Summer

This carefully constructed, well-timed, well-exposed image, perfectly sums up a natural joie de vivre. There is interesting human action, with just a touch of the boat and well-lit ropes on the right hand side to give an idea of place, combined with quiet, smooth lighting so that the emphasis is on the people in the scene. I'm so pleased the photographer didn't crop the image - the whole scene is magical. Well done.

Fabulous, quirky, manipulated image of sparkling red and white polka dots and antique yellow, on an idyllic summer's day with its daisy-covered grassy bank and white fluffy clouds on a blue sky. The photographer has chosen and balanced all the parts well, even down to the 'midday' setting of the petrol pump on the left, the size of the pumps, the left one appearing smaller than the other, constructing a memorable, fun image to make the viewers smile.

What an image. One that really made me smile. Summertime fun at its best. I love the way the photographer has kept so much of the photo sharply in focus from the front row of Marilyns to the back - even managing to include the impression of Marilyn (far left at the back) in that iconic pose of her 'skirt' being blown around her waist. There's so much to look at in this picture and I love the inclusion of the audience viewing the spectacle. The white bathing costumes seem to have good detail without blown highlights - quite a feat. Good fun. I'd love to have been there!

What a time we've had. all over the world, with Covid 19. And it's been an honour to judge all these fabulous summertime photographs to lift us out of the restrictions. From the moment I first saw this photograph I was taken by the sense of confidence in the young child. His body language looks like he's heading boldly into a certain future. The overcast lighting, letting us see detail in the child's clothing, arm position and wood tones of the boat, is perfect for this beautifully-exposed, well-constructed picture which has been timed to perfection and really touched me with its emotion. Just the splash of water against the paddle gives an indication of movement leaving nearly all the attention on the child.

A well caught image, simple with minimal distractions in black and white, full of emotion, funny and precise. I like the light, oblique, out of focus space that's been included around the child, making the viewer stare even more at the huge, froth-filled goggles and expression on the child's face. No wonder she's looking glum. I can almost hear her saying Oh no not another photo. Very funny.

What an interesting capture here on the beach with this group of four children of varying ages. A tremendous viewpoint from the photographer, down low at a level with the youngest child as he looks out, almost longingly, to join the older children in their fun and games. The closeness of the photographer to the seated child, focusing on his momentary distraction from playing with sand, is thought provoking. I like the near-silhouetted exposure of the three older children, two stopped in their tracks while the girl heads off up the beach.

This contemporary-style, colourful, precise picture caught my eye. It has been very well constructed, almost engineered, in the mind of the photographer with the two balanced pairs of empty sunbeds and their shadows facing each other tight up to the edge of the picture. I like the little detail of the position of the bikini on one sunbed and red trunks on another giving the impression of human activity. The circular black table and chairs and their shadows in the bottom right hand corner are well positioned next to the umbrella and its shadow, giving depth to the black shadow details around the main elements. I like the position of the figure with the hat and, again, its black shadow which makes my eye revisit the table and chairs as if on a diagonal line.

What is it about this image that made me include it in my Top Ten? It's a truly chilled, relaxed, quiet shot with beautiful lighting on the main subjects. It oozes that feelgood factor of simplicity. Its minimal colour palette and the feeling of wanting to be there looking at that understated scene on that day, waiting for the right magical moment when the animal on the right with the balanced space to its left, make it thought-provoking.

There is a quality of diffused light and careful construction in this image which appealed to me and helped to tell the story. This is definitely wild swimming, no messing about, no unnecessary smiles, the two swimmers are there by the looks of it to train. The expression on the woman's face reveals, to me, the coldness of the water and the upright stance of the man's back view with his tilted head looks like he means business. What I particularly like is the implied triangular shape of the composition, its highest point being the top of the signpost, fanning out diagonally to the man's legs on one side and the woman descending the steps on the other.

I'm enjoying the thought that has gone into this uncluttered picture with its clarity of vision, colour, clean lines and negative space to the left of the building. It is a sophisticated, architectural shot but with a difference. It benefits from the inclusion and position of the little bird on the balcony and an empty deckchair which add emotion and a touch of curiosity. I like the precision and congratulate the photographer for his/her idea of making this a memorable image.

Sunsets clearly meant a lot to many photographers who entered this summertime competition. With this sunset I felt the emotion that the photographer must have felt surrounded by this gorgeousness, and was hoping to reproduce on a 2D image in the process. The feelgood factor is well and truly conveyed. Just a small spot of sun peeping through the silhouetted branches is enhanced by the rays spreading out to either side of the picture and the all important mist.

This sandcastle on the beach in Valencia is a work of art and a very appealing record photograph of it. I liked it very much and would like to take the opportunity of suggesting to the photographer what I think could have made it a truly memorable photograph. As the picture is tightly cropped on the left side, it may have benefited from a slightly tighter vertical crop on the right. An even tighter vertical crop on the left, or a touch of post processing to remove the little dark-coloured protrusion and white building, would have completed the attention to detail. How fascinating it would be to see a panel of sandcastle photos.

I liked this lovely little cameo of an idea. Photographing queueing with all the various bits of body language can be fascinating. I could really feel the wait for the bus this group had on that hot, sunny day Would it ever arrive? I like the balance of the picture with the big sky, and the minimal amount of road to give the scene a sense of place.

A beautifully captured moment in the life of this distinctive tree nymph butterfly. Simplicity, lovely pale out of focus background, minimal colour palette, wonderful exposure in filtered out lighting. The uncluttered space around the striking, papery creature with its black veins and white wings is so important, it almost jumps out at the viewer.

I could almost feel a Gone Fishing sign next to this still life scene of unaccompanied fishing rods on a perfect summer's day. My curiosity is dying to know where the owners of the fishing rods are. Was it one fisherman/fisherwoman who owned the rods, or four? Were they enjoying a picnic lunch somewhere behind the scene? What did they catch? I can feel the peace and quiet. Thank you.

I like the subdued feel to this little scene. Lovely detail in these aging white louvred doors which have seen many sunrises, blistering heat and sunsets. And through the door an inviting spot on the red chair to view the scene beyond and enjoy a cup of coffee. Memories like this are so important to us.

I'm listening in on the conversation of the couple in the shelter, enjoying their body language and the neat positioning of their coffee cups. I love the stark, skeleton feel of the shelter in relation to the softer colourful floaty kite over on the left. There's an interesting balance between the main subject of the people in the shelter and the expanse of space to the left presided over by the small figures of the kite flyers.