Words and letters

This witty observation that references the obsession with 'selfies’ and self-image has a strong sense of urban street photography. It has been shot at a low angle to accentuate the girl’s legs and has great qualities. However the woman exiting on the left of the frame is a distraction, as is the '0% ' sign. These could both be modified to make this a very strong shot, but I see this as possibly the start of a series that could develop into a cohesive whole.

This quirky image caught my attention because of the sign and the photography, which is well executed, but the white sky is dominating the image. The controlled focus helps to accentuate the sign, but too much white is taking over. The location and the sign have potential, but maybe the bland landscape could have become more of a feature of the image, with the implication that there is little to see in either direction. This sign is a nice feature that maybe deserves revisiting with the aim of exploring more potential images.

This well-composed and well-observed image is graphic and references the brief in many ways. The seller of the Big Issue wears signage and is selling the magazine. The Library is a symbol of words and is itself literally spelled out in graphic manner. There is almost too much going on and, because the photographer has used monochrome, long lens and very good cropping, this works very well. However, I would liked to have seen the image in colour as it would have a more contemporary feel, and that may have made it more relevant and strong. But either way, well done for producing a great image with social commentary and to the brief.

The use of black & white gives an impression that this is not a recent image, which helps make its innuendo more acceptable. However, it is not as relevant as a colour image would have made it. The uncomplicated nature of monochrome also allows the reader to see the communication immediately. But if it had been a colour image, the confusion of everything around the text may have made the viewer work harder to see the 'joke'. Maybe the photographer has indeed chosen the best way to execute this image, but if I were picture editor I would certainly have liked to see a colour version as well.

This is a nicely observed image that has the ingredients of a winner, however the poor quality of exposure - due to the exceptional bright light and incorrect exposure settings - takes the edge off this image. It would also benefit from cropping so that the post on the left is excluded. These are small things, but remember that you have these choices in post-production. Try and always capture in RAW, do not 'clip' the exposure and in post-production bring up the shadow detail. Use your histogram to check you have not overexposed, and use manual settings too to be in complete control of your camera.

This image has the power of simplicity. It is well observed - the artist who created the drawing is a real artist and should be acknowledged. The photographer has seen this, captured it and published this great piece of urban art. The fact that the image could have had more strength is seen when you realise that there is a person behind the face, and if that element had more emphasis this image could have won. The photograph would have become the art of the photographer as the photographer would have been adding a new element and additional layers of meaning. Imagine if there is a figure standing on the platform or floor, framed by the face and possibly reading a paper, or better still, talking on a phone. This is a very good image, but it could have been great.

This strong image is well observed and very well executed. This ‘decisive moment’ has caught the runner at a perfect position. The runner also contradicts the message – man works; even if transport and infrastructure fail, man continues to work. The use of monochrome gives it a feel of documentary work from the past, but attractive as it is, does it help to communicate the message in a contemporary way? I would maybe prefer to see a version of this in colour, and also with a crop that excludes the distracting car above the wall - small changes may have made this into an even better image.

The classic 'dead end' sign together with a cemetery sign is well observed. The image is well exposed and uses the control of depth of field to ensure that the viewer is not confused by a distracting background. However, if the sign was to the right of the picture, I feel it would be a more balanced image. The sign is not going anywhere, so maybe if you return to the location you could reshoot the image with alternative framing.

This location has more much more potential than the image reflects. I like the stark winter trees and a large wall – they are great symbols and are elements of a great shot. But, unfortunately, you have included too much sky and surroundings that distract from the goal and its strange location. The potential image may require a football player or just a ball. I recommend that you explore this for a possible project. Well done on the shot anyway and good luck in the future.

This did make me smile. It’s a well-constructed image that shows planning and good use of the diagonal (dutch) crop. The image has life and energy and I'm sure the model and photographer had fun producing it. I understand why it has become monochrome. The use of black & white gives it a 60s feel, but I think that this contemporary image would have worked with added colour and maybe, if used subtly, would have assisted the communication. I like the styling with the retro glasses and a lady that is full of life, but it’s an interesting element that she’s not a teenager, as that would have felt like a cliché. The old tile logo is cracked and implies that the location has seen better times. The image therefore wants to take the viewer back in time, maybe the time of the subject’s youth? This is a very well executed image that has layers of meaning that may have been considered when planned; or maybe the meaning is seen by the viewer in what is a quickly grabbed fun shot. That is the beauty of photography - you bring your interpretation to every image.

This would be a great image without the HDR treatment. The great mixtures of typefaces and complex graphics are set against the high-rise and the location that is at once attractive and repugnant. I want to visit this place, but would I be welcome? The treatment is appropriate in this case and adds to the ‘graffiti’ feel. It is a personal taste issue that I prefer my images more 'real', but this brief allows this image to be celebrated as it is a well-observed location and is photographed in a manner that works for the brief.

This image jumped out from the crowd - its simple elements have more implied meaning, as gallery is a location where you expect to see art. Is the figure an artwork? Was this a fleeting moment caught or was it constructed? There were many more images with high production values, but this image simply works – it grabs the viewer and tells a story. Is the subject a child who wants to escape from the art that they do not understand? Or does the subject realise that they are creating art? Galleries are usually white so the use of monochrome accentuates the location and takes the colour away from the viewer, so the image is very simple and yet very complex. Technical skills are not the greatest issue with photography of this genre, and this is a well-observed moment, captured and communicated to the audience. This may be a controversial winner, but this had my eye from the start and I have returned to it, so I am happy to stand by this choice. Well done.

There were many images that featured car logos, some of which were exotic and ancient, but they were images I have seen many times. But this image has another layer - the couple kissing in the reflection makes this a great shot. It also has the ‘people's car’ logo, a very early badge that has imperfections which imply history. But there is something else going on. Is the couple at a romantic location on holiday? I want to know more, which allows me to interpret and create my own story. Technically this is well executed, and there are no 'technique' distractions that take away from the simple beauty of a well-observed moment.

This sign made me smile. I had not seen this before and thought it may have been at a drop-off point at an airport. The colours are possibly too vivid as the sign and simple composition are strong enough for this image. It is well observed and if you have it in RAW (which you should, by the way) I recommend to revisit the processing.

The symbol of the broken weather vane along with the starlings that look as if they are looking for a direction to fly in, make a strong image that has mixed communication. It was a strong contender for the inclusion in the Top 10, however the competition is strong in this contest and, sadly, it missed the final cut. A tighter crop and a more interesting sky may have improved this, but well done and keep putting work into these great contests.