Urban

This month’s winner was chosen for its unusual concept and technical proficiency. Not only are the interior and exterior exposures balanced perfectly, but the ornate gothic architecture contrasts beautifully against the minimalist modern architecture. The two children provide additional interest and invite the viewer to follow their gaze out towards the cathedral.

This shot was captured from the 360 CHICAGO Observation Deck during blue hour. Shooting just after sunset meant it was late enough for the city to be lit up and early enough for the remaining ambient light to illuminate the buildings. The result is an immensely detailed image with very little clipping. Tripods were banned at the location so a camera bag was used to steady the camera.

The storm above this cityscape is an incredible moment captured. A long 25-second shutter speed was used to increase the chances of capturing a sudden strike. Whether multiple lightning bolts were captured in a single exposure or whether this is a composite of multiple exposures isn’t clear. Either way, it’s still a stunning shot.

The spiralling staircase pulls the viewer’s eye towards the lone figure at the bottom, framed by the oval-shaped nucleus. The vibrant orange contrasts against the white and the shadow on each floor helps to shroud any distracting elements. We particularly like how the top of the spiral has been cropped slightly, ensuring the curving structure fills the frame.

A pedestrian walking past an object or building is a popular street photography subject, so we like how this image turns the concept on its head slightly by framing the shadow and not the person. The frame is also perfectly square on to the wall.

The timing of this image is incredible. The shutter would have been fired just as the subject’s foot paused on the platform, while the rest of the body continued to pivot from the ankle. The result is a sharp foot surrounded by motion blur.

The sluggish 1/2 sec shutter speed has blurred the moving pedestrians, while cleverly leaving the static subject perfectly crisp. The result is an image that conveys the passage of time. The yellow coat was a good choice too, helping the subject to stand out further.

This photogenic structure was captured in Iran. Placing the group of balconies to one side and leaving a portion of negative space to the left was a clever compositional decision, as is the tight crop, emphasising the curvature of the architecture and the streaks of weathering.

We like the candid nature of this black and white street portrait, which produces a fly-on-the-wall perspective. If you look carefully you’ll notice that the young woman in the advertisement mirrors the older woman’s expression. The walking stick also serves as a leading line towards the subject.

The opening creates a frame within a frame, highlighting the tower in the distance. We particularly like the addition of the lone figure, providing a sense of scale, highlighting the immense size of the interior architecture. A fantastic minimalist image!

This image was taken from the Empire State Building and is proof that colour popping doesn’t have to appear contrived. With no obvious landmarks within the frame a completely mono conversion would have made it difficult to place the location. However, by revealing the all-yellow cabs there’s no mistaking the city of New York.

This urbex image was captured in northern Italy. The eye is drawn to the bright window, but the light gently guides the eye towards the bicycle, bathed in the soft glow. The f/11 aperture provides front-to-back sharpness, allowing the viewer to take in the entire abandoned room.

Copenhagen’s Axel Towers are the subject of this clean and crisp architectural shot. The black and white aesthetic helps to omit any distractions, allowing the viewer to focus purely on the geometric shapes and sweeping lines. A fantastic architectural image.

An image like this has to be perfectly square and you’d be hard pressed to find a better example. The black and white conversion helps to omit distractions and emphasises the building's clean, minimalist aesthetic and geometric shapes. A fantastic architectural shot!