Photo of the Year 2019: The results
Our judges have once again gone through over 9,000 entries to narrow down the finalists of travel’s biggest amateur photography contest. Find out who’s won a once-in-a-lifetime photo commission to Texas…
Landscapes
Winner
Winter sunset, Poland (Stefania Urbini)
Where: Poland
By: Stefania Urbini, Manager
Settings:Nikon D750, Nikkor 200-400mm f/4 @ 400mm, 1/100 sec @ f/8, ISO 200, tripod
Photographer’s story: At the end of a winter photography session in a Polish hide, mainly to spot little woodland birds, I noticed the sun was going down in front of me. So, scrambling to make the most of the departing light, I combined the sun and the birches to achieve the best composition I could in the limited time available.
Judges’ comments: Superb light. The simple composition of tightly packed birch trees has a wonderful atmosphere and stillness.
Runner Up
Cloudy UFO (Elena Pakhalyuk)
Where:Crimean Peninsula, Demerdzhi Mountain, Ukraine
By:Elena Pakhalyuk, Computer engineer
Settings:Canon EOS 6D, EF 70-200mm f/2.8L ll USM @ 88mm, 1/4000 @ f/16, ISO 400
Photographer’s story:I love to go hiking in the mountains and Demerdzhi Mountain is great in the autumn season – during the very strong winds you can sometimes observe lenticular clouds.
But this time I witnessed a bizarre alien-shaped cloud on top of the mountain during a heavy storm. It was a big present for me from mother nature!
Judges’ comments: Lenticular clouds gild any image, but they are notoriously tough to embrace into an effective photo. Top marks for this – unusual, almost mythical.
Highly Commended
Misty morning in Mandalay (Aung ThuYa)
Where:Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma
By: Aung ThuYa, Government officer
Settings: Canon EOS 60D, Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L @ 160mm, 1/160 sec @ f/7.1, ISO 100
Photographer’s story:If you come and visit Mandalay in December, you will see amazing views of Mandalay Palace, the last royal palace of the final Burmese monarchy.
This shot was taken from Mandalay Hill on a misty morning.
Judges’ comments:Soft morning light with the bonus of mist adds a wonderful moody atmosphere, punctuated by the temple towers. Strong use of the diagonal.
People
Winner
You want it that big? (Bun Ngo Leung)
Where:Havana, Cuba
By:Bun Ngo Leung
Settings: Sony A7 Mk I, Leica R 70-210mm f/4, 1/200 sec @ f/8, ISO 200
Photographer’s story:This photo was taken of a lady haggling outside a butcher shop in Havana. From the gesture of the shopkeeper, it seemed that she was trying to confirm the size of the piece of pork that her customer was trying to buy.
In Cuba, people love to eat, particularly sweet things like ice cream. Most of the buildings in Cuba, like this shop, are painted brightly – just as the Cubans are colourfully dressed too.
Judges’ comments: Love the story this tells. The colours and setting provide vibrancy and life. Great humour.
Runner Up
A celebration of Hindu tradition (Muhammad Amdad Hossain)
Where: Dhaka, Bangladesh
By:Muhammad Amdad Hossain, Student
Settings:Canon EOS 5D Mk II, Canon EF 50mm f/1.8L STM @ 50mm, 1/40 sec @ f/6.3, ISO 4000
Photographer’s story:Thousands of Hindu devotees sit on the floor to worship in front of Sri Sri Loknath Brahmachari Ashram in the Narayanganj district during a fasting ritual called kartik brati or rakher upobash.
I had been planning this image in advance; using a prime lens, I took the image from the third floor of a nearby building.
Judges’ comments: Wow! To capture so much in one image is sublime. This is not an image that you just glance at. It’s one you gorge yourself on. Superb at every level.
Highly Commended
Old woman (Meisam Abdoli)
Where:Lorestan Province, Iran
By:Meisam Abdoli, Librarian
Settings:Canon EOS 8OD, Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM @ 50mm, 1/125 sec @ f/4.5, ISO 500
Photographer’s story:An old woman with her keys on the streets of the city of Khorramabad.
Judges’ comments:Beautifully executed black and white – incredible tone and texture.
The lack of eye contact somehow makes the portrait more engaging. There’s a story behind this face, which keeps you interested.
Wildlife
Winner
Hunting wabbits (Giovanni Frescura)
Where:Khwai, Botswana
By:Giovanni Frescura, Lawyer
Settings: Canon 7D Mk II, Canon 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM @ 200mm, 1/2500 sec @ f/5, ISO 500
Photographer’s story: A young leopard was surprised by a rabbit, which he then tried to catch, but he was not lucky this time. But his mother, watching nearby, didn’t lose her dinner.
