Ways we fly

Like a flock of birds, this (insert your own collective noun for paragliders - 'float'?) ... of paragliders appear as if they are going through the process of repositioning in order to form one distinct formation. I like that they are so small we see them as little shapes – seemingly both haphazard and organised.

The title of this photograph says it all: 'Apache Storm Coming'. That is exactly the impact this photograph had the moment I viewed it. Seeing an aircraft heading straight towards us is very unusual, especially one of this nature. What adds a distinct note of high drama is the cloud formation that backgrounds the aircraft. Those billowy, contrasty clouds appear like a massive explosion or storm that elevates the image to cinematic level. Striking!

Flying. Floating. What an excellent live music photograph. The musician is both frozen and moving (notice the slightly blurred legs) above the stage. The image resonates with a particular time and place – an engrossing performance from an energetic performer. Everything leads to him: the beams of light, the mic stand and the photographers' gaze.

This photograph has a wonderful juxtaposition between the warm, vibrant colours of the parachute and the cool, mottled textures of the mountainscape in the background. Whilst we immediately recognise the parachutist, the background adds an abstract note that urges me to look closer. Excellent.

We see a figure close to camera in a slightly odd pose. Then we take in the remainder of the information within the frame (oh, those are boys in a pool of water beyond). That kid is 'flying'! Photographs can create such weird, seemingly unnatural juxtapositions of scale and spatial distance, and this image is a great example.

Most of our flying objects in this contest are designed for flight. In this instance, we are dealing with a ground-based vehicle that is captured mid-air with its rider providing a theatrical pose. Though not an aircraft, during very short space of time, this bike and rider are indeed flying. The photograph has captured the apex of that flight. The subjects frozen in space. The background a soft out-of-focus muddle of clouds which perfectly contrast with the hard-edged form of our subject.

The warm hues and soft tones of the landscape, sky and balloons provide an alluring aesthetic. The enormous scale of the balloons is contrasted by the tiny figures, who collectively struggle with one balloon's tether. The colour, place, activity combine to create a distinct scene and action.

What, at first glance, appears a typical elevated view across a cityscape, reveals a special added feature: a man frozen in space. We recognise the figure as a base jumper (daredevils who jump from high, ground-based vantage points to fly/fall unaided before releasing a parachute). I like the stillness of the scene (that quiet point between day and night) and the stillness (and oddness) of the figure seemingly floating.

This is a very distinctive photograph. An Olympic snowboarder is frozen in midair. They are positioned one side within the frame of the photograph, brightly lit by artificial lights unseen, which strikingly accentuates the figure from the dark night background. Filling the remainder within the frame is the aforementioned darkness, but also, out-of-focus is what looks like the red, white and blue of the Union Jack (the UK's flag). Whether deliberately captured in this way, or a stroke of good fortune, is unclear. Nontheless, it is a refreshing and distinctive composition of a sporting competitor 'flying' through the air.

The sonic bubble, so fleeting yet so impressive. This photograph has captured this distinct moment expertly. Perfectly composed. The aircraft is pin sharp yet suggests a sense of motion. The cloud of air that surrounds the plane is weird and seemingly out-of-place. I can only presume that to capture this so perfectly requires many hours of dedicated practice. Well done.

This image really caught my attention. It reminded me immediately of the many excellent photographs in this competition that had aircraft flying in formation or distinct patterns (you know... little shapes against a blue sky, sort of thing). This is like that, except the little shapes are people, and instead of looking up at the sky, we are looking down to water.

The cliff in the bottom corner of frame helps to hold all the key elements: the figure in mid-air and the others in the water looking back at their friend who is about to join them.

Many of the best photographs in this contest have our flying object along with a landscape of some description. Having land, sea, mountains, etc., helps to add a 'grounding' along with other information to help off-set, juxtapose or balance the primary subject. This photograph has used that approach to good effect. That bit of landscape, tucked into the corner of the frame, provides a sense of scale, location and also direction (the 'face' of the cliff points to the right, into frame and also the direction that our paraglider is heading.

I have mentioned in other reviews the impact of having an element of landscape in the frame as it helps to balance or juxtapose the principle subject. In this photograph, that role has been cleverly assigned to other balloons. Seeing only a glimpse of several seemingly squished together at the bottom of frame, they act like a colourful rolling hills that hold the overall composition for our key balloon to take centre stage.

Mass ascension, indeed! I've never seen so many balloons in flight. What an amazing scene. One good thing about balloon flights is that they take place early morning - perfect timing for photographers. The light is excellent in this instance. The colours 'pop' (be careful not to overdo the saturation, though). The thin slice of landscape at the base of frame holds the composition and allows the sky above and the... 80+ balloons space to dance against the sky! Wonderful.