Road Junctions

What I especially like about this image is your decision to include a strong element of foreground interest, which elevates the shot above a more simple slow shutter speed shot of a busy junction on a wet evening. Foreground focusing on the pedestrian crossing control is clear, and the remaining scene less sharp which allows for definition. Being picky I may be tempted to try to level the shot slightly as everything in the mid ground and background seems to tip to the right, but that may be a consequence of the lens used for the capture and trying to get the foreground element upright. Nice bold colours contrasting with the black areas too. Great work, well done on your top ten placing.

Many images in this contest tried to capture something unusual at a road junction, or the hustle and bustle, or focused on something other than the junction itself. The success of this image for me is your capture of virtually nothing other than a road and track intersecting on the barren ground far below. Composition is spot on for me, with the roads on gentle diagonals across the frame, and the junction positioned on the thirds. Simple, but extremely effective, you have done very well to spot the potential for a great image. Maybe not to everyone's taste, but I love it. Congratulations on your winning image.

There were a few entries of this intersection in this contest, but this one stood out for me. Your composition and framing has worked especially well, with the train track sweeping across the scene on a diagonal, and plenty of curves, circles and lines to give the viewer a real sense of the place. The shadows have been lifted to allow plenty of detail to be seen, but retaining just enough contrast to avoid the image looking flat, and retains the perception of the different levels of roads. Positioning of the train is spot on too. Great image, well done on your top ten placing.

I love the sense of movement you have captured here, which conveys the noise, the sounds and the chaos at this busy little junction. The image works well in black and white, although I may have been tempted to adjust the tones or contrast slightly to render the image more black and white than grey and grey. Still a great image, well done on your top ten placing.

A scene typical of many Spanish towns at siesta time, with strong sunlight, few pedestrians or traffic, and a local cat out for a stroll. The presence of the cat adds vital interest to the shot. You have lifted the shadows enough to reveal details in the shaded part of the street but have retained enough shadow to avoid a flat image. A simple shot of an everyday scene, well captured and spot on brief for this contest. Well done on your top ten placing.

Another image in my placings in this contest showing that exciting or exotic is not a requirement for a great image. You may not have been over happy about the turn of the weather as the fog descended, but it allowed you to capture the scene with a great sense of damp and murk, and I get a real feel of the chilly gloom of this country road junction. I am not sure whether the image is actually black and white or very desaturated, but it all helps convey the mood. Well done on your top ten placing.

There were a number of images which showed animals at junctions, but this one stood out for me as a great image photographically. I am unsure if you anticipated this shot or were just lucky in the "right place right time" sense, but the cow is in the perfect position within the frame as it appears around the corner. I like the contrasts in colour between the two halves of the shot, with the reds and browns on the left contrasting with the bold blues on the right. Lots of detail in the architecture too. Great image, well done on your top ten placing.

This is a great image which has perfectly captured the movement of the pedestrians far below. You have carefully selected the right moment to capture the shot, as the traffic is stationary which has allowed all but the people to be sharp. The half a second shutter sped is spot on, as the figures are blur enough, but not too blur, to give a great sense of the dynamic scene from your fabulous vantage point. The contrast of the dark figures against the light paving works especially well too. Great image, congratulations on your second place finish.

This image is a great example of why you do not need to hunt for exotic and exciting locations to capture a great image. Here we see an ordinary road on what looks to be a pretty dank and dismal day, the sort of winter's day when it never gets properly light. Colouring has been kept natural and understated which conveys a sense of the weather, with the lights from the headlamps and traffic lights just lifting the scene. Great use of a telephoto lens which has compressed the perspective for an interesting shot. Great work, well done on your top ten placing.