Travel

The Northern Lights are notoriously unpredictable, but this image was captured – can you believe – on the first night of a trip to Iceland. An awful lot of work went into this image. It’s a four-photo composite, two for the sky and two for the foreground. The natural-looking blend – created using luminosity masks – and the way the aura stretches right across the sky are standout features. A fantastic image.

This isn’t a wonky horizon, it's the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The lighting really makes this image, providing plenty of interest in the sky and bathing the famous building in beautiful, soft golden light. Capturing an image without any tourists was surely a difficult task, making this a fine image indeed.

This image depicts a Mundari person walking through their herd. The Mundari people are known for the bond they share with their cattle and this photo conveys that perfectly. The herder’s red robe stands out among the cattle and the smoke created by burning dung. We also love how the golden light settles on the cattle and highlights the herder. A fantastic reportage travel image.

Think the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur and you’ll likely conjure an image of the Petronas Twin Towers in your mind’s eye. In this evening shot the city lights vibrantly outline the architecture and the relatively narrow aperture of f/11 has converted some of the lights into starbursts. The black-and-white conversion is key here. It’s reduced the distracting cacophony of colourful passersby, buildings and lights into a seamless mono palette, with beautifully rich shadows.

Street portraits are a travel photography staple and this is a fine example. The chaiwala is set against a beautiful blue backdrop, while the lack of depth has rendered the entire image in focus. A 35mm focal length has provided plenty of context within the frame – such as the washing line – but minimal distortions. A fantastic image.

This image is a perfect example of the moment trumping all else. The tug of war was captured during the festival of Onam and puts the viewer right among the action. A fast 1/1000 sec shutter speed ensures the action is frozen and the delight on the participants and onlookers’ faces is infectious. A wonderful image.

We really like this composition. Without framing anything but villas, the collection of buildings appear to continue beyond the frame forever. The lighting and contrast from the black and white conversion has created a punchy aesthetic, while neutralising any distracting colours. A fantastic image!

The Taj Mahal has to be one of the most photographed buildings in the world. This image has captured the mausoleum, bathed in beautiful golden light and against a pink sunset. While the image may have been straightened in post-production, the 62mm focal length was a good choice, allowing the building to fill the frame and with minimal barrel distortion. A fantastic image.

The golden temple would have made an excellent subject in its own right, but the praying man really adds to this composition, providing foreground interest and an interesting narrative. The aperture of f/8 has provided sharpness throughout. A fantastic image!

This Icelandic church is a very popular subject, so we like how this image adds a classic car into the frame to capture something a little different. The road creates a natural leading line, while the light-blue complements the chapel’s red roof.

We like how the hot-air balloons are spread evenly throughout the frame and the contrast in the edit, really highlighting the long shadows on the landscape. The aperture of f/11 has helped to provide a suitably large depth of field to render the landscape sharp from front to back.

This image presents a frame-within-a-frame that draws the viewer towards the Taj Mahal, while beautiful golden light floods into the room, highlighting the beautiful floor and shrouding the figure in silhouette. We like how this presents a different view of a much-photographed building.

Nashville’s replica of the Parthenon is a popular tourist hotspot, and much care was taken to ensure that hordes of tourists didn’t enter the frame. The mono conversion has mitigated what was likely a relatively subdued colour palette, while the morning light has created a geometric pattern of shadows that provides a real sense of depth.

The group of canoes turn this beautiful landscape image into an aspirational travel photo. It depicts the Gore mountain range looming over Piney Lake, Colorado. We love the glassy reflection created by the still waters and the first light peeking over the mountains.

Cinque Terre is a travel photography hotspot, thanks to its classic multi-coloured villas and beautiful Italian Riviera surroundings. Dramatic skies add punch to the surroundings, while helping to balance the frame. The seabirds also fit right in with the coastal theme. A beautiful image.