People at work

I really like this close up image of this elderly lady's hands as the ticket is clipped. It would have been easy to include her face in such a shot, but this close up concentrates on her work without distraction. Lighting is great, as the key parts of the shot - the hands and the ticket punch - are highlighted well, with the rest of the composition being darkened to keep the attention of the viewer on the action. Well focused too, allowing us to see the details of the aged hands and the shiny bangle. Great work, well done.

The simple classic composition is the successful factor in this image for me, with the man positioned on the right third, facing into the frame. You have selected a perfect shutter speed to retain sharpness in all but his hand, which is blurred with the movement which transforms the image from a static to an dynamic shot. The very limited colour palette work well too, as there is harmony across the entire image between the colours of the wall, the worker's skin tone, and his clothing. Great image, well done.

As soon as I saw this image I knew it would finish in my top few placings, but it is one of those images which I find quite difficult to put my finger on what it is which for me makes it so successful - I think it is a combination of a lot of factors - the mood, the composition, the lighting... all add up to a fantastic image. Whilst we cannot see the faces of these lobster catchers, we get a glimpse into the physical work they are involved in through their clothing and posture. The bright flare from the low sun gives a wonderful atmosphere, complimented by the heavy vignette and processing style. Black and white conversion works really well, as it adds to the raw atmosphere of the shot. Excellent image, with fabulous storytelling. Congratulations on your winning image.

There were several images of welders entered into this contest, but this was my favourite. Technically very challenging to capture, as there is such a contrast between the brightest light of the welding torch and the darkest corners of the room. Composition of the image is great, as the eye is drawn right to the centre of the action. There is good detail in the hair, clothing etc despite the challenging conditions, and we get a sense of the precise nature of the work. Great image, well done.

This is a great image, which shows the chaotic orderliness of a floating market. Through your capture of the scene I can imagine the associated noise, of chatter and shouts as the food is traded. I think one of the reasons for the success of this image is that you have managed to capture a large number of boats, without making each boat, the vendors and their wares so small as to be unrecognisable. The detail in the scene is wonderful, and it can hold the attention for a long time as the eye hops from boat to boat to see the similarities and variations. With such a vibrant scene it can sometimes be tempting to over-saturate the colours, but you have resisted this, and kept the colours, I imagine, as they were seen. Fabulous work, well done on your second place.

This image is full of atmosphere. The room is misted by swirls of steam and sunlight, but there is still clear focus on the worker as he makes the tofu/tauhu. Framing of the shot is spot on, as the man is the obvious subject, but we can also see elements of the environment in which he is working, which is important in this type of image. Well done on your top ten placing.

This is an excellent image, which tells many stories in one shot. It is a busy scene, and I think it is that which helps to make the image such a success. There is no obvious focal point, which in some images would be a shortcoming. But here, the work being undertaken is all about teamwork, each with their own specific task, with no one person having a role more significant than another. So it is only appropriate that we take in the whole scene, rather than pick out one or two individuals. The high dynamic range and toning suit the subject. An excellent documentary image, showing these workers and their physical labours. Well done on your third place.

Some photographers go to great lengths to avoid getting people in their shots. This image is a perfect example of why that is rarely a good strategy, as the addition of the leather worker in the composition is vital to the story of the photo. It gives a sense of scale - without it, we could almost be looking down on a set of artists paints on a tabletop. Great composition, with the pits on two opposing diagonals, and the worker placed well off centre. Colouring is great too, with just the right amount of saturation to show the vibrancy of the colours, without becoming lurid. Great work, well done.

This is a very clever image, and the subject may not be immediately obvious to everybody on first glance, so may pass the image by. The composition with the threads on a diagonal gives dynamism to the shot, and the conversion to black & white works well too. Although partially obscured, we get a good impression of the workers concentration on the intricate hand weaving, and the fineness of his work. Love it, well done.