| 2024 | 2382 | 61 |
| Round | Criterium | Participants | Images | Percentage | Jurors per image | Images per juror |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contest | Physical quality | 61 | 2465 | 100% | ||
| 1st round | yes/no | 61 | 2382 | 96% | 5 | 1045 |
| 2nd round | score 1-5 | 44 | 605 | 24% | 11 | 605 |
| 3rd round | drag and drop | 25 | 83 | 3% | 11 | 83 |
| Winners | best image | 10 | 10 | 0,5% |
Members of the jury
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