Canals and Canal Transport

A fascinating image, containing so much more than initially meets the eye, and keeps on giving more the longer I look. Technically well photographed in terms of composition, framing and focusing etc, pin sharp from front to back. You have done really well to capture a beautiful quality to the light which enhances the scene and brings a gentler beauty to an otherwise urban industrial scene. The slightly panoramic format works well too, as we get a good wide view, and the curve of the brickwork frames the image nicely at the top. The image is enhanced by the stillness of the water which has enabled some lovely reflections on the canal. However it is the viewpoint from which this image has been captured and the realisation for the potential of a great shot which is the winner for me. There are so many details and contrasts, between old and modern, curves and angles, brick and metal, built environment and nature etc etc. Congratulations on your winning image.

A lovely image of a narrow quiet back canal, away from the hustle and bustle, but still full of interest and plenty for the eye to explore. Great composition and viewpoint, with the canal acting as a lead in line to draw the viewer into the image. The lighting is lovely, as it brings a beautiful richness to the colours. There are some great contrasts between the greeny blue of the water and the rich reddish browns of the brickwork. The colours of the boats and foreground vegetation and further contrasts. Great image, well done on your top ten placing.

Burano is well known for the splended array of colourfully painted buildings, and here you have done a fabulous job of capturing a scene which beautifully describes the island and the typical structures which can be found there, from the colours and the bridges, to the canal and its boats. The line of the canal draws the viewer into the frame, to allow the eye to then explore the colourful buildings alongside the water. The colours are rich but not over-saturated, and the reflections on the water bring a lovely sense of calm to the scene. Great work, well done on your top ten placing.

What I especially like here is the compressed perspective, and the subject filling the frame, which holds everything closely together. The colouring across the image is dominated by many shades of brown, allowing the pops of colour on the narrowboats to really shine through. Well composed and focused, there is plenty of detail throughout from the front to the back of the shot. Even the ducks swimming towards the camera enhance the scene by adding an extra natural element. Congratulations on your second place finish.

A well composed image, nicely captured by photographing the scene directly face on to the buildings. There is a lovely mood of calm to the image, and all the colours are nicely blended with nothing shouting out to dominate the image. Everything is well focused with plenty of textural details for the eye to explore, from the worn paint and plasterwork to the gentle ripples on the surface of the canal. Great work, well done on your top ten placing.

A very scenic spot to capture the peace and tranquility of the canal. Great viewpoint, which has used the crurve of the trees to form a framing archway for the barge and the little cluster of trees beyond. Just three elements - the water, the trees and the boat, but all work together to create a beautiful image full of interest. The greens and browns are well captured and look nice and natural, and there is a painterly softness to the image which adds to the mood and atmosphere. Lovely image, well done on your top ten placing.

I have taken a few photographs in this location, and it is not easy to get the right combination of elements to come together in the right place at the right time. The entire scene here however works really well, with just the right amount of people in the right place along the towpath and a well positioned boat on the water, which keeps the scene clean and uncluttered. I like the contrasts between the old architecture of the foreground and modern structures in the distance, all completing the pachwork of a modern thriving city with an industrial past. The bright reflections on the water really lift the image and adds interest and detail to the water. Being picky I may be persuaded to alter the sky area slightly, as it looks like a slightly over-exposed sky has been pulled back a little too far creating a smudge of dark surrounded by a bit of a light halo - maybe just making a selection of the sky and replacing with a very light grey would remove that minor distraction. Still a great image however. Congratulations on your third place finish.

A carefully composed image that does well in describing "typical" Amsterdam in one shot. By cleverly selecting a viewpoint looking under the arch of the bridge we see bicycle, canal, boats, bridges and the people. The long focal length of the lens has compressed the perspective and rendered the more distant parts of the scene softly out of focus, but retaining just enough sharpness for all the elements to be recognisable. Some punchy contrasts in the conversion to black and white further compliment the scene. Great image, well done on your top ten placing.

There were unsurprisingly a high number of entries in this contest showing the canals of Venice, and a fair number of this viewpoint. Many of those had utilised a slower shutter speed to cause the gondolas to be blurred by their movement on the water, but I think I much prefer this more natural scene that enables the viewer to appreciate the boats, the beautiful light and ripples on the water, and the distant architecture. Good control of the lighting has created a lovely atmosphere, yet the image is sufficiently well exposed to show plenty of details. Great work, well done on your top ten placing.