Made of concrete

What works so well in this photograph is the juxtaposition of the largely monochromatic concrete columns and related structure against the vibrant colours of the street and building beyond. The former reinforces the solidity of concrete as a building material. The latter adds a vitality that reflects the people of this part of Bangkok.

A simple, yet striking composition of a pier on the Bulgarian coast. This 'underneath' view turns an ordinary structure into a striking minimalist sculpture infused with the effects of salt water on the concrete slab and column. The high-key rendition provides plenty of detail for us to examine.

We know that concrete can be formed in multiple ways: in long, linear forms incorporating reinforced steel rods; and as powerful massive shapes for maximum strength. This photograph is an example of the latter. A long focal length lens has provided a tightly cropped section of a Swiss dam. The foreground and background appear almost as part of the earthly coloured concrete mass of the dam wall. Such an approach intensifies the inherent mass of the concrete buttresses.

What an amazing view. I appreciate a photograph more when it is clear that the photographer has made a particular effort to capture a prospective image. Having climbed to this particular vantage point, they were able to frame the jagged mountains that surround the icy waters held by our subject, the dam. I love how the tension between the mountains and shiny solidity of the alpine blue water is held by the gentle (and seemingly, tiny) curve of the dam's concrete wall. Brilliant.

A simple, yet strong photograph highlighting concrete's maleability and solidity. I like to contrast of the footprints and the crack, and how the sunlight reflects off the water surrounding the former. Framing so closely helps us to see the aggregate embedded in the concrete.

A strong, tight framing under the Esplanade Bridge highlights the sculptural qualities of the bridge's design. Though our eye creeps along the perspective lines towards the far end of the bridge, along the way we are treated to the vagaries of the light fall upon those sculptural forms. Forms that are possible using concrete.

What an excellent composition. The newer road bridge that features our concrete subject dominates the frame. Its leading line takes our gaze across the canal, along the way providing a good deal of detail to ponder. The mass and detail of the road bridge is offset by the older stone bridge that is the second subject of the photograph. Its inherent elegance and diminutive scale provides a wonderful point of contrast.

What a fantastic photograph. The composition is excellent – the low-tide shoreline acts as a base for our subject (the concreted escarpment) to grab our attention and lead us to the distant hills beyond. Along the way we can explore the details of the eclectic mix of houses sitting above. Such a picture dramaticly demonstrates concrete's strength and flexibility.

Concrete has been used to make sculpture for centuries. In this instance, the minimalist hemispheres act as water receptacles on the stone shore line. I appreciate the positive-negative shapes and tones of the foreground piece. Having it so close helps us also to see the fine embedded aggregate.

Concrete is used extensively as a defence against wave and tidal erosion. In this example, at Burwick in Orkney, Scotland, the shape of the barriers is different to most. I like the way the photographer has used a tight square frame to match the circular aperture. Within and beyond the first are others. However, the repetitive nature of their arrangement is not immediately apparent, which means we have to look harder at the photograph. Though these barriers reduce coastal erosion, they are not themselves immune to damage. I love the way the concrete has been mottled and eroded and no doubt one day it will collapse.

I laughed when I first viewed this photograph. Not because it was silly. It is not at all. I loved the adhoc quality of this exterior stairwell. It is at such odds with the space it must address (the steepness of the incline, the width of the stairs themselves). I loved how it made such a visual statement against the red brick wall, and how all the other elements within the frame – the green ceramic tiles, the glass, pavers, downpipe, timber door, lightfitting and the blue 'sand' box, oh, and the 'L' square (what is that for?!)) – balance so perfectly. An odd collection of shapes, colours, textures, all perfectly offset by the bold, bland, not to mention weird, concrete stair. And, after all that, those stairs must be crazily narrow!

Another example of Chicago's brilliant modern architecture, the Marina City Towers buildings feature the distinctive car parking levels. Cars seem to literally stick out of the building. The pair of cars in our photograph provide context to this. The composition also perfectly frames the juxtaposition of the towers – one appears almost flat, whilst the other has a tight curve. The bold forms also feature subtle detailed curves and shapes (look closely at where the upright columns meet the base level above) that reinforce the malleability of concrete as a building material.

The Sagrada Família is one of the world's great buildings. Having been under construction for over a century, it features a mix of concrete, stone and steel as the principal building materials. This photograph, almost perfectly symmetrical in composition (having photographed it myself, I doubt whether the building was perfectly symmetrical in the first place!), presents a fantastical scene of shape, line, colour and form.

This photograph immediately caught my eye. I love the way the photographer has spied the relationship between the sweeping curve of the concrete bridge with the subtle arc of the mountains behind. This practioner appreciates the relationship between manmade and natural landscapes, and their photograph ably demonstrates the flexibility of concrete whilst reminding us that, like the mountains, it too is made from minerals.

There were some excellent photographs featuring concrete dams in this contest. This is one of the best. Using a tightly framed view, the photographer has foreshortened the foreground and background to add a note of discombogulation (the dam curves one and the other). I like how the whte railing follows the curve around and leads to the whisp of water foam beyond.