No sky - Urban landscapes

This is an image I like more each time I look at it, and there is a lot of detail within the scene to look over to get a sense of the place. Composition is great, as we are drawn to the vehicle and small figures on the quiet street and I like the soft morning lighting which has kept the colours of the buildings natural, and produces no harsh shadows on the street to hide the details. Well done on your top ten finish.

I have seen this image in a few contests previously and always admired it, but I have never before had to review it and put my finger on what exactly appeals to me, which is actually difficult to pin-point. This image is a perfect example of the brief, as without the sky all focus is on the colours, shapes and patterns of the urban landscape before us. I think the key to the success of the image for me is the colouring, with the lovely contrasts of the blues and terracottas. The lighting looks very flat, which for some images would be undesirable, but here I think it has worked to your advantage as nothing is hidden in dark shade or over-emphasised by bright highlights. The wide crop is successful too. Love it, congratulations on your winning image.

You have found the perfect vantage point to capture this scene as we get a great view of the rooftops and terraces, and importantly, the little street emerging from the tightly packed maze of buildings. I really like the detail you have shown of the mixture of tiles on the roofs, and the colours of the building fronts. Being a little picky, it may have been an even better shot to have pressed the shutter a second or two later which would have placed the man fully into the patch of bright sunlight - but that is only a minor point though. Great image, well done.

It would be interesting to see this setting from street level and in colour - I imagine it looks completely different to this. I really like the abstract feel to the image, as it is really all about the lines, the curves and the circle. The few figures you have captured give a sense of scale, which I think helps here. I think your decision to convert to black and white was the right one, as it works well. Great work, well done.

I really like the abstract feel of this image. Whilst the subject is clear, the image to me is more about the lines, shapes and patterns which these roof tops create. You have selected a fabulous composition, as the roof tops with the browner shade zigzag between the other buildings. All expertly focused and exposed, with the subtle differences in shades of colour well captured. Great image, well done on your top ten placing.

This is a lovely image of a quiet bridge over a back canal in Venice. The colours you have captured are gorgeous and all create a wonderful blend. The water has the perfect amount of movement to get the strong reflections, without them dominating and confusing the scene. You have handled the lighting well, which can often be tricky in such settings where the sun can be bright, but the back streets very dark and contrasty. Lovely image, well done on your top three finish..

This is a fairly simple street scene, but it was been very well captured in the fading light. The balance of light is spot on for me - dark enough for the ornate lamps to be illuminated and casting their golden glow, but light enough to capture lovely details and colours in the buildings. I especially like the textures you have been able to show in the plasterwork, and your composition with the street curving away invites us to explore round the bend into the unseen. Great work, well done on your top ten placing.

This was a late entry into my top ten, and I kept coming back to this image, as I find it strangely captivating. The very slow shutter speed is the obvious key to the success of the shot as we get the light trails sweeping round the curves, and has created a lovely mood to the shot. I like the tones and shades of the image, which have taken on the glow of the night. Great image, well done on your top ten placing.

There were several images of Bosa entered into the contest, but what I especially like here is the bold and vibrant colours, which bring the buildings of the town to life, in what looks to be late afternoon/evening light. There is no specific point of focus for the eye to settle on, but in a scene like this I don't think that matters, as it is all about the busyness and contrasts in shapes, sizes and colours of the multitude of buildings which you have captured so colourfully. Congratulations on your second placing.

There were several night shots entered into the contest, but of the ones which were on brief and did not include a patch of black sky, this was the stand out, and deserves to be placed. I love the wide panorama, as it gives us a sweeping view of the city below. Exposure is spot on, as the lights are bright, but not too bright, and most of the dark areas not too dark (maybe a few areas on the right of the shot are a little too black, but not easy shooting conditions). Great night-time cityscape, well done.