Flowers

Stunning colour. There's just enough detail in the flower and bokeh in the background to stop the bloom fading into its surroundings, creating an image that is incredibly strong yet conveys a feeling of extreme delicacy.

We loved the glowing colours at the crisp centre of the flower.

The slightly washed-out, limited range of colours and backlighting around the edges of the hollyhock give this shot a dreamy, nostalgic feel. We also liked the diagonal composition.

Seen very close up with a shallow depth of field, this complex plant head feels both explosive and alien.

A simple image, but one that captures the beauty of spring really well. The lens flare makes you feel that the sun is reaching down, just as the flowers are stretching up to it.

Careful lighting and exposure have captured the watercolour tones of this orchid, while the level of blur is spot-on – you see the flowers at the front in beautiful detail, and just a hint of the ones further back.

We liked the fact that the agapanthus was clearly the star of the photo, with many more behind it, yet the blurred buildings tell you that this flower grows in the city. Great to see a bloom with context.

Crisp detail, beautiful use of depth-of-field and a subject-enhancing vignette make the most of this subject.

Careful post-production work gives this photograph the feel of a painting or pastel drawing, while retaining detail in the flowers.