Famous buildings
Wayne Davey.

Famous buildings

October 2025

Entry 24184527
127th
2
243
Entry 24186238
620th
20
Entry 24187398
38th
1
220
Entry 24188456
1613th
523
Entry 24188485
17th
201
Entry 24190495
3079th
2
268

I've seen this image a few times now, but I still think it's great.

Perfectly shows what happens when architecture is done right and people can interact with the built environment.

The obvious main focus of the image is the building, so it ticks the boxes for the brief, but introducing that little human element is what really makes this shot for me.

Entry 24196636
35th
444
Entry 24205741
1513th
74

There have been loads of shots of Sydney Opera House in this competition, but this is by far my favourite

I really like that the building is almost secondary to the subjects, but its looming presence is felt throughout the image, which definitely ticks all the right boxes for me.

There's just a little bit of lens flare on the left-hand building, which draws my eye a little too much., hard to avoid because of the position of the sun, but the removal of that would have bumped this up a few places.

Crowd
winner
Entry 24209597
1st
1
244

I really like the feeling in this shot, it reminds me a lot of the work of Jan Kempenaers and so maybe it would look good in black and white?

The addition of the man walking through the images is great and you have framed him really well to make him the focus of the image while still keeping that imposing architecture in the background.

I really like this image and it was a definite contender for my top 10.

I really like your treatment of the image and how the subject is lit and framed well using the rule of thirds.

The reason it was just bumped out is the watermark really draws my eye away from the subject and in my view really takes away from the quality of the image.

Entry 24254699
814th
182
Entry 24284115
51st
185
Entry 24307445
4857th
4
Entry 24309360
2987th
113
Entry 24322767
2925th
3

The colours on this are great, and those yellows and oranges perfectly complement the sky and really lift the building. You have colour graded it wonderfully and the blue tones work really well with the contrasting warm colours.

Just a personal note, but the plane really distracts me, and I find my eyes drifting that way rather than to the building.

Entry 24375766
1248th
50
Entry 24378531
47th
6
Entry 24382764
1380th
5
Entry 24392910
24th
330
Entry 24568151
32nd
136
Entry 24624135
728th
8
Entry 24775790
153rd
8
Entry 24829897
189th
50
Entry 24838382
3732nd
13
Entry 24965825
537th
6
Entry 25053665
468th
116
Entry 25104313
157th
31
Entry 25124975
1048th
20

I've looked at this image so much and I really want to rate it higher, but something around the lady just doesn't work for me. which is a shame as it's a reallt beautiful image!

I don't know if it's because it's shot on iPhone and it's compressed but she almost looks photoshopped in which is why, although I really want to place this higher, I sadly can't.

Entry 25171430
1718th
2
118
Entry 25207334
1364th
31
Entry 25235697
4003rd
1
92

It's good to see an aerial image make its way into this competition!

Great composition to create a really graphic shape with the architecture of the church.

Your treatment of the image to bring out those warm hues is great too.

Entry 25245768
313th
158
Entry 25272624
27th
10
Entry 25276315
268th
16

I had this in my top 10 for such a long time, but it was just pushed out. If there were a few more spaces, this would definitely be up there!

The colours are great and I love the reflection of the glass, it really makes the building the focus of the image and framing it smack bang in the middle of the image works really well for such an angular building too.

Entry 25377201
1828th
33

There's a heavy dystopian feel to this image, and I really like the treatment you have chosen for it. Fits the scene really well and almost gives it a film noir vibe.

Those little highlights of colours and the light trails work really well to lead the viewer's eye around the image, and the addition of the motion blur works fantastically.

Great shot.

Entry 25415181
1573rd
12

I think this is a really great shot and it's good to read your description and the challenges you overcame to capture it.

The colour treatment of the image is great, that lovely sunrise drifting into the contrasting blues of the pre-dawn frame the city really well.

The trolley is obviously the standout of the image, and I really like the motion blur, I just feel like it does need a bit more to give it that real sense of movement, so next time don't but the tripod away quite as early!

Entry 25477164
34th
93
Entry 25566371
30th
17
Entry 25574090
1536th
48
Entry 25590150
81st
110
Entry 25592682
4917th
4
Entry 25595703
56th
26
Entry 25642735
148th
8
Entry 25642738
973rd
11
Entry 25659721
1119th
31
Entry 25694275
11th
1
173

A gorgeous shot that was definitely worth your long wait to capture!

I think you have done a great job using motion blur to calm the water and good to read about your process with the ND filter, and the effect it gives is really nice, making the subject pop.

The colours are great, you chose the perfect time to take the image.

Entry 25702905
31st
15
Entry 25706759
28th
1
115
Entry 25711670
49th
2
836
Expert
winner

This is an absolutely gorgeous shot, which has been colour graded to perfection to bring out all the warm colours of the buildings.

The addition of the lady standing with her back to the camera and looking towards the mosque is what really makes it for me, though, asking the viewer to hold their gaze for a little longer and question what it is she is looking at.

Congrats on the winning image.

6,009 Images entered

This isn't the type of shot I would usually go for, but something about it just feels really nice; it's like a throwback to shooting 6x6 medium format film, and the treatment just reinforces that feeling.

It's framed really well with the building taking centre stage, but the pigeons and the lone figure just lifting it and giving it that human touch.

Nice shot.

2,643 Photographers

Meet the expert judge

Brief

See more contest details

There are a lot of buildings in the world that one could call ‘iconic’, and are instantly recognisable to many of us. For as long as buildings have been built, countries, cities, rulers, religions and corporations have spent their money creating impressive architecture that will speak of their power, wealth and sophistication. Images can show either the exterior or interior of the building.

151,093 Ratings

This is my wildcard for my top 10 because there's no description I find it really hard to place the building and know what I'm looking at.

That being said, it's a great graphic image with perfect contrast. You have handled the highlights and the shadows really well. I feel if Richard Avedon were to shoot architecture, this is how he would do it.

Entry 25719729
44th
136
Entry 25720598
1263rd
2
195

This is a great shot, which I have so many questions about!

I'd love to know if this was all captured in camera or if it's a true representation of the conditions at the time you took the photograph, but as I can't tell you have done a great job either way.

The red of the building pops really against the backdrop and creates a really nice image to look and which shows the power of negative space.

Entry 25720684
341st
37