Best historical, runner up

Port Lockroy

To say this is THE most visited area of the Antarctic, this is one of THE loveliest views of Port Lockroy in the Antarctic Peninsula you could wish for: the warm light, the blue of the ice, the glow of the mountain, the reflection of the glacier and the vivid contrast of the restored historic building surrounded by penguins…stunning,” Mark Jones says.

Best landscapes, runner-up

Tipping point

“A dramatic photograph in every way: the
brooding weather, the inner glow of the ice, the crazy, almost implausible shapes…” says professional photographer and competition judge Mark Jones.

Another entrant captures the adventure of exploring the seas in a Zodiac inflatable near Enterprise Island, Antarctic Peninsula.

Castle Paradise Harbour, Skontorp Cove, Weddell Sea

Crews were unable to navigate a path through the Weddell Sea to the coast until 1949. The pretty landscape was then famous for it’s “flash freezes” that left ships, such as Ernest Shakleton’s Enducrance dodging ice floes.

One of the many entries that captures the spirit of adventure that features in any trip to the icy continent.

Best creative

Sunset reflections

“How better to creatively capture – all in one image – the tangible feeling of being in the farthest reaches of Antarctica, the thrill of seeing the last rays of the midsummer sun skimming the distant icescapes while drifting amongst icebergs in a small Zodiac inflatable, and the camaraderie of sharing it with fellow travellers, all muffled against the chill of a calm, crystal-clear polar evening…” says Mark Jones.

Best historical

The last stretch, Stromness

“While walking down the last stretch of the infamous 1916 Shackleton route across South Georgia, the photographer presents us with not only a beautifully framed scene, but links the past to the present with the view of the derelict Stromness whaling station. The sight and sound of the thriving whaling industry was the salvation of the haggard men who first descended this very slope,” says Mark Jones.

Best landscape

Cambell Island stacks

The panoramic format perfectly suits this wild and rugged seascape. As the ship cruised by the southern reaches of Campbell Island in the New Zealand Subantarctic, the photographer chose just the right moment when the stacks were nicely in perspective,” says Mark.

Best people

Walk to Stromness

“To me, this image from South Georgia captures the essence of why we like to experience such wayward wild places: Offset by the stark geologic bones of this weather-beaten island, you first see the beautiful streaks of warm sunlight, chasing ripples of darker shadows over the muted tones of soft grasses,” says Mark Jones. “Then, to put it all into perspective, you discover the lone walker, and you can immediately identify with that person lost in their thoughts, enjoying the vastness of the landscape. That the photographer has chosen to not include any horizons, makes this image feel both intimate yet endless.”

Best wildlife portrait

Sea lion

The proliferating fur seal population of South Georgia means that it’s not unusual for visitors to surprise – or be surprised by – an animal sleeping away from the hustle of the busy beach colonies,” says judge Mark Jones. “Here the photographer has nicely captured the waking moment, colourfully framed in late-summer seed heads. The fur seal doesn’t look overly alarmed as it peers up through the grasses, so it’s likely that it just rolled over to resume its nap as the photographer quietly backed away…”.

Best wildlife behaviour

Penguin preening

“A well framed, perfectly focused photo: oblivious of the photographer, this busily preening Royal Penguin at Macquarie Island strikes an endearing pose while totally absorbed in the meticulous job of maintaining its waterproof plumage,” says Mark.

Overall winner

Kelp gull (Larus dominicanus)

“Sometimes more is better communicated by illustrating less: this photograph is simply a beautiful image which feels like more than just an ignoble kelp gull set against clouds around a mountain…” says competition judge and photographer Mark Jones. “The light is subtle, a tapestry of whites, with just a hint of blues in the ice-clad peak. The position of the flying bird is perfect, is in tack-sharp focus and is highlighted with a rime of brightness that draws the eye until you notice the vivid orange of the bill. The bird is clearly going somewhere which conjures a sense of place, yet it could be almost anywhere in Antarctica and imparts a kind of peaceful aura with which many Antarctic travellers can identify.”