Nature's Beauty

This was another of those images that never strayed too far from the top spots. This is just such a visual feast, and what I like the most about it is the subtle contrast in the tones, the coolness of the mist providing the perfect bedfellow for the warmer tones of the bark and foliage. These contrasting tones divide the image into clear sections which are so nicely balanced. The genius of it is that little window between the main trees, off-centre to the left, perfectly framing the lone tree which has been placed in a central position within the window. The cool tones of the mist isolate this character perfectly and give our eyes something to lock onto. The whole image has a beautiful soft and rather ethereal feel, while still retaining so much texture and detail for the viewer to enjoy. The post-processing shows a really skilled hand, those warm tones being the stars of the show. This is about as perfect as it gets.

Beauty often comes from simplicity, and this image is visually as uncomplicated as it comes. But don't let its simplicity fool you as this is a very well composed and sophisticated shot. I applaud the use of multiple techniques here, all of which have been balanced so well; the over-exposure of the background and foreground areas to create a high key feel, the balance of exposure on the bear to create the silhouette, and the black and white conversion to remove the complication of colour. This photograph is all about that bold, dark, and unmistakeable shape of the bear. It dominates the frame and our attention - the intention of our photographer of course. The pose is superb, the head hanging toward the sand giving such a beautiful shape. The subtle reflection is what really makes it - just enough to add support, but subtle enough as it breaks up on the shallow covering of water not to dominate. I also really like the texture provided by the undulating sand in the foreground which help to divide the frame into thirds. This just goes to prove that you don't need to include the colour to make something beautiful, even in nature.

Swans are a personal favourite of mine and I never tire of seeing pictures of them, especially when they are captured in a slightly different way. This is a courting pair - they often swim around each other for ages, entwining their heads and bowing to each other as they perform their avian ballet. I love this particular pose as they raise the bodies from the water and extend their necks together, often the precurser to mating. What really makes this image for me is the atmosphere the falling snow provides. The photographer has skillfully over-exposed the image slightly to create a high key feel and emphasised the conditions. It has also meant that the birds become more a part of the landscape and the background does not distract. Note also how the birds are positioned to the right of the frame, this allows them plenty of space to move into on the left. I love the emotion of this photograph - beautifully done.

Butterflies were another popular subject in the competition, and for obvious reason. What could possibly portray the beauty of nature more perfectly than these delicate and beautiful insects? I was treated to a number of gorgeous butterfly images but, for me, this one stood out from the crowd. What I like about it is the softness, those subtle pastel tones of the background the perfect partner to the delicate elegance of the butterflies and they wake from their overnight roost. The fluffy buds of the willow twig they are resting on add to the overall feeling of comfort - this image is like reclining in a big armchair with dozens of cushions. Three is always a good number in photography, and these three subjects prove the point, being so perfectly balanced within the composition. Note how each individual is in the same plane of focus - vital to make the photograph work. The twig is also critically simple and uncomplicated, and in the same focal plane ensuring that its details are clear and defined. The background reminds me of candyfloss and provides the perfect frame for our subjects. Note how a little out-of-focus foreground also ensures the twig does not cut harshly through the bottom of the frame and ruin the overall feel. It is these little elements that make the difference.

I am a bird photographer at my core, and this image has all the ingredients that make a truly successful image - in my eyes at least. Reddish Egrets are such a characterful-looking bird that just ooze attitude, and this photograph has captured that personality brilliantly. What the photographer has assessed so well is the opportunity to isolate their subjects by using a high key approach - in other words, deliberately over-exposing the image. In this instance, this has reduced the emphasis on the background by creating those beautifully light pastel tones and provided the perfect canvass for our two protagonists. With the birds standing out starkly from the background, all our attention is fixed on them and the way they are interacting. The first thing that strikes you is the rediculous amount of detail captured in the plumage - another result of the high key approach which has elevated the shadow areas - you can almost reach in and ruffle those punk-like hairdos! But it is the position of each bird and their interaction which is the thing that really makes it. Look how both birds are in the same plane of focus and are each directly side-on to the photographer. Then look at the eye contact between them - this creates a compelling connection and ensures that we as the viewer know that something is about to kick off! The open beak of the bird on the left is the perfect balance to that of the closed beak of the dominant bird on the right. See how the poistion of the beaks forms a nice diagonal across the centre of the frame. The post-processing is just so skilled and has delivered the perfect colour and tonal balance. One to print and hang on the wall.

This is another image that made me stop in my tracks when I first saw it. What struck me initially was that stark contrast between the dark edges as they spiral around the outer edges of the image, and the bright central window that frames the distant snow-covered peak. If you Google 'golden spiral' you'll get a good idea of what makes this composition work so well, but it is based upon mathematically perfect spirals from Fibonacci numbers - I think the shape of this cave is pretty close. You really do have to marvel at the detail that has been captured in the roof of the cave, the reflected light sculpting its pitted features and giving the image a three-dimensional feel. The exposure is so well balanced, retaining enough detail in the shadow areas, while not over-exposing the whites and losing vital detail from the highlights. The central placement of the mouth of the cave works really well, it's like the bright pupil of a dark eye staring out of the screen. This is a truly epic piece of work.

