Claustrophobia

First of all, I'd like to thank all those who entered this competition, it is greatly appreciated. It became difficult early on to identify the winning image, as there were so many that I felt conveyed the message of 'claustrophobia'. This image spoke volumes to me in this respect, even before I read the accompanying words...after which all kinds of other words sprang to mind - torture, panic, restlessness, sleeplessness - all things you would perhaps associate with claustrophobia. I like the simplicity and starkness of this shot - it says it all. Many thanks for your entry and well done!

Yes, an image I can definitely identify with - I've been there a few times, but maybe not as often as the boys in green shall we say. I know only too well that, in my previous life, home was definitely where you would lay your hat, wherever it might be, but it didn't necessarily lessen the feeling of being hemmed in. Tight spaces such as these are a way of life in the Military. I like it - it brings back certain memories. Many thanks for your entry.

What a handsome hound. Yes, we're all suckers for that lovable hangdog expression, but marry up such an expression behind a wire fence, with the dog's paw placed on said fence as if to say "....let me out of here..." and you have an image telling much more of a story. I love it and I only hope the dog eventually got out for a well deserved walk!

I knew this image would be in my top 10 as soon as I saw it. As you would expect in such a competition, there were a good few shots taken from within prisons - but this was a stand out image for me for one very good reason - the human element. Yes, the hand through the door says it all - that faint unattainable grasp of possible freedom beyond...and then you have what looks to be a person on cleaning duties. Who is feeling the more claustrophobic - the person on the end of the hand or the cleaner? I like this very much and many thanks for your entry.

Photography is not all about producing that fantastic, processed and photoshopped image that the image owner thinks will go down well with those who look at it post-processing. In my opinion it's more about the message that photographs convey and not about the processing - which should be minimal in my opinion. This shot screams claustrophobia to me. An empty stark and bleak room with no window (that we can see) - again, I think it says it all. And what a refreshing change to see such an image that has not been processed to within an inch of its life. I like it and I like the message it conveys.