A Piece of History (man-made)

There were understandably a number of entries of Stonehenge in this contest, but this one stood out for me. The conversion to black and white has been done well, to create a good range of tones whilst keeping a moody darkness overall. The processing has not been over-done however, and there is a pleasing softness to the sky, which enables the stones to stand out as the subject and not get lost in a "busy" or over-processed sky. Framing works well too, with a little "breathing space"each side of the stones to prevent the scene looking too cropped in. Super shot, well done on your top ten placing.

Although from an age relatively recent compared to some entries in this contest, this antique camera certainly stands out as a fine piece of history. An expertly captured still life shot, positioning the old camera in such a way as to make it the one and only star of the show. Lighting has been well controlled and reveals some wonderfully rich colours and a wealth of details and textures. Great work, well done on your top ten placing.

I love the mood and feeling this image conveys, as we get a splendid look at a piece of ancient history set in the landscape, but also a sense of the cold but gloriously crisp sunny day in deep winter. It conveys a real sense of fresh air which makes me want to take a deep breath in. Perspective of the shot is great, shot quite low down to make the most of the stones and their long shadows. The capture of the sun is perfect, probably captured with a narrow aperture on the lens to create the lovely starbust effect, to add to the atmosphere. Congratulations on your third place finish.

A simple but effective composition perfectly portrays these ancient stones and the beautiful landscape in which they were constructed. Lighting is lovely, with golden highlights of the sunlight falling on the stones and reflecting on the vegetation, bringing a warmth and richness to the landscape. Great image, well done on your top ten placing.

A beautiful and classically composed image, which perfectly illustrates why sometimes it pays to "follow the rules". The horizon sits nicely on the upper third line, and the main subject of the old tower sitting on the intersection of thirds, with a great leading line drawing us into the frame added for good measure! Lighting is beautiful but not over-done in post-processing, keeping things rich, natural and a delight to view. Congratulations on your second place finish.

A striking image of this ancient settlement in New Mexico, captured in a way that gives the viewer just a suggestion of what else can be found there. I especially love the bold colour contrasts between the deep blue of the sky and paintwork, and the rich earthy orange of the walls and ground. The strong shadows of the ladder make interesting shapes and patterns and add an extra dimension to the shot. Great work, well done on your top ten placing.

I love the sombre mood portrayed in this image of this iconic and much-photographed castle. Rather than being shot across the water with the bridge leading out to the main structure, we get a closer view across the land, on a grey and misty day. The weather really enhances the mood, and the greys and dull greens really compliment each other with a certain type of beauty. The square crop works well, and keeps everything close and compact, which suits this view of the subject. Well done on your top ten placing.

A stunning location and spectacular complex of buildings, all well captured in a shot that gives great balance between the architecture and the wider landscape view. We are just close enough in to see some of the details, but nicely sitting in context of the mountains behind. Everything looks natural in terms of post-processing, and very sympathetic to the subject. Great work, well done on your top ten placing.

What a beautiful landscape, fairly abstract as a result of the mirror-like reflections on the water, wonderfully topped off by an ancient castle on the shoreline. The early morning light really sets off the scene, with delicate golden-peach clouds attractively spread across the sky, with the hills forming some interesting shapes, all the more so with the reflected forms. A delightful scene to feed the soul, beautifully captured. Well done on your top ten placing.

I was certainly spolit for choice in judging this contest, as there were a good number of superb entries. This image takes my eventual top spot, different from many of the more scenic landscape-type of entry, but still a striking image. There are so many interesting details for the eye to explore and to hold the attention, and I love that the subject fills the entire frame, adding impact. Tones are fantastic, with a lovely brightness and clarity to the image overall despite the subject matter being rather worn and a little shabby. Congratulations on your winjing image.