Mud

Of all the images of elephants in this contest, this one stood out. The creatures look to be in the mud up to their bodies, although could be standing in a hidden channel. Either way, it looks to be a position they have sought out as a suitable spot on which to fling mud over their backs. The flying mud had been caught just right, using a fast shutter speed to freeze the "action", and standing out against the brighter sky behind. I also like the little glimpse of more elephants in the distance, to help tell a story of the whole landscape. Well done on your top ten placing.

An unusually beautiful scene where even mud looks attractive! Captured in the soft light of esrly morning or late evening, the scene has taken on a lovely pink golden glow, creating a sense of calm. Everything looks natural, with nothing over-processed, as can be the case with so many other landscape shots. The lines formed by the water across the mud act as leading lines and nicely draw the eye into the frame to the hills in the background. Congratulations on your winning image.

What I like about this image is that it is not immediately obvious what the scale of the subject is. I am certain it is a close-in view of the edge of a muddy puddle, but it could easily be a wide landscape shot from high in the air. I like the composition, with the waterline crossing the frame on a diagonal, and there are plenty of little shapes and patterns in the mud for the eye to explore. Well done on your top ten placing.

This charming beast looks to be having a great time wallowing in the mud, no doubt getting some relief from the heat or the insects, although it does seem to have a slight guilty look on its face for getting in such a mess! I like the central composition, and although little choice in the matter, I love that the muddy brown colour fills the entire frame, with just enough light and shadows for the muddy hog to be easily distinguished from the muddy surround. Well done on your top ten placing.

The shapes and patterns formed when mud dries can be quite fascinating, and here we have a great shot of what can happen, when a thin layer of mud has dried to such an extent it has formed a pattern of curls. Shot from close range and close to the ground, we get a great view, and despite the mundane subject, there are plenty of details to hold the interest. Well done on your top ten placing.

How nice to be able to take a walk and enjoy encountering mud! Slightly in danger of the mud overwhelming the top of the bright yellow wellies, this image really captures the joy and curiosity of childhood. What really strengthens this image is the lower shooting viewpoint, which brings a great dynamic to the shot. Composition works really well too. Congratulations on your third place finish.

A fascinating abstract landscape, capturing the mudflats from directly above to give a more unusual perspective than would more commonly be seen. Well composed, with the shallow water cutting diagonally across the top left corner, then the wider and smaller water channels snaking across the rest of the frame. A little too small to tell for certain, but I also love the haphazard prints in the mud in the centre of the frame, presumsbly made by an energetic dog, the owner of which can probably be just spotted down below too. The boat, although tiny in the frame, somehow ties the whole composition together. Well done on your top ten placing.

This rather desolate and forlorn scene drew my attention, and I am sure is a scene typical for many living in certain parts of the world at this time of the year. Many people will no doubt see no merit in such a dreary and cheerless scene, but I think that is why I like it, as the photographer has realised the potential for a great image out of a mundane subject and weather conditions as dull as they come. The damp chill of the air and the mud underfoot has been perfectly conveyed, with what looks to be a feeding cart well positioned in the composition. An image I appreciate the more I look, congratulations on your second place finish.

There were a number of entries showing rather muddied cyclists, but the close-in view here caught my atention. Shot with a wide aperture and long lens, the depth of field is relatively shallow, with only the glove in sharp focus. There is sufficient information in the areas that have fallen out of focus however to make the subject clear, and most importantly in this contest, give an indication of the muddy riding conditions. Great image, well done on your top ten placing.