Judges’ vote winner
01 River on fire Marc Clack
This is such a powerful image, combining two aspects of long exposure that many photographers love: wire wool spinning and waterfalls. The cool, blue tones in the water contrast the warm, orange tones from the spinning wool to create interest all the way through the frame. There’s also a spot of light in the centre stone to lift the foreground ever so slightly.
Nikon D610, 16-35mm f/4, 30 secs, f/5.6, ISO800
02 My little storm chaser Kiara Kaiser
The photographer has done well to capture a pet cat as it was running from room to room during a storm. The low light is beaten with ISO1600, and is thrown into a silhouette by the streetlights outside, which also light up the rain on the windows. A purple evening sky is cut perfectly by the middle fixtures of the window to divide the scene.
Nikon D850, 50mm f/1.8, 1/6 sec, f/1.8, ISO1600
03 iron Raúl Sisamón Monzón
This is such a clean, sharp and professional looking image. It’s surprising that this was taken in a bathroom against some black card with a torch bouncing light off the door. It’s even captured on entry-level kit but it has simple side-lighting, with a fantastic rim-light around the right-edge of the iron. The composition transforms it from a simple iron into a fantastic piece of art.
Nikon D90, 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6, 0.75 sec, f/4.5, ISO1600
04 Backlit leaderfoot Simon Wootton
There’s an ethereal quality to this shot that comes from the distant mist just above the viaduct. This feeling is enhanced by the reflection of the tall, slender columns in the river which are blurred into a hazy detail thanks to the 15 sec exposure. We also see the stars above and the Milky Way galaxy towering vertically in the top of the frame.
Nikon D810, 14mm f/2.8, 15 secs, f/2.8, ISO6400
05 Bats in flight Wayne Kliewer
A technically complicated photo that involves several flashes being triggered by a torch to capture the bats in front of the background in incredible detail.
Nikon D4, 200-400mm f/4, 10 secs, f/8, ISO400
06 Airplane trails Tom de Waart
Here, pilot Tom has kept the stars sharp, maintained tracking of a plane’s light trails and also given the impression of speed with the blurred clouds in the bottom. Nikon D750, 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5, 13 secs, f/3.5, ISO8000
07 windmill in motion Mike Bramell
Taken during sunset the clouds, which were once in the sky, have all but evaporated leaving a clear sky – clear enough to give the windmill enough negative space to clearly define the shape of its blades. Waiting until the blades are in the right position to create an X-shape is the real creative icing on this photographic cake.
Nikon D3200, 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6, 1.3 sec, f/7.1, ISO100
08
Moving in the dark Roberto Barilani
With the bears moving through a swamp covered by cotton flowers in the late evening, it almost feels like they’re heading home after a long day of work. Shot at 1/200 sec the moving bears are sharp, and detail in their fur is still retained thanks to a little ambient light.
Nikon D810, 70-200mm f/4, 1/200 sec, f/4.5, ISO640
09
Car trails canyon Tom de Waart
Taken in the canyon passes in LA, the photographer started at 2am to capture the light trails of miners driving to and from work along this photogenic pass.
Nikon D750, 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5, 30 secs, f/3.5-4.5, ISO100
10
City of gold Chirag Khatri
The golden colours of this sunset cityscape echoes the wealth in downtown Dubai. Combine that with the lined-up birds and you get a beautiful frame.
Nikon D850, 70-200mm f/2.8, 1/160 sec, f/8, ISO64