Flags

I love this image's sense of persistence, perseverance and resistance. Clearly, these flags have seen a lot of exposure to the elements, but somehow, even in their threadbare state, they stand proud and defiant. Sometimes a photograph can act as a wonderful metaphor!

Discovering this island of international flags in the middle of the Bolivian salt flats must have been quite a surreal experience. I love the idea that in the middle of nowhere, we get a sense of intentional unity and acceptance with this marvellous cacophony of colour.

What a charming image. While this round is about flags, this image is all about the wonderful dog who takes the lead role. However, the flag creates a lovely counterbalance in the composition and adds to the story. Good work!

The quiet, thoughtful moment skillfully captured in this striking image creates food for thought. There's an ambiguity to the flag, which adds a sense of mystery. The shallow depth of fields and the use of artfully controlled black-and-white tones are a treat.

A certain sense of melancholy hangs over this image, perhaps a combination of the old painted stars and stripes on the building, the muted colour palette and the slightly dark tonality; they all work well as storytelling ingredients. Good work.

The relationship between the dog and the flag is simply perfect. I love how the two elements sit in the stark landscape with a sense that another narrative is happening out of the frame which caught the dog's attention. Sometimes, less is more, as is the case here.

There's a lovely, heartwarming energy to this engaging image. The protagonist's smile and connection with the camera are key to this. The bright colours of the pride flag contrast nicely with the background, which has been artfully rendered blurred with a shallow depth of field.

This cracking image's strength is in its formal approach and sensitivity to the colour harmonies. The blues and whites zipping around the frame speak to the Havana vibe. Ensuring that all the lines were straight was vital to the carefully considered composition.

The simplicity of this bold entry is key. The misty background amplifies the minimal landscape of the golf course. The loan yellow pole and flag against the green grass and random white golf balls are inspired, nicely seen, and artfully captured.

Another lovely minimal image in this round. The red-hued flag stands out splendidly against the stark, frozen topography. Photographing snow is challenging; however, the photographer has done well to capture just the right amount of detail while retaining the chilly vibe.

A keenly observed 'street' photograph. The Cuban flag sets the scene and helps tell the story. The man reading his newspaper is perfectly positioned in the frame, with the light spilling from the right side of the frame, adding depth. As always, be mindful and respectful when grabbing sneaky shots of people when they're unaware.

The clever use of reflection adds to the story, which is also all about remembrance and reflection. The control of the tones and colours is exemplary and helps make the flag stand out against the dark background. This is good work; keep it up!

Wow, what a stunning landscape. The inclusion of the prayer flags adds a foreground interest with punch and also evokes a sense of adventure that speaks to the exotic vibe of the Himalayas. This is a lovely landscape that artfully includes flags.

Clever use of reflection. Despite the flag not being entirely recognisable, something about this bold image evoked a Swiss groove, which I picked up even before reading the caption. This is a creative way to photograph the flag without a distracting background, as the caption suggests.

While the lovely pride flag is the centre of attention in this confident image, it is also about the splendid light, which has been carefully observed and artfully captured. The beautiful rainbow colours really pop against the dark background. Good work!