Judges’ comments:The leopard looks as surprised as I’m sure the photographer was. Razor-sharp – look at those eyes. Technically difficult and superbly captured.
Runner Up
Symphony at the waterhole (Prelena Soma Owen)
Where: Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa
By:Prelena Soma Owen, General manager
Settings:Canon EOS 1D X Mk I, Canon EF 600mm f/4L ll USM @ 600mm, 1/1250 sec @ f/9, ISO 1600
Photographer’s story:As I was about to leave the park, I was distracted by some red-billed queleas congregating into a single flock at a waterhole.
I followed the cacophony of chirps and saw the small birds descend and ascend en masse at the edge of the waterhole. It was quite a spectacle to behold. The challenge was getting the right exposure. Even at 8:30am, at 36°C, the light was already very harsh.
Judges’ comments:So much detail. It’s like a jigsaw puzzle. You can look at it for ages.
Highly Commended
Togetherness (Ruta Prendiukaite)
Where: The Maldives
By:Ruta Prendiukaite, Pre-press operator
Settings:GoPro Hero4 @ 3mm, 1/320 sec @ f/2.8, ISO 100
Photographer’s story:It was a wonderful moment to capture the diving instructor and the subject of his enthusiasm.
Judges’ comments: It’s such a powerful shot – really striking to the eye and draws you in. Black and white treatment works well.
Commended
Food (Giovanni Frescura)
Where: Pisa, Italy
By: Giovanni Frescura, Lawyer
Settings: Canon 7D, Canon 300mm f/2.8 Is (plus 1.4x extender) @ 420mm, 1/3200 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 400
Photographer’s story: This photo was taken in the countryside near my home in Pisa. I found a hoopoe nest in an old house and spent a lot of time watching the bird coming in and out, carrying food to its young.
After a few days a baby put out his head only to find a butterfly flying in front of it… ah, to eat or to see the new world?
Judges’ comments: This is not an accidental photo. It is sumptuous, clean, a frankly ridiculously good depth of field. There is so much anticipation, which is always high–carat value in any image.
Commended
Arctic fox (Giovanni Frescura)
Where: Hornstrandir, Iceland
By: Giovanni Frescura, Lawyer
Settings: Canon 1DX, Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM @ 280mm, 1/1000 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 800
Photographer’s story:This was taken in one of Iceland’s national parks. I went there to snap some photos of the ‘blue’ Arctic foxes, but it was not easy.
The families’ dens are really well hidden – but this little one found me! In his clutches is a bird given to him by his mother.
Judges’ comments: As a portrait this is sensational. There’s tremendous engagement and a beautiful background.
Travel icons
Winner
Loose button (Monika Mazurkiewicz)
Where:London, UK
By:Monika Mazurkiewicz, Dental nurse
Settings:Canon EOS 5D Mk III, Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM @ 300mm, 1/1000 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 1250
Photographer’s story:The Queen’s Life Guards are stationed at the entrance to St James’ and Buckingham Palaces. Every afternoon, in the courtyard of the Horse Guards, a dismounting ceremony takes place.
However, I arrived quite late so the only available space to watch it was at the rear. As one of the officers moved around the guards I was immediately drawn to his white glove emerging from the sea of red coats, checking up on a loose button.
Judges’ comments: A sneak peak behind the formality of the occasion. Great composition and makes you smile.
Runner Up
Into the London Eye (Monika Mazurkiewicz)
Where:London, UK
By:Monika Mazurkiewicz, Dental nurse
Settings: Canon EOS 5D Mk III, Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM @ 300mm, 1/4000 sec @ f/14, ISO 1250
Photographer’s story: The Trooping of the Colour is a public celebration of the Queen’s birthday and a highlight is the fly-past of the Royal Air Force’s Red Arrows.
I escaped the crowds and stood on Lambeth Bridge looking onto the London Eye. This turned out to be the ideal view. I followed the nine planes with my camera as they emerged over the horizon and appeared to be soaring into the London Eye.
They carried on towards Buckingham Palace leaving red, white and blue vapours behind them.
Judges’ comments:Razor-sharp and well framed. Monotone except for smoke, which makes it even more striking.
Highly Commended
USA A-OK (Philip Tomlinson)
Where: Times Square, New York, USA
By:Philip Tomlinson, Architect
Settings:Canon EOS 750D, Canon EF 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 37mm, 1/640 sec @ f/4, ISO 100
Photographer’s story:The American flag is an iconic symbol of patriotism and freedom to all Americans. For this reason they display or hang the flag wherever and whenever they can.
This image was taken in Times Square, NYC. The illuminated lights were perfect for producing a high contrast image. The cars in the foreground reflect the light perfectly and help to draw the viewer deeper into the image.
Judges’ comments: Bright and strong. Made by the reflection on the roof of the car.
