Paradise

This photograph drew me in instantly. I couldn't help but feel an immediate sense of calmness. The water, land and sky blend together perfectly from the golden hour light. The composition is also very pleasing with the sun flare taking your attention from top to bottom, the boat subtly placed, and the contrast of the mountains in the distance drawing you deeper into the image. For me, this photograph contains the key elements of true paradise – water, mountains, sun plus a sense of calm, happiness and adventure ahead.

This photograph of Lake Federa literally made me say "WOW" as soon as I saw it. It beautifully illustrates my form of paradise. Blue skies, calm waters, fall colours and mountainous landscape. I love that the clouds both in the sky and the reflection of the water create a frame around the forest and mountains which are composed nicely in the middle of the image. The composition, the reflection, the colours come together perfectly to create an absolutely stunning photograph!

What an amazing shot of the Himalayan Mountains. There are so many parts to this photograph that grab your attention. I am immediately drawn to the snowcapped mountains perfectly framed at the top of the image. Rugged and nicely lit from the sun and clear day. Then there is the unique cloud cover in the middle of the photo that pulls you down to the hiker jumping for pure joy. Also great timing capturing the hiker mid jump as they celebrate their adventure to this paradise.

Although not awarded, this photograph stood out to me right away. Another rare candid action shot amongst the many landscape and sunset submissions. The children in this photo exude happiness with the expressions on their faces. Are they heading off to their little paradise? Or are they heading home from an afternoon of fun? Although paradise is usually described with beaches, sunsets, bright colours and luxury, I think this image does a wonderful job of illustrating that paradise in fact can be much simpler than that for people.

Although not in the top 10, this image caught my attention. I love the simplicity of it all. The nice lines created by the sidewalk, water, and sky follow the rule of thirds perfectly. The artist also framed / cropped the photograph nicely with the placement of the bench. They say strong blues will stimulate clear thought and lighter, soft blues will calm the mind and aid concentration. Seems like a perfect setting to sit and ponder life's greatest questions and meaning.

I just love this photograph of Alappuzha Backwaters in Kerala, South India. The artist has framed / cropped it so it feels like you yourself are in the boat floating down the canal. I like that the palm trees have a bend to them like the boat, creating some interesting lines in the photo. The palm trees along the bank also help pull your attention to the center of the photograph where the water blends into the landscape off in the distance. The lush green colours add a beautiful burst into the image. Definitely a great image for this Paradise theme.

It is no wonder this area is known as Paradise Island. I absolutely love this shot of Koh Tao, Thailand. It is such a unique composition and I think that is what I enjoy most about it. The palm tree pulls your attention from the top corner throughout the entire photo. It makes a standard landscape shot stand out from the rest. The silhouette tree, mountain and boats contrasts with the gorgeous sunset perfectly. The blue / purple tones in the sky also create a very relaxing setting. Another beautiful photograph.

What I love most about this photograph is the candid action shot. Most submissions entered into this Paradise contest were mainly landscape based. I love that we get to witness the kids taking advantage and enjoying this little oasis. I am instantly reminded of my childhood, the days of adventure, imagination and all-round fun. Children can always seem to find joy or entertainment out of the simplest things and this artist was able to capture it nicely. A simple, yet effective shot in my opinion!

Who wouldn't want to be perched up on this natural arch, looking off into the distance as the sun sets? What I love most about this photograph is the way it is composed and the unique perspective in which the artist captured the scene. Not to mention, they managed to snap it during gorgeous light. The arch and the foreground perfectly frame a small sneak-peak into what that lucky girl is witnessing. I would also like to note that this was shot with film. Fantastic capture!

What a stunning photograph! I am usually drawn to colour images more, but this black and white stood out to me. The natural lens flare casts a soft glow over the scene. It is nicely framed with the dock creating a line perfectly down the center of the photo. I love the silhouette of the person, dog and swan at the end of the dock All the while, the swan in the foreground does a great job of grabbing your attention and balancing the photo. Looks like paradise for everyone here!

I absolutely LOVE this photograph taken in the Redwood Forest. My favourite part is the lighting / tones. Being captured at dusk as the subject was finishing the hike, allows for a stunning light that softly lights up the trees and hiker beautifully. The contrast between the shadows and greens throughout the forest also make this image what it is. I think the artist did an amazing job of capturing their subject in his environment. Well worth all the previous attempts throughout the hike!

A very close runner up – this stunning capture at Kings Canyon National Park. First off, the natural lens flare in this photograph is absolute perfection. I am so glad the photographer made the decision not to remove it in post-production. Doesn't it make you want to follow the creek bed down towards the mountains in the distance? The splashes of yellow, green and blue scattered throughout the image add a pleasing, balanced, burst of colour that help complete the photograph.