Sports photography

An incredible shot of a rodeo rider bareback on a bucking bronco. The horse is fully outstretched and wild-eyed as the rider hangs on with one hand, the other arm aloft for balance. The action is frozen at 1/1000th of a second, giving the viewer a rare chance to see this incredible animal up close and untamed. Great work — a really excellent capture.

A lovely image of a Little League baseball game on the outskirts of Delhi. It sums up the dedication and effort that goes into sport at every level, week in and week out — no cheering crowds, just a small moment played out in towns and cities around the world. It's beautifully composed and the soft light works really well, the action caught just right as the pitcher throws to the expectant batter. A really great shot, well observed.

A great horse racing image as three riders and their horses clear the fence in unison. It's a classic picture we've all seen, but this is a really standout example of it. The expression on every face — rider and horse alike — is sheer determination and hope in equal measure. The tight composition and clean background work really well, and a fast shutter speed has stopped the moment perfectly as they race towards the finish line.

A great image of rugby in all its mud-filled glory. The tight composition draws the viewer right into the melee — the stripes have the ball, but not for long as the reds close in on the player making a break for the line. Lots of atmosphere and the colours work really well. One note: if the option is there, a faster shutter speed would sharpen the action up — but that aside, it's a great sporting image.

Love the energy as the two dogs emerge from the dust and chaos of the race track — their sheer determination written large across their faces. A long lens combined with a fast shutter speed has isolated the action and frozen it dead at 1/900th of a second. A very exciting sports image — great work.

A real standout shot for me. There's little information about the time and place, but this has all the hallmarks of a barrel race at a US rodeo. The late evening light casts long shadows as horse and rider corner at a near-impossible angle. The concentration of both parties is clear as they hit the dirt fast. A super-high shutter speed has stopped the action dead, with great focus on the subject at f/2.8. Nice work.

The look on their faces says it all — to go the extra mile you have to dig deep, and this image captures the strength and determination you need to succeed in sport. A great shot, beautifully taken, as the young women pull their oars across the silvery water. Really nice work — my only thought is that it would have been great to see this in landscape format. Other than that it's a top shot!

A surfing shot with a real difference. In contrast to most classic images of the sport, this one is taken from above by a drone, giving a whole new perspective. The surfer cuts a small figure in the expanse of ocean blue, the yellow surfboard contrasting beautifully against it. The rider is crouched low as a huge surge of water propels him forwards. A really beautiful image.

I love the speed and drama captured in this outstanding motorbike shot from a speedway event. The lighting is excellent, with dirt and dust billowing behind the riders to create a striking sense of movement and atmosphere. The colours work brilliantly, with the bright red helmets contrasting beautifully against the blue racing suits. The action has been frozen perfectly with a very fast shutter speed, while the f/5.6 aperture and 400mm focal length combine to give the image a wonderful quality and strong subject separation. A superb action photograph—great work!

This is a great cycling shot from Abu Dhabi — a well-captured moment that rewards a second look. The muted colours and tones work beautifully against the modern architecture of the UAE. Despite the energy and effort of the riders, there's a real calm to the image as the pack takes a corner in unison. The finish line drama feels some way off — everyone looks fresh and ready to go.! Great composition too, shot at f/4 giving a pleasing depth of field. Great work!

A great shot and totally unique — you don't often see this kind of image, largely because getting this close to the action is rarely possible. A fast shutter speed has stopped the action beautifully, the detail is excellent, and her expression is clear as her taut body turns into the dive. All eyes are fixed on her as she launches between the rocks and into the water. A really exciting image, well captured.

Love the determination in this image — it's what sport is all about. Her expression says it all as she pushes hard to the finish line, mud covering her face and arms. The long focal length has dropped the background out beautifully, as have the backlit water droplets. The tight composition brings the drama right to the screen. Great work.

Not your average sporting event, but this shot has all the elements of a great race. Kambala — buffalo racing in Karnataka, a state in southwest India — and a pair of buffalo hurtle down the track guided by a jockey with the determined look of a winner. The colours, as you'd expect from India, are amazing. Lovely work.!

Not all sports photography has to be shot at a high shutter speed — this is a really great example of why. Shot at 1/8th of a second, the slow shutter creates a genuinely dynamic image where you can feel the speed as the horses thunder past towards the finish line. The colours are really popping too — great work.

I love the quiet detail of this image as the rower's canoe slices through the water on a bright, sunlit day. Droplets of water from the paddle create small circles on the water's surface as the boat heads away from the viewer — photographed, I would imagine, from a bridge. Not your usual sports image but I really enjoyed the understated drama of this one.