Ways We Fly

A great capture of an F15 passing through a low flying area in Wales. The vapour off the wing tips and over the top surfaces add speed and excitement. Good panning and a fast shutter speed have served well here.

I'm a big fan of portraits with aircraft, and this image jumped out at me. There are so many factors to applaud here. The model is well posed and her accessories are perfect. The sky is stunning and the editing has enabled the tones across the whole image to sing. I really like the fact that the Antonov aircraft is derelict as that adds another element to the overall image.

We had a number of balloon images submitted in this competition, but this one stood out as being very different. I really like the simple but effective background, that is wonderfully complemented by the red in the balloon against the snow. The tress shadows also add dimension to the image.

Hangliding is often carried out at scenic locations, so this image certainly sells that wonderful world. The view is simply stunning and the colours just make you want to be there. I like the positioning of the hanglider because it's flying into the scene and not blocking the view.

I really like the simplicity of the image and the good use of depth of field that throws the instruments out of focus. It helps to tell a story, which means the viewer gets more from the image and provokes thought.

Lighting is very important in an image, and this executive jet is so well illuminated against the dark post sunset sky. The moon adds another dimension, but the composition just makes the aircraft thrust into your vision. Really lovely tones and colour in this image.

Composition is very important on any image and this is an example of how to get it right. It's an unusual view of a balloon in flight with great symmetry and colour. A square crop may have added better impact.

Not a usual flying subject, but the racing bike is certainly airbourne. I really like the shot as it demonstrates great panning and use of a slower shutter. It's was almost in my top 10, but still a great effort!

This shots works so well, thanks to the breaking F-35 fighter to the rear of the image. The Tornado in the foreground is well captured, but it's the F-35 adds depth and action to the image. with motion blur and vapour off the wing tips.

Everyone loves a formation jet display team when they are dropping smoke trails, and the Royal Air Force Red Arrows are one of the most famous teams around. They make great photographic subjects and this angle captures the rolling synchro pair around the main formation very nicely. I especially like the framing by the smoke and the moody editing adds a nice dimension to the image.

This is a clever interpretation of ways we fly and what a stunning location to do photography. I'm assuming some fill in light by flash or reflector has been used to illuminate the girl, whilst retaining exposure in the background of the sun. A great demonstration of technical ability.

This is an incredibly well thought through image that fits the competition criteria so well. It demonstrates great composition, and perfect timing, whilst also delivering a colourful image. The international flavour of the national flags tells a story of where we fly, as much as ways we fly. Superb work!

How could I not give this image a highly commended, it's brilliant! It didn't make the top 10, but it's such a lovely image with good shutter speed control and it really captures the character of this dog. A more interesting background would have enhanced it, but still love it!

I immediately liked this shot as it summed up a lot of my flying plane where weather steps in to dictate what you can do. It's almost a ways we don't fly title, but a clever image that really tells a story.

Timing is often a major factor in a good action image, and this is very much an example of getting it just right. For me, it's the lighting that makes the image stand out, as the warm sun tone is really pleasing. The frozen water adds another great factor, especially the parting of the wave.

This is lovely image showing good technique for night photography. The flames really illuminate the subject and add loads of colour against the blue tone sky. Having the moon included gives it a little extra dimension and makes an overall pleasing image.

This is a really nice composition of the Royal Air Force red Arrows formation display team, that utilises the smoke to fill the frame. The images has a soft focus feel to it, which I actually think works well in this shot and the moody sky adds interest.

I know this image is not the highest resolution, but it shows great imagination and a photographer who is trying hard to learn different techniques. Combining two images is not easy, and often looks really false, but I think this is well done and a neat idea. Well done.

Smoke trails can add a lot to an image, especially when the actual subject (The parachutes) are relatively small. This shot of the Royal Air Force falcons is neatly composed and a balanced positioning of the smoke with the chute stack.

I really liked this image and it was almost in my top 10, but another similar image pipped it on this occasion. Even without the airliner, this shot is a lovely composition and a great subject, but the jet with vapour trail fill the gap and add so much more!

This is a shot that's very close to my own interest, so it's no surprise that it caught my eye. Images like this are very much dictated by opportunity, but it's hard to manage the challenges of flying whilst keeping things in focus and sharp. Good effort.

This image of a Supermarine Spitfire getting airborne demonstrates good panning skills to keep the aircraft sharp, whilst blurring the background. The technique shows the subject is moving at speed and adds more interest to an image. A blue colour grad to the sky may have enhanced the image.

This is obviously a heavy crop on an image, but it's still really interesting. i like the fact it's converted to monochrome as it helps reveal the texture of the moon. The silhouette of the airliner is nicely positioned over a light area of the moon surface.

Monochrome images work really well when there are nice textures available, such as the metal skins on this T6/Harvard. The exposure has been well controlled to show the texture in the sky and editing has enhanced the shadow areas well.

This is a cracking action shot of the F35 and is pin sharp. I feel a slightly lesser crop would be better to show the background but it's still a superb capture that takes good technique to achieve. Well done on a striking image.

This interesting shot was very close to making my top 10 as I loved the simplicity of this image. An unusual monochrome view of a common sight. The composition is also well considered and it's a striking image for sure.

This shot af the parachute pair works really well thanks to the red smoke trails against the blue sky. It's a great example of thoughtful composition, using the whole frame when the flying subject is relatively small. A good example of how to use a shorter zoom to fill a frame on a flying subject.

Night photography is always a challenge and sometimes it provides unique opportunities. The flames illuminating the balloons adds colour and action to this shot, but a wider framing may have made it more interesting so you could see the ground.

This is a very clever use of multiple images and a demonstration of good computer skills. The only downside is that a slower shutter speed could have been used to show more rotor action and that would have made a much nicer shot.

Night photography with any subject is not easy, and with a flying helicopter it's even more impressive. Being forced to use slower shutter speeds at night is an advantage for this type of image as you get more movement in the rotor blades.

This shot is really eye catching and simple. The way the lighting catches the vapour trail is what makes it really stand out, but I think if the orientation had had the aircraft flying towards top left or right, it would have been nicer.

The view in this images is breathtaking, and having the hot air balloon in the shot has certainly enhanced the overall scene. The foreground with the hut, individual tree and power pylons has added depth and interest into this well executed shot.

This is a wonderful image to show action, and a great example of how blurred elements actually work better than frozen motion. It really sums up the fun of a fair and i love the way the two rides tell different parts of the story.