Track and Field Athletics

This image communicates the personal feeling of the jumper as he has cleared the bar and is about to descend, as is the pole, amidst seemingly limitless sun dappled and gently scudding clouds . He has victory. Nothing else at this moment exists for the vaulter. It was an astute decision to convert to black and white, to emphasise the silhouette like elements of the pole-vaulting discipline - a happy consequence of exposing for the sky. The sky is quite spectacular and a fitting backdrop to going for sporting glory. This is a lovely depiction of athletic pursuit and victory. Congratulations and Thank you for entering.

This is the aftermath. After giving it your all and possibly asking why you’re doing this, you vow not to do it again. This sentiment will disappear as soon as you’ve recovered. The composition is pleasing. We have the exhausted runner, the track surface and sections of markings arranged aesthetically with no other distracting elements. His shirt confirms that he has just completed one of the most gruelling races. You have gone close with a wide angle lens at 51mm focal length to record lots of detail. Thank you for entering my contest.

This image takes you right into the action of this steeple chase. I hope the camera is alright. The shutter speed of 1/800 and f 4.5 aperture has satisfyingly captured detail in both the water splashes and the competitors – moreover, you have the city buildings in the background nicely visible too. You must have been close. Were you kneeling in the water?!!!! Thank you for entering

This is how close, and how fast we are – only a split second’s worth of difference - will you be runner-up or the winner? These split seconds are generally indiscernible to us mortals and this image manifests how our human faculties perceive a race like this. We are usually aided tin determining the winner - when there is no clear winner - by the photograph – the photo-finish. Most of the frame is taken up by the redgra coloured track and white markings, but the edges are pleasingly graced with visual information - an official’s head, part of a portable generator, wires, and track markers. We can see some familiar kit colours to indicate that this is an international sprint race, but who it is, we can’t tell - it is a blur as it would be perceived by the naked eye. This is an engaging example of the camera emulating human perception. Thank you for entering my contest.

This is a marvellous image capturing what we have been seeing over and over again circa 2008 – 2017. We recognise one archetypal and familiar showman reaching the finish line first. All this with the minimum of effort, and lots more left in the tank to expend on seemingly guaranteed finals. The framing and inclusion of all competitors in this race is good composition - cropped to exclude all distractions. You have caught the moment - Usain Bolt crosses the finish line - and the desperation and frustration of his countryman who has just made second - having given his all… The only reason this has not made the Top Ten is that it unfortunately not as sharp as it could be, but capturing a moment either side would not have been so engaging regardless of how sharp and technically perfect it might have been… Thank you for entering.

The starting line of the race and the butterflies are raging. This image with the contrasting white shoes and starting block against the redgra coloured, polyurethane and rubber track, coupled with the subtle incidence of deep pink and black, is striking. The close crop of this scene communicates the sprinter’s resolve and nervous anticipation. The athlete’s brown legs casting a deep shadow at high noon? Mainly pale pink, brown, and white, I find the colour combinations in this image attractive, even though they are not meant to be complementary colours as a rule.

Thank you for entering my contest

We are down and sandy with the long jumper. This image really communicates what it might be like to connect with a pile of sand after jumping into it from as far a distance as you can muster. I love the low angle to bring the viewer down with the long jumper at the decisive moment The way the displaced sand echoes the shape of the long jumper makes this image aesthetically pleasing. Thank you for entering