Red

We are trying to work out how this image has been crafted. Our guess is a flooded stage, a powerful swimmer/dancer and of course powerful flash. The timing of the photograph probably couldn't have been bettered and the flow of the red material has been caught to perfection. For us the cropping is little bit tight, We would have loved to have seen the end of the material, but perhaps this wasn't possible. The photograph is an exciting concept and full of energy and grace.

We love this strong image which immediately stood out because of the contrasty overall appearance, the rich red and the chair bathed in a soft pool of light. The creased curtains, rusty metal window frame are unsettling, nothing can be seen through the windows. The photographer has created a mysterious atmosphere. Why is the chair there?There seems to be an untold story and we wait in anticipation for some one to return. This is the photograph that we keep returning to.

A truly beautiful portrait of a beautiful lady. It is a very powerful photo which is sensitive and yet we can see the lady still has a sense of humour. She is obviously looking directly at her own image but I think she sees the past and is wondering about the future. The photographer has captured it all though the eyes. The colour and the material of the blouse gives it a genteel look together with the simple earrings. The use of a blank background is perfect. An inspirational to us all.

We initially liked this image and selected it for higher things. It was shot with my camera of choice with a 70-200mm zoom lens fully zoomed. The red coat against the black background works perfectly for me and the composition is just right. The photographer has used the full f2.8 aperture to selectively focus on the handle of the sword which is crisp and sharp and yet... I felt the buttons on the jacket either needed to be sharp or a bit more blurred. For me they are out-of-focus just enough to detract from the image. Perhaps the Guardsman could have been asked to hold the sword a bit closer to his body! Excellent shot though.

This one is going to be controversial! Ros absolutely loves it and I quite like it. We don't normally go for highly Photoshopped images but this one certainly caught our eye. Shot in Cuba this image has a child's paint box quality about it. The strong blues, yellows and reds have become powerful blocks of colour. The reduction and simplification of detail has given added strength to the image.

The dog crossing the road strikes a pose, is clearly identifiable and is an essential element for the balance of the composition.

This image of a ginger flower certainly has the wow factor. The choice of the dark, almost black background reveals the starting beauty of this still life. The strong lighting has created highlights and textures so you can almost reach out and feel the waxy nature of the petals. The use of a slow, in this case a 100 ISO speed has ensured maximum quality and clarity. How much more stylish and glamorous can a flower be?

A beautiful subject really well lit and photographed.

The pure essence of tulip! This punchy photograph is very well-lit and nicely cropped. The strong green stem leads your eye right into the heart of the flower and the natural feathering of the petals has been beautifully captured. Probably through format and choice of lens not every part of the flower is absolutely in focus and sharp but for us this doesn't detract from the overall image, in fact the picture has something painterly about it. For us, the best red tulip of the bunch!

I can feel the cold in this photograph and I am shivering. The little bird looks fabulous against the ice and snowy branches. He is so bright with the light from the snow reflected on his red feathers. A near perfect shot, there is a little twig in the foreground which is a tiny distraction and I would have cropped in a bit closer. However, it is a very striking image and we admire the patience it must have taken.

There is so much to like about this shot. The tomatoes are ripe and just the right colour, the reflections are good and the exposure perfect. The beads of water are just the right size too with the largest ones starting to drip and join up with others. The focus is spot on which is what we like to see.

This has been left in the unmarked category because we feel that the composition could be improved with little tweaks. Perhaps the tomatoes should be the same height and also it looks as if the stalks have become too wet and have started to go a little soggy. However it is a great graphic image.

What is there not to love about fireworks. It has truly captivated the excitement of the night. The blasts, the smoke and the sparkle of the rockets have been caught at their best. We can hear the noise!

The timing and the exposure have been done perfectly and the background building with the castellations could not be more perfect. The framing of the fireworks over the building adds to the dramatic scene. It is not very often that we stop to look at a firework shot but this has the power to do just that. Well done, just wish we had been there.

An exquisite composition and the post-production work is just right. The humour of the puffin comes through with his red landing gear ready for touch down. The fact that the green stick he has between his beak is perfectly horizontal is a nice touch. So why is it in the unmarked category ? Purely because it is not pin sharp. We realise that capturing such a shot is difficult but we feel it would be worth trying again as it would have been in the top 10.

This is a fantastic attempt with a very difficult subject. The whole image is very well composed and the colours of the old pier legs and the pebbles on the beach are just right. However the sky would benefit by being more dramatic. It might be worth your while to look at some of the results other photographers achieve in astro photography. Having long trails of planetary and star movements would look amazing. The BBC Sky At Night magazine often has a readers photo section which may help. Stick with it and enjoy the starry nights.

This is a very exciting photo and we love the haunting quality of the light together with the red reflections of the vehicle on the snow and ice. The shot has captured the quiet of the landscape and the remoteness really well. While we don't know how cold it was at this particular time, we have experienced -30C and know how the cold affects simple tasks such as pressing the shutter. The only reason this has not been placed higher is the lack of sharpness. Otherwise an informative and well composed shot.