Free flight photography

Commended as part of the Cross Country Magazine Free Flight Photographer of the Year 2018 competition. This image of a paraglider at the flying site of Bright in Australia is evocative, well thought out and original. A good photo well made.

Commended as part of the Cross Country Magazine Free Flight Photographer of the Year 2018 competition. This 360 degree image of paragliding in the snowy Alps in winter time captures the full immersive experience of paragliding – at first sight it takes your breath away.

Commended as part of the Cross Country Magazine Free Flight Photographer of the Year 2018 competition. It's nice and bright and a lovely summer coastal shot, with good dynamic action. It's the essence of summer holiday flying – simple and free.

Chosen by judge Felix Woelk. The juxtaposition of the colourful wing against the snowy background makes this a striking image. The flat horizon emphasises the dynamics.

Commended as part of the Cross Country Magazine Free Flight Photographer of the Year 2018 competition.

Selected by judge Jody MacDonald. The harshness of the landscape, the technically good exposure, and the balance of the light on the wings makes this an atmospheric and almost questioning image. Different to so many of the other high-action images this sport produces.

Commended as part of the Cross Country Magazine Free Flight Photographer of the Year 2018 competition. Selected by judge Marcus King. "It's a classic left to right shot, a summer's day flying with blue sky. A happy cross country flying shot."

Commended as part of the Cross Country Magazine Free Flight Photographer of the Year 2018 competition. Selected by judge Marcus King. "There is technical ability in this shot and I wanted to recognise that. The pilot has thought about it. Plus you never get sick of those beautiful cliffs."

Commended as part of the Cross Country Magazine Free Flight Photographer of the Year 2018 competition. Cross Country Magazine editor Ed Ewing says: "The atmospheric coastal environment is almost wet with mist and approaching rain. The adventurous landscape is matched by the pilot."

Commended as part of the Cross Country Magazine Free Flight Photographer of the Year 2018 competition. Cross Country Magazine editor Ed Ewing says: "The spiral dive is one of the most dynamic manoeuvres in paragliding and paramotoring. Combined with the smoke and the tail you really can see the path of the glider through the air."

Commended as part of the Cross Country Magazine Free Flight Photographer of the Year 2018 competition. Selected by judge Marcus King. "I like it because it is going somewhere, it's about what is round the next corner. It's about moving down the ridge. The light is not perfect, but it is interesting and different."

Commended as part of the Cross Country Magazine Free Flight Photographer of the Year 2018 competition. Selected by judge Felix Woelk. Cross Country Magazine editor Ed Ewing says: "This multi-layered and multi-faceted composition features a threatening sky yet peaceful soaring beautifully lit paragliders. The layers of landscape from pine forest through to clouds evoke a moment caught before the storm."

First Place: Overall Winner

Judge Marcus King. "It's black and white, and look at the clouds. The glider is lost in all those clouds and terrain, it's amazing. It jumped out at me pretty quick."

Judge Jerome Maupoint: "This is what I call a perfect moment. Technically everything is in balance, it is simple and easy to understand. It's pure."

Commended as part of the Cross Country Magazine Free Flight Photographer of the Year 2018 competition. Selected by judge Jerome Maupoint. "Meeting a balloon is a special moment, and it's technically good. To be perfect the balloon should be more to the right, but this is a great shot."

In the Top Ten of the Cross Country Magazine Free Flight Photographer of the Year 2018 competition. Selected by judge Jody MacDonald

Cross Country Magazine editor Ed Ewing says: "This image is a classic. It just works. The water, air, sand, the beautiful curve of land and the shades of blue all add up to create a timeless image. I want to be there, either in the air, on the water or kicking sand between my toes on the beach. It has real depth."

In the Top Ten of the Cross Country Magazine Free Flight Photographer of the Year 2018 competition.

Selected by judge Marcus King: "It's a classic shot. It's so high, and the landscape is so dry. I liked the fact that he stopped to take that shot when he was obviousky going somewhere..."

Judge Jerome Maupoint says: "The wing design fits the shot – the dark shadows of the gullies in the desert being mirrored in the leading edge wing."

Commended as part of the Cross Country Magazine Free Flight Photographer of the Year 2018 competition. Selected by judge Jerome Maupoint. "This is surprising, and it's something you don't expect. You get the sense of speed. It's another kind of cross country flight."

Commended as part of the Cross Country Magazine Free Flight Photographer of the Year 2018 competition. Selected by judge Jerome Maupoint. "This is the magic moment of being at the top of the gaggle. And it's all Brazil colours too."

Second place Overall in the Cross Country Magazine Free Flight Photographer of the Year 2018 competition. Winner of the 'Out There' category.

Selected by judge Felix Woelk. Felix Woelk says: "No matter if this is a low-resolution GoPro singleframe or professional photography, it is great for the captured moment. Respect to the pilot holding the release/cam in one hand while tumbling down. The composition of the photo is good (golden section, glider/pilot position, the coast that disappears in the background, a funny foreground with a full-on photographer and pilot)."

Judge Jerome Maupoint: "It's just intense. The landscape, action, the blue, everything is intense and in the frame."