You'd think with over 12,600 entries in this competition that picking a winner would be difficult. However, sometimes there is just that standout image that never makes it out of the top spot because it is just so breath-taking. And so it is with this photograph which has occupied the number one slot ever since I first laid eyes on it. There were so many fantastic images in the competition - technically as perfect as it gets, and with some real jaw-droppers as you will see form the top selection. But to win needs x-factor - that something extra special that you just can't put your finger on. This is what this image has in abundance. From a technical perspective it is suberb; the composition, the lighting, the combination of shutter speed and aperture, the low angle of view, the timing, and the post-processing all show exceptional skill. Not only does the image immediately connect with us, the viewer, but it has an energy about it - the way the surf is crashing in on the pup and surrounding it like a baby being swaddled in a blanket is just so compelling. The flippers are critically on show and balance each other perfectly in the frame. The detail that has been captured in the fur is sublime, the balance of exposure so well judged so none of the highlights are blown but still retaining a feeling of high key. The thing that really makes it is the facial expression - that wide open gap seemingly beaming out of the frame and the surf engulfs it, hiding the dangers of the North Sea that this surf spells for this young life. Amazing work.

Coots are such underrated photographic subjects, but I think they provide plenty of opportunity to create truly memorable images with their dark plumage and contrasting white facial shield which makes them instantly recognisable. And those feet are almost grotesquely gawky! Here, the photographer has managed to photograph the bird standing on its untidy-looking nest, its feet on clear display. I like the head-on position of the bird as it brings attention to the facial shield, its pose being perfectly mirrored in the reflection beneath. The tones, shapes and textures of the background tree trunk are delightful and create so much drama and atmosphere as they reach from the base of the nest skyward, their image also perfectly mirrored in the water beneath. Interestingly, the photographer has chosen to place the reflection line on the intersection of the middle and bottom third - many would have gone for a central line. I think this image is all the better for this bold placement as it adds drama rather than delivering calm and tranquility. The slight under-exposure and emphasis on contrast further enhances this feeling, while ensuring that the Coot remains the star of the show. It's interesting to note that this image was taken in London, not a place known for its swamp cypress trees! It just goes to show that there are great images to be had in the most unusual places.

I love silhouettes for the drama they can deliver, but not all sihouettes work. The secret is the subject - your viewer needs to instantly recognise what they are looking at which means picking popular animals with distinctive shapes. There is no mistaking this jackal as it gives a sideways glance against the rays of a sun low on the horizon. The backlighting here has framed the animal, picking out its outline with a halo of light that details all the fur and whiskers. That sideways glance is perfectly flat to the camera and provides the unmistakeable profile. Under-exposure is the key to making this shot work, and the photographer clearly understands how to get the best out of the situation to deliver an image with real impact.

This photograph has a beautiful simplicity and uniqueness to it. Ladybirds always provide compelling subjects, their bright red wingcases peppered with those contrasting black spots ensure that they are instantly recognisable. This is behaviour that I have rarely seen captured in this way. Technically, the photograph is very accomplished; the depth of field is well judged providing an simple out-of-focus background and a subject with good definition and detail, the exposure is perfect retaining detail in shadows and highlights, and the overall central composition works well. I really enjoy that subtle reflection as the Ladybird reaches for the water. The green also provides a nice contrast for the red of the insect. The bright highlight on the shell is a little harsh (I assume from the flash) but its uniquness wins out.

You just can't ignore a Common Kingfisher can you? With their striking good looks and ridiculously vivid colours, they are the perfect wildlife photographer's model. And this is the reason there are so many hides and experiences deicated to help photographers capture their dream shot. This is about as perfect as it gets for Kingfisher photography. Not only has great attention been paid to the background to ensure complimentary and even tones, but the choice of perch is well considered, adding different colours and textures to add interest. The bird itself is the starring role of course, and that pose as it comes into land on its perch, with its wings outspread and feet extended, is as delightful as it gets. The little out-of-focus water droplets captured in midair decorate the frame and add that little something extra. The thing that really makes it is the two fish the bird has ensnared in its bill, their eyes betraying just what a bad day they are having. The nictitating membrane which is covering the eye is a nice surprise too.

This was another of those rather unusual images that caught my attention immediately. I am not usually a fan of square crops, so it had to be something special to make me stop scrolling, but I think the crop actually makes this image. This is so often the case with repeating patterns and close detail. It is the array of colours here and the detail in all the little spikes of fur that make this image compelling. Making a composition work from this sort of chaos is also a very difficult thing to do, but has been pulled off here. See how there is an obvious central area to the arrangement around which everything else seems to spiral? The outer edges all seem to lead in centrally - that is the really clever element to this shot. Something so simple has created an image of real strength, depth and beauty, and has treated its viewers to a very different view of the world.

With thousands of images to review, the secret to taking a successful competition image is to create something that immediately grabs attention. This image literally leaps out of the screen at you and simply refuses to be ignored. Tigers are compelling subjects, and we see thousands of images of them, mostly taken in a handful of locations, making them quite similar in nature. This image shows the viewer something different from the mainstream. That dynamic leaping pose is so unusual and has been captured so well. Just look at the composition, the animal stretching out from the bottom left of the frame and forming a nice diagonal line to the centre of the photograph where the eyes are found. The photographer has left some negative space on the right for the tiger to leap into and balance the image. The focal length of the lens and wide open aperture have created a beautifully shallow depth of field that focuses our attention on the animal's eyes and lets everything else melt away deliciously. The position of the paws is just so good, pushing ahead of the body and all in perfect view. What really makes it for me is the atmosphere the snow brings - those airborne flakes against the dark treeline in the background add real drama. Bravo!