Colourful Architecture

This is a great image - only just pipped by the winner. The simplicity and observation skills in this image are excellent. With a limited palette of colours and basic elements, you have created a beautiful and thought-provoking image. I think this would make an interesting series of images, you are on to a great idea and this wonderful image would be a winner in any other day.

There were many images of the Painted Ladies and I always think of the photo by Robert Frank in The Americans, taken near this location. This is one of the better images, the ephemeral rolling clouds provide a good contrast with the solid houses. The muted colours work very well.

Selecting a winner was very difficult - this image with a beautiful balance of colour, compositional elements and a fortuitous introduction of scale, with a red clad figure as a great counterpoint to the red window reveals, the scattering of green led me to award this image the winner.

A great image, well observed and only just beaten by the winner. The contrast between nature and man-made construction could not be made more clear. Great hulking icebergs dwarf coloured buildings that have a tentative grip on the landscape. Everything in this image appears transient - floating icebergs and temporary looking buildings.

Rows of beach huts were popular in this competition, most of them photographed on sunny days or overcast days - none photographed in the snow! This image has a tranquility brought by the snow - the muted colours are excellent.

Tobermory was another popular destination for competition entrants. This one stood out for me because of the vibrant colour (perhaps a shade too saturated) and the panoramic format, which emphasised the row of buildings on the water, the reflection only disturbed by the wind on the water, giving the image another layer of interest.

There were lots of images of canals, especially in Burano, Italy. The serenity of this image is superb, the arch bridge, its reflection and the balance of the twin church towers all add to a sublime composition. An excellent photograph

Blue skies, blue seas and white rendered walls, it must be Greece. A lovely image, one that is so familiar and it is for this reason that I awarded it a high commendation, rather than a top 10. But I do love the blue domes.

An intriguing image for several reasons. I wondered what does the rest of the house look like, why a vertical format rather than horizontal (which I think would have suited the subject). I couldn’t find an easy access to this image, is it an exterior, a landscape? Nonetheless it does have an appeal that goes beyond the immediate subject.

Great shot, wonderful contrast of colours and a wonderful pose by the model. I would have preferred to have an all yellow background, anything to remove the name of the hotel and the chair and dead bush. You have a great model, full of attitude and I urge you to explore more locations with her.

Good choice of colours- blue and yellow in contrast are always pleasing to me. The left hand border is cropped through the window - something that I would never do in an architectural photograph. Move around the subject, going further forward or back to find the optimum framing.

A bright colourful and joyous image, one of those clear days in San Francisco where you can see forever. The people in the foreground are a distraction- they are neither truly in the photo nor out of it. Try engaging people when they are so dominant in your images.

Burano was a popular destination for many and there were so many images of this lovely town in the Venetian lagoon. I like the compression of perspective with the long lens which maximised the impact of the colourful buildings. I could only award a commendation to this image as there was little thought as to the placement of people. On occasions like this I would advise taking several images, that will allow you to edit the image that has people in the ‘right’ places.

Good use of perspective and exploiting the environment around you to get an unusual image. The reflection has helped lift the image as I can see it is a late afternoon or early morning sky, which hasn’t quite make the colours stand out.

Use of colour stripped back to basic elements. I thought these detail images in the competition the most interesting, observing the minutia of our everyday life. This has a great balance of composition and colour. I commend your patience and methodology in achieving this delightful composition.

An unusual arrangement in what looks like a grey mundane housing scheme, enlivened by bold use of colour. In this image it is hard to find the point of interest, I think this location is worth exploring - you may end up with a winning shot if you can find the unexpected angle!

Great capture and it the image demonstrates perseverance, research and patience. It is an excellent skyline shot and the golden hues ad a serenity to the image which may be different the reality of this bustling city. Try including more of the skyline, to left and right, I always explore areas either side of the main focal point - let your eyes wander over the scene and understand what you are seeing.

Beach huts, beach huts, beach huts. This is one of the more creative entries and I think a very successful one. The edit and arrangement of the huts makes a great image and would look terrific as a poster on a wall.

A sun bleached wall and a sharp eye for detail, this is a very harmonious image, with a balance of compositional elements. The yellow wall and the cool blue interior speak of walks amongst ancient cities and the promise of a refreshing drink in cool interiors.