Waves

What do surfers and seascape photographers have in common? They're all waiting for the perfect wave. Sure, it's simple enough to photograph waves rolling ashore but with something so unpredictable there's always an element of luck in getting one that produces an aesthetic such as this one. Here, the slower shutter speed, composition and lighting are all very well executed but it's the timing of the shot - the decisive moment - as the crest tumbles that sets it apart.

This is a beautiful image that benefits from the classic fusion of a well balanced composition, golden hour light, and that little something extra, in this case judicious timing and the use of a slow shutter speed to blur the receding surf. I also love the way the low light catches the blocks of ice and detail in the sand as it reflects off the surface of the beach.

Of the many stormy, lighthouse scenes submitted I found this example particularly appealing. It's a decent enough composition, with the breakwater working as a natural leading line toward the off-centre main subject but what clearly gives it such impact is the massive wall of water. It not only frames the lighthouse very nicely, but the different shades of water and the dark sky work well together in adding extra depth and drama to the overall scene.