Contest Comments by David McMurray

This contest received 4,491 entries, of which a record high 2,365 were photo-haiku composed in English. For the first time, an entrant achieved success in both the English categories. In the set-theme category, 1,735 haiku were matched to 12 photos supplied by the organizer. The preliminary judge short-listed 81 hotly-contested qualifiers and noted clever references and word allusions that were often not seen in the photographs. This enabled a final judicious selection of a grand-prix, 2 awards for excellence, and 9 honorable mentions. Entries from the USA, Romania, Japan, Cambodia, Northern Ireland, and the Netherlands led the competition which attracted photo-haikuists living in a record-breaking 45 countries.

Grand Prix

USAClotilde Wright

in the quiet of a tea room
a late chrysanthemum
dared to bloom

Comment from the Judge: David McMurray

This subtly composed haiku captured the passion of the protagonist of the photo. The first line of the haiku corresponds with the peaceful environment of the home shown in the photograph. On the second line the photo-haikuist deftly placed the name of a film directed by Mikio Naruse in 1954 that was based on three short stories written by the poet and novelist Fumiko Hayashi (1903-1951). The superb third line rounds out the description of the daring views of the feminist who rose up from an unsettled working-class life.

Poet and Novelist Fumiko Hayashi's Final Resting Place Shinjuku City Historic Site (Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo Prefecture)

Award for Excellence

RomaniaEduard TARA

cold stones
the “no” you said
between two steps

Approach to Isaniwa Shrine (Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture)

Comment from the Judge: David McMurray

The photo-haikuist crafted a conversation poem. We hear just the interlocutor’s side of the dialog, but we feel the author’s side through the coldness of the steps. The haiku maintains a good rhythm and perfect line endings that match the stride of the couple approaching Isaniwa Shrine who are likely in need of saying a prayer.

Award for Excellence

USAan'ya

a second home-
how great is the taste
of foreign greens

Quokka, the happiest animal in the world (Higashi Matsuyama City, Saitama Prefecture)

Comment from the Judge: David McMurray

This joyful haiku smiles right along with the small wallaby in the photograph. The first line anchors the idea that although the Quokka is native to Western Australia, the adorable marsupial seems happy enough at Higashimatsuyama Zoo. The hyphen perfectly cuts the haiku, helping the reader to enjoy how the grazing herbivore loves her grass as much as the photo-haikuist loves her Asian vegetables. The result is a delightful photo-haiku in all respects.