Winter

We really like the high-key aesthetic of this polar bear portrait and the way the mighty animal stares directly at the camera. The completely white background obscures any possible distractions, shifting all of the viewer’s attention onto the subject. A great image!

This comical image is proof photography doesn’t have to be taken too seriously. Despite the humorous subject, this image is composed well and the moment of action has been frozen sharp at 1/500 sec and is also in focus. A fun image!

This plane wreck is found in Iceland and is a popular photography subject. This image stands out due to the brooding sky. We like how the composition allows the sky to dominate the top two thirds of the image, making what is a relatively large object feel comparatively tiny.

You’d be forgiven for thinking this mono image of New York's Brooklyn Bridge was taken in the 1950s. The snowstorm replicates film grain and the slightly tilting high-rise buildings invoke a sense of urgency, like every fleeting street shot should.

This stunning entry isn’t just a technical masterclass, it’s also incredibly captivating due to the strong narrative. Why is this child out in the cold and what are they looking at just beyond the frame? The lighting is sublime – the warm candlelight contrasts against the cool blue hues and the catchlights in the subject’s eyes compel the viewer to ponder where they’re looking.

This stunning landscape was captured on Lake Baikal and is of Russia’s Ogoy Island. The cracked ice in the foreground of the image leads the viewer’s eye towards the craggy subject in the distance, and rather remarkably mirrors its shape.

This image displays front-to-back sharpness from the icicles in the foreground right to the human figure in the background. This subject adds a strong focal point, made all the more poignant due to the red clothing, which contrasts against the cool hues of the icy surroundings.

This copes of trees was spotted in Romania’s Ciucaș Mountains. Not only are they arranged in a pleasing manner, almost evenly spaced and pointing towards the bottom right-hand portion of the image, but the snow around them is entirely undisturbed. The result is a sandy desert-like aesthetic. We also like how the black and white conversion has been used to remove any distractions or tonal inconsistencies, amplifying the minimalist nature.

Battling deer are surprisingly difficult to frame. Get the angle wrong and the subjects will only occupy a letterbox portion of the image. These reindeer fill the frame because the right-hand subject is doubling back on itself. Crucially, both animal’s eyes are visible, which adds tension. We also like the enhanced cool blue hues that convey Svalbard’s snowy landscape.

This cave is situated near Jökulsárlón, Iceland. The viewer is immediately drawn to the vibrant, icy-blue tones and the gradually receding perspective leads the eye towards the cave’s entrance and the human figure. This tiny subject amplifies the sense of scale and the red jacket contrasts perfectly against the cold tones. We’re also impressed with the balanced view outside, which could have easily been blown out.

You’d probably need a very advanced macro lens to capture this sort of image, right? Rather remarkably this unique close-up was captured using a Nikon D200, a standard 35mm lens, a pair of macro bellows, a microscope stage and a homemade macro stand. A simple LED torch was used to light the snowflake and make the transparent object stand out despite the bright white background.

This image is all about the contrast between the cool background and warmth of the orange house. This is particularly effective as it was taken during a snowstorm. The low visibility has obscured all distractions and rendered the sky white. The result is an almost entirely white background, producing a natural colour-popping effect.

The village of Reine in Norway’s Lofoten Islands is a hugely popular photography location and it’s easy to see why. This is a beautifully composed images but the gorgeous golden light really makes it shine and complements the warm hues of the red buildings.

This is a fantastic pet portrait. The snow and Samoyed dogs contrast against the black background and a fast 1/1000 sec shutter speed has been used to freeze the action. We like how the dogs have been captured alongside each other. Anyone who has worked with animals will know, this is no mean feat!