Over the past two months you have been submitting some of your best travel moments. We have been astounded by some of the amazing photos entered. But, the results are in, our judge Matthew Williams-Ellis has chosen the winner as well as some that deserved a mention.
FIRST PLACE – Liam O’Neil - The Nomad Games, Kyrgyzstan
Matthew's Notes:
What an exciting photo! As well as being visually captivating, I can almost hear the noise of the rockets being fired into the mountains. Travel photography is about telling stories, evoking emotion and leaving the viewer intrigued and wanting more. For me, this does all of the above. There is so much energy in the photo and it leaves me with so many questions. Why are they firing rockets? Is there a significance to the colours? Why are people on horseback? Is it really safe for the people who are engulfed in smoke?! With this one photo, this festival has just shot straight to the top of my bucket list! Congratulations Liam, what a captivating photo! Every time I look at it, I see something new.
COMMENDED – Gregory Goldston - Maria Alm, Austria
Matthew's Notes:
This is a beautiful scene, where Gregory has clearly taken great care over when he has pressed the shutter. The inclusion of the group of people transforms it from a picturesque snapshot into an intriguing story. Where is the group going? I also love the scale that the people provide. Their placement, with plenty of space in the direction they would be walking, is perfect. Top marks for getting out of bed for sunrise too – that’s never easy! A couple of points to consider; I would crop out the branches on the right, which add unnecessary clutter, and also straighten it up. Both minor points, but it is attention to details such as these that make all the difference.
COMMENDED – Xuan Gardiner - New York
Matthew's Notes:
This is an extremely cleverly composed photo, especially given the ever-challenging urban environment in which it is shot. There is no rulebook in existence that would encourage placing a large metal pole through the centre of the image, but it works. It helps eliminate distractions, enabling the eye to be drawn towards the subject; the iconic New York. I also love how the blue tones compliment the yellow taxi.
COMMENDED – Mark Weir - New Brighton Lighthouse
Matthew's Notes:
The strong composition in this image, coupled with the amazing sunset, and some impressive camera skills, make this a very eye-catching photo. Breaking the ‘rule of thirds’ works brilliantly here, as everything seems to explode from the end of the pier, in the centre of the frame.
COMMENDED – Shuo Huang - U Bein Bridge, Myanmar
Matthew's Notes:
There is a wonderfully tranquil atmosphere to this photo, despite the storm clouds being set alight by the early morning sun. I applaud the photographer for photographing directly into the light. It creates very distinct silhouettes, which create a great narrative to the image, with the group clearly heading home with the morning’s catch. My only suggestion would be to follow the fishermen for longer, in order to eliminate the bicycle from the photograph. To me, it doesn’t add any more information on what is going on, and instead clutters up the foreground.
If you feel inspired by these fabulous photos, why not book a holiday to capture your own. Call our experts on 020 7751 0660 to discuss your travel plans.
