Abstract Plants and Flowers

This was a really tough one to judge with so many amazing images. In the end this one took it for me because there's such a precision about it all. The way the water is so perfectly flat and the light as hard as it can be creating those crisp shadows. And the colours too with that deep blue contrasting the red of the lily, then finishing the primary set with the yellow of the inside of the pad. Finally a decisive crop that removes context and gives us all these wonderful abstracted shapes. It gives the image such intrigue. An amazing image, well done.

One of my absolute favourites this one. I like that it bridges a gap between literal and abstract. The way that leaves are clearly visible in some elements but are really morphed in others into mere shapes. Which puts the viewers mind in this sort of limbo or confusion that entrances you and makes you want to look at it for longer. Plus the colours are really beautiful and having the strongly contrasting green and red really compliments and enhances the pattern. A fantastic image, well done!

There are many things in nature that express the golden ratio and fractal patterns, many of which have been photographed in this competition but I think this is my favourite example. The subject is perfect and I love the way the shallow depth of field makes the patter feel even more swirly and alive. Like we're rushing through a Mandelbrot set. And those vibrant colours really make the image sing. Congratulations on a great shot.