With thanks to this month’s adjudicator, Glyn Paton

Winner

Where the-city breathes at home Hanoi Vietnam by Thomas Andy Branson

Prepare for a journey.  Around a tiny flat, crammed with “stuff” and it’s the “stuff” that tells the story.  Caged birds and animals, microwave, electric fans, plastic flowers, bikes and of course the dog! That’s just the stuff I can give a name to, there’s plenty more besides. What makes this a travel photo?  Because it gives us a glimpse of another world; a snapshot into a family’s life.

Why isn’t this just too busy, too cluttered?  Well it is definitely cluttered but that’s the point. We are subtly led into the picture by the flowers on the left and the bike on the right.  Then we roam around the family and eventually up the stairs and out.  The dog is an important element too. It’s almost a Vietnamese Martin Parr-esque portrait of family life and that’s why it’s such an excellent photo and the worthy winner this month.

Highly Commended

Changpa Nomads, Ladakh by Brian Houghton

As I said above “. What makes this a travel photo?  Because it gives us a glimpse of another world; a snapshot into a family’s life.” This speaks to a completely almost unimaginable way of life; cold and unbelievably harsh. There is so little around the “tent”, probably because they own so very little.  The tent itself is such a simple structure with a door flap that looks like it isn’t designed to keep out the cold winds .  The sky adds to the whole atmosphere of the desolate landscape around.  Well done a great picture.

La Paz hillside, Bolivia by Rob Morgan

This is almost a vertical panorama! And it is a very effective  technique to show this location for what it is, building upon building tumbling up the hillside.  The colour palette really helps, a soft ochre warmed by the setting sun.  The street lights help us progress through the picture.  Overall it makes for a striking image presented in a unique way, almost a vertical letterbox style. Well done.