With thanks to our adjudicator Victor Wong.

Although there are not many entries this month, the submissions are consistently high in quality. The sense of place and the composition are strong. Here are my final selections (with one extra commended):

The Winner

Early Morning Fishing on the Quay Son River, Vietnam by Brian Houghton

I feel the river’s calm and the distant jagged silhouettes of the karst beyond. The line of the pole slices the frame left to right, showing motion in stillness, while the raft and figures anchor the scene with quiet purpose. Hazy clouds above soften the light, lending a painterly mood to the greens and blues. This image feels intimate, traditional, and timeless. An excellent showcase of Vietnam’s fishing culture.

Highly commended

Vedda Village Men, Sri Lanka by Rob Morgan

My eye is drawn to the group seated among the fallen roots, each person framed by twisting trunks that loop like a natural stage. A diagonal fallen log behind them guides my gaze toward the circle, where expressions range from contemplative to curious. Light filters through the canopy, casting soft highlights that sculpt faces and weathered textures. The scene conveys a strong cultural link, a moment of shared history within a living, breathing landscape. 

Each Person Has His Own Timeline Old Watch Shop, Kuala Lumpur by Kaikong Wong

I feel an intense mood looking into this clock-filled shop, stepping into a ticking world. The glass doubles the scene, merging human detail with a chorus of round faces, creating a stunning, almost surreal composition. The old man’s calm gesture becomes a quiet focal point amid the sea of clocks, each one marking its own moment. What is his timeline? He listens as if memories and moments are suspended between the two sides of the glass. The composition lingers, inviting the imagination to wander.

Art class, Iran by Neil Harris

I like this  calm, sunlit scene and the sense of a study break in a university park. The  arrangement of seated and standing figures guides my eye through the frame, with the large tree on the right acting as a bold anchor. The bright daylight creates pleasant contrast. The greens are vibrant, giving the scene life, while the dark clothing provides needed contrast. A slight shift to include more left space would balance the composition and reduce right-side heaviness. Overall, a sincere, everyday moment with room to strengthen impact.

Commended

Walking the Streets of Venice by Robert Evans

This Venice scene feels unusually mysterious, bathed in an enigmatic atmosphere. Shadows stretch long and bold, curling around the lone traveller like curtains parting to reveal a hidden tale. The rain-wet road gains texture under the streetlamps, each brick holding a memory of journeys past. It reads as a cinematic moment with an intense mood, where travel becomes a nocturnal dialogue between light and shadow. A quiet and powerful moment.