Boats

With nature on your side, you’re well on your way to creating something special. The key is to find a composition to do it justice, such as this wonderfully evocative view. Mist and fog are great devices for adding depth and mystery to an otherwise ordinary scene. Add some warm colours and reflections, and you have the perfect recipe for a winning image.

This is a magnificent action shot of a boat in its element. Getting tack-sharp and well-composed images while standing on a moving platform at speed requires skill and a strong constitution! The raging wash and moody sky all add to the sense of drama here. Well done!

With its glass-like reflections, this image beautifully depicts the tranquillity of one of the world's more isolated regions. The strategically placed boat acts as a useful tool for showing the impressive scale of the ice floes and nicely balances the overall composition. The fine detail of the ice faces are nicely preserved by the correct exposure, something that can tricky to achieve in predominantly light or dark scenes.

I love the interaction between light and dark, especially the way the side lighting reflecting off the bridges draws the eye, with the mist adding another layer of intrigue. The unusual composition, slightly off centre and leading out of the frame, is another ‘rule-breaking’ plus towards making this a cracking image.

This is an image so brooding, scenic, and well composed that it would have stood out as an admirable picture in colour as originally shot. I like the choice to display it with a selenium tone, as it suits the scene well even perhaps adding a sense of foreboding.

This is another fine example of creating a memorable image through the use of an unusual viewpoint. As seen from above, the patterns created by the boats just wouldn’t have been visible from sea level. Whether you love them or hate them, there’s no denying that drones have opened up a whole new gamut of photographic possibilities to the masses.

From the nearly 9,000 entries, this was the standout image for me. There’s so much to admire in what are clearly challenging conditions. Aside from the well-balanced composition and spot-on lighting and exposure, using one of nature’s most wondrous spectacles is always going to be an advantage. The way the northern lights radiate out from the main subject, towards the corners here, just elevates this scene to a higher level.

I love experimenting with long exposures during daylight for the ethereal effects they produce, such as in this wonderful example. The choice to depict this scene in black and white also works very well. The key is to have sufficient movement around the main subject to blur the clouds or water that surround it. One issue to watch out for when shooting long exposures with a digital camera, particularly when using small apertures, is that any dust on the sensor will become very noticeable!

I have a tonne of admiration for the photographer who created this impressive image, given that it was taken in near total darkness. We all like a challenge, and this clearly required a great deal of pre-planning, technical mastery, post-production skills, and, no doubt, some luck. Using a torch to paint with light can be hit-and-miss. Still, the more you practice, the luckier you get!

This wonderfully warm, atmospheric image is so captivating that it almost looks surreal. Although it may go against the traditional rule of thirds, I like the 50-50 composition as the mirror reflection blends seamlessly into the horizon. I’m not sure if some elements, such as the ripple, have been added in post-production; needless to say, the final result is very effective.

It’s the vibrant colours and pleasing cropped composition that I particularly like about this one. Using reflections in combination with calm water always creates some wonderful patterns. In this competition, there were numerous takes from this location, but this detail shot is the one that works best for me.

This lovely image literally approaches the boat theme from a different perspective, and that’s what instantly makes it so compelling. Having a viewpoint different from normal is a good way to generate interest. It’s well composed too, with the separate subject elements each having their own space.