With many thanks to our adjudicator this month, Justin Cliffe

An interesting and diverse set of images to review this month, from all corners of the globe. In first place, my Travel Image of the Month for April, is:

Life on the Garbage Tip, Bangladesh by Brian Houghton

This image has real impact, helped by the low down angle and the use of a wide-angle lens. I really get the feeling of being there, watching this woman as she scavenges across the rubbish and the birds circle above her and her companion in the background. One very minor point, the sky does seem to have been over-darkened a little as there’s a bit of a halo around the woman’s back and head however it’s a powerful image which cannot be ignored.

I applaud the photographer for actually getting this image, I can imagine that the pervading smell must have been horrendous!

I also have three Highly Commended images - which are, in no particular order

Deadvlei, Namibia by Rob Morgan

I’ve seen a considerable number of photos of the sand dunes at Deadvlei, however this is a little different from the rest - with what appears to be a rivulet or gully in the foreground, leading our eyes nicely towards the skeleton trees.

A pleasing, and simple, colour palette with the soft red of the dunes further drawing our view up the image - all well composed and sharp from front o back of the image. 

Easter Procession, Jerez de la Frontera, Andalusia, Spain by Thomas Andy Branson

The eyes definitely have it in this photograph - literally eye-catching! Beautifully sharp and clear, with the other hooded figures blurring into the background. The person is looking to the left, out of the image which makes me wonder what she’s looking at - but the impact of the eyes is what makes this photograph for me.

The vivid purple colour of the hoods, combined with the pair of eyes looking out, make this a striking image.

Taking The Plunge, Toorji's Step Well Jodhpur, India by Jo Court

A great sense of action here, with the boy in the top left of the frame about to follow his friend into the water. To complete the picture we have the third boy watching on - giving us three figures (always a good number in any photograph) in this image, creating a lovely diagonal across the frame. I also like the inclusion of the blue bird in the top right corner.

The colour scheme works well, with the dark blue of the water contrasting and yet toning well with the soft pink of the bridge stonework. Nice and sharp - so clearly a high shutter speed has been used to freeze the jumper in mid-flight. If there’s any comment to make, it would be to have a little more space at the bottom right corner so as to allow room for the jumper to land but, all in all, a very pleasing photograph.