Marcus King: "Having the skill and ability to do that in flight and take a photo is astounding."

Commended as part of the Cross Country Magazine Free Flight Photographer of the Year 2018 competition. Cross Country Magazine designer Marcus King says: "This is an unusual perspective – the glider coming straight at you. You almost feel like you want to move out of the way. It leaves the viewer questioning: did they hit each other? Did they move out of the way?"

Commended as part of the Cross Country Magazine Free Flight Photographer of the Year 2018 competition. Selected by judge Jody MacDonald. Cross Country Magazine editor Ed Ewing says: "Climbing high above the clouds is a particularly special moment in free flight, and this image catches that beautifully. The two gliders are together, but apart, high and lonely in the high sky."

Commended as part of the Cross Country Magazine Free Flight Photographer of the Year 2018 competition. Cross Country Magazine designer Marcus King says: "The moments before flight can be contemplative and almost meditative. This image captures that feeling. It's simple and carefully framed. I like. it."

Fourth place as part of the Cross Country Magazine Free Flight Photographer of the Year 2018 competition. Winner of the 'Cross Country' Category.

Selected by judge Jody MacDonald

Judge Felix Woelk says: "A classic in terms of composition, scenery, glider position (flying into the picture from left to up right). The white glider fits into the cloudy scenery. Soft light conditions give natural contrast and colours, so there was no need of heavy postproduction. The black harness (usually the worst you can get in paragliding photography) comes out nicely in front of the clouds. The photographer must have done this flight in the morning (cloud cover in the valley), probably he did this flight with a friend/model just for this shot. Good work, and a timeless shot!"

Commended as part of the Cross Country Magazine Free Flight Photographer of the Year 2018 competition. Selected by judge Jody MacDonald. Cross Country Magazine designer Marcus King says: "This is a classic shot above an iconic European glacier. It's what pilots' dreams are made of."

In the Top Ten of the Cross Country Magazine Free Flight Photographer of the Year 2018 competition.

Selected by judge Jerome Maupoint, he says: "This image talks to me because of the place. It's high mountains in the Alps and the perspective is impressive."

Commended as part of the Cross Country Magazine Free Flight Photographer of the Year 2018 competition. Cross Country Magazine designer Marcus King says: "This too is what dreams are made of. Paraglider pilots will fly for years before they find themselves in this sort of sublime situation. To capture it is an achievement. The play of light and shadow across the glacier and its crevasses add a timeless quality."

Commended as part of the Cross Country Magazine Free Flight Photographer of the Year 2018 competition. Cross Country Magazine editor Ed Ewing says: "This symbolises the friendship of free flight and paragliding. Flying with a buddy on the wingtip is always cool."

Selected by judge Felix Woelk. Felix Woelk says: "I like it because it tells a story. What has the pilot done during the day? Flying XC in some deserted South American country, ending up in some unlandable Favela area, choosing a roofless hut as the only landing place? Or did he get in trouble after landing, hiding his stuff and himself from robbery and crime. Hmm. It is looking definitely like some great XC adventure.. I still wonder why the door is closed..."

Commended as part of the Cross Country Magazine Free Flight Photographer of the Year 2018 competition.

Commended as part of the Cross Country Magazine Free Flight Photographer of the Year 2018 competition. Selected by judge Marcus King. "I like the patterns. The terraces, it's shades of green, with a bright red glider. You see so many mountain shots that to see something like this refreshing."

Third place Overall in of the Cross Country Magazine Free Flight Photographer of the Year 2018 competition. And winner of the 'Competition' category.

Judge Felix Woelk says: "A shot that shows the spirit of competition. It is visually interesting: a balance given by the red/yellow wing top right and the blue/red bottom left. This is a kind of foreground, too. further there's image depth given by the vortex of gliders.

Cross Country Magazine editor Ed Ewing says: "It's looking down the barrel of a gaggle. It's an amazing place to be, and to take a photo at this moment is perfect."

Judge Jerome Maupoint: "It's classic, but it's never easy to get."

Judge Marcus King: "It gives you that great sense of depth and of being high. It's almost like a 3D picture. Technically to have all the gliders in frame is good."

In the Top Ten of the Cross Country Magazine Free Flight Photographer of the Year 2018 competition.

Selected by judge Jerome Maupoint. "It's a happy shot. And it's a rare place to fly, I guess you need authorisation to fly here. I understand what goes into making a photo like this. He has the sort of smile of his face that says he knows he will only be there once in his life."

In the Top Ten of the Cross Country Magazine Free Flight Photographer of the Year 2018 competition.

Selected by judge Jody MacDonald

Judge Jerome Maupoint says: "It's very atmospheric. It's a gift from the sky, a moment of peace in a competition."

Cross Country Magazine editor Ed Ewing says: "The gliders are mere dots in the air. The photo illustrates the fragility of our sport, and reflects the temporal nature of our experience within it."

Commended as part of the Cross Country Magazine Free Flight Photographer of the Year 2018 competition. Selected by judge Jerome Maupoint. "This is pure and exciting competition flying among friends, in the Wallis. Dancing between mountains and cloud it makes for an amazing landscape image."