Fairs and Amusement Parks

Thank you for submitting this image, which I kept coming back to again and again. It feels heavy with nostalgia: the dark primary colours; the old fashioned metal rides which feel a little dangerous now; the deep set snow. I love the contrast between the weather and the activity, together with the absence of people. Congratulations on second place.

Thank you for sharing this image. The intentional movement is very effective in giving an otherworldly feel to the scene. I appreciate the composition; the tight cluster of the fairground feeling small in the environment, emphasising the largeness of the wheel, and then the sky above it giving it further scale. There are no visible people anywhere in the scene, but the wheel is in motion, which feels a little unsettling, contributing to the mood.

Thank you for sharing this image. I appreciate that you chose to capture the queue for a fairground ride - often a large part fo the experience! I like the individual stories with the people and the contrast of moods and activities. I appreciate the balance of the two rows but I would have liked to have seen a little more of the top row so that the middle head isn't cut off, as the people are so important in the image.

Thank you for submitting this image which stood out for me right away. It's a captivating impression of light, movement, mood, people and place - what photography is all about. The timing of the movement is wonderful, contrasting the moving carousel with the still lights in the environmental landmarks, and separating the figures into an artful composition. This is an image that I'd want to look at again and again. Congratulations on first place.

Thank you for submitting this image. I love the sense of drama and excitement in it, with the movement of the birds and their placement in both the foreground and background above the buildings. The movement of the children alongside the birds emphasises the sense of freedom and excitement. With architecture at the centre of the image, I would personally prefer to see straighter lines as I find the distortion a little distracting, and I feel that would make the image even stronger.

Thank you for sharing this image. I appreciate the composition, showing the scene in a different way, with strong symmetry and balance. The subtle colour palette is very effective, with the pinks and greens in the environment picking up the colours in the carousel. Congratulations on your top 10 place.

Thank you for submitting this image. It made me smile! I love the colours - the nostalgia of faded primary colours in a warm light. and the yellow dress balancing the colours on the mouse figure. The timing of the single child on the ride is brilliant as the figure seems to look directly at her. The expression of the figure - through its eyes - is unexpectedly stern, almost sinister, for a child'e ride. This is then matched by the intensity in the eyes of the girl as she grips the wheel of the ride. I love the sense of oddness here. Congratulations on your top 10 place.

Thank you for submitting this image which for me captures the feeling of kids at a fairground. I love the attitude and mood. It feels timeless - an original and engaging environmental documentary portrait. Congratulations on your top 10 place.

Thank you for submitting this image. I appreciate the composition which is full of life and storytelling. I particularly like the way the shape of the wheel on the right, perfectly placed in the corner, is echoed by not one but two rings of people spreading out towards the left of the frame and reaching the bottom edge. The frame is full but the activity and individual stories within have room to breath.

Thank you for submitting this image. The timing of the two figures in the slide is wonderful, as the exposure which gives them a silhouette. They seem alien-like which gives the ride a different perspective. I appreciate the colour palette and the composition, filling the frame with lines, shapes and colour. Congratulations on your top 10 place.

Thank you for submitting this image. It stood out as a different way to capture a fairground in a sense of place: the reflection evoking their often temporary nature. The colour toning and light is beautiful - there's a dreaminess to the scene. I appreciate the crisp focus on the interior wall and picture, contrasted with the softer focus of the trees and wheel. The composition of the wheel against the outer building is strong, as is the timing of the figure with the legs just above the interior wall, taking the space perfectly next to the tree. It's a thoughtful and artful image that I would happily have on the wall. Congratulations on third place.

Thank you for sharing this image. The composition and toning made this image stand out for me. I love the architectural skyline which gives scale to the ride, emphasising its height and the vulnerability of the people. There's a tension there, but this is balanced by the calm feeling that the image has overall - the stillness and gentle graduation of the sky evoking a quiet dusk. I appreciate the different perspective. Congratulations on your top 10 place.

Thank you for submitting this image which I feel is incredibly well seen. It immediately stood out for me. I love not only the juxtaposition of the octopus and the carried child, but the inclusion of the legs surrounding them both. It captures the feeling of having to carry your able-to-walk child at an activity - the size of them and their floppy legs. Congratulations on your top 10 place.

Thank you for submitting this image. I appreciate the exposure - the preservation of the highlights in the crowd and the whiteness of the smoke. The timing is strong with the seats and legs either side of the flags, crossing through the image. The inclusion of the people on the ride as well as those watching, together with the illustrated figures achieves a depth of story.