The life of trees

The life of trees in the urban environment was an aspect that numerous photographers chose to focus on for this contest, but, with its dynamic approach, this shot really stands out. The aesthetics are deeply satisfying, with the deep-black curve and sharp diagonal line lending the image a graphical strength. The contrast between the man-made and natural structures is heightened by the choice of viewpoint and the punchy processing; the dense shadows appear to be closing in to extinguish the fiery autumn colours.

As portraits of urban trees go, this is rather lovely. There’s something very satisfying about its shape and the way the trunk curves out from the small green oasis. The lighting creates an evocative mood; there’s some nice falloff into the background and the hint of blue in the night sky keeps things interesting. The earthy tone that the concrete has taken on under the artificial lighting complements the lush green of the foliage and creates a visual harmony, somewhat at odds with the underlying conflict between the tree and its surroundings.

Our competition wasn’t short of entries which captured that staple of landscape photography, the lone tree in a field. But this image comes closest to conveying what it feels like to be out there, caught up in the elements, as opposed to just what it looks like. It’s the clever use of flash to illuminate the falling snowflakes in the foreground that lifts the shot. The choice of black and white adds to the stark quality, and we're left rooting for the tree to make it through to spring…