Sailing

This capture appeals to me as it looks like it could have been taken 170 years ago. The post-processing is really effective in giving the scene a nostalgic feel. I particularly like the overall colour tint, strong contrast, and the strong vignette that draws the eye to toward the ship.

This is a wonderfully evocative image reflective of a time gone by. Although shot with a modern digital camera some effective post-processing tweaks has given it a vintage, almost painterly, quality that nicely complements the subject, probably even more so than if it was black and white.

This is a classic pretty sea/landscape image that most viewers would admire and aspire to capture. Along with nature doing its bit, photographically it ticks all the boxes for a successful outcome. We have an interesting scene with a clear focal point, golden hour lighting, and rule of thirds composition.

I love the way a world famous landmark, in this case the Sydney Harbour Bridge, has been depicted in a not so obvious way. A clever thought and also well composed. It would have probably made my Top 10 if the contrast between the highlights and shadows was more defined.

For me, achieving a successful intentional camera movement effect is somewhat hit or miss. This one is a hit. That's because despite the fuzziness you can still identify what the subject is. The warm, pastel colours and reflections also add to the overall effectiveness of this scene, giving it the desired 'impressionist' painterly feel.

I'm a fan of creative long exposures and this one, which looks like several minutes, is very effective. It has really smoothed out the water and recorded the movement of the clouds. I assume the ship on the horizon is blended in from a separate normal exposure. Whatever, the wooden poles that lead into it make for a nice focal point. The horizon shadow effect also works well to balance the overall effect.

Of the many distant sail boats in open ocean shots along the solitude theme this one appealed to me the most. The black and white treatment makes an already dramatic composition even more graphic. The stark lighting, revealing the texture of the rocks and picking out the yacht, adds an extra wow factor.

What makes this image most compelling is the unusual viewpoint. The feeling of being involved in the midst of the scene more than compensates for what may not be the sharpest of images. I do hope the camera was waterproof!

This is a nicely composed, sharp action shot that splendidly captures the essence of yachting. What gives it the edge over the many excellent racing shots entered for this competition is the timing. The resigned look on a crew member's face as another big wave is about to sweep over them is almost comical. I’m sure he’s enjoying it really!

Quirky compositions or those from an unusual viewpoint are a guaranteed way to add visual impact to any image. This example is very nicely done, with the scene neatly composed inside a window frame. Had the picture been taken without, it would not have been as interesting.

This shot is one of a superb series documenting the travails of fishermen on the sub-continent. I selected this one for the top 10 as it captures the decisive moment of the wave hitting the boat. Where’s health and safety when you need them!

Another striking minimalist interpretation of a sail boat in the open ocean. What I particularly like is the post-production work that makes the most of the strong light on the horizon to create an appealing glow effect. The result makes it look like it was backlit by a light sabre.

This was the standout kite surfing image amongst many similarly impressive shots. It freezes the action nicely and I particularly like the near 50:50 balance of the composition and the capture of a kite sail, as it helps provide a more complete picture of what’s going on.

This is a thoroughly charming 'straight' image that pleases on a number of levels. It benefits from the warm, soft lighting that sunrise and sunsets bestow and a nicely layered composition, with points of interest that draw the eye through the scene.

It’s titled ‘like a painting’ and it certainly is that. I immediately thought of Turner’s, ‘The Fighting Temeraire’ as it certainly has the same vibe. As with painting, light is a key element in photography. The ‘golden hour’ warmth and softening effect of fog has helped produce this mini-masterpiece.