Ball Sports Action

Great shot, perfectly capturing the intensity of the game, with the player not only having to contend with swimming and breath control, but also has the ball to deal with. The player has been captured in a wonderfully dynamic posture, also nicely framed with water surrounding on all sides of the frame. The fast shutter speed has caught the water splashes well, and although the motion of the swimmer is frozen, we are in no doubt they are in action. Great colour contrast too between the dominant blues and the pop of yellow of the ball. Congratulations on your second place finish.

I love the composition, viewpoint and framing of this shot, which makes it my winner. The group of players is well-feamed, with clear space around them, so no-one is cropped off or straying over the edge of the frame. Viewpoint is great, and the ball being thrown towwrds the camera really draws the viewer in, somehow involving us in the game. We are just left to wonder when the rest of the players will realize the ball is long-gone!. Congratulations on your winning image.

What I really love about this image is the clarity and perfect timing, capturing an intense moment of play when the two opposing players battle to gain control of the ball high in the air. Focusing is super, pin-sharp on the faces allowing the viewer to fully enjoy the expressions of effort. The crowd in soft focus in the background adds more life and context. Great image, well done on your top ten placing.

This image may not be to everyone's taste, but I think it is great. An ordinary scene of football being played by youngsters in an open space surrounded by urban high-rise dwellings. However by shooting through the net, for me really elevates the shot and adds to its success. Conversion to black and white suits the subject and has been well executed, with a good range of tones and bright contrasts. The square crop adds to the image too. Congratulations on your third place finish.

A great close-up, capturing the strength and power on display in a tight scrum. Conversion to black and white works well and has been really well done, as we are not distracted by colour and can focus on details like the muscular legs, the support strappings and the push of the boots against the turf. It also proves that close-in detail can say as much (or more) than a wider view of the players and the game. Great work, well done on your top ten placing.