Photographer Slawek Kozdras: My goal was to capture the beauty and elegance of the Shell Centre, which is, quite literally, overshadowed by the equally impressive London Eye.
Judge Natalie Mayer: This image is stunning, a clear winner from this month's entries. Fantastic composition, beautiful light, good choice of black and white. The shadow of the wheel on the building makes the image for me. It's small elements like this that lift a photo from being just a snap shot to something really pleasing to look at. Through carefully eliminating all unimportant elements, the viewer is forced to see the same magic in the mundane that the photographer did, and that is what makes this image so special. Photograph: guardian.co.uk
Photographer Doug Nicholls: The striking, primary colours of La Boca in Buenos Aires are a great tonic when you're escaping the dreary monotone of a British inner city in the winter.
Judge Natalie Mayer: This is a nice shot which could have easily slipped from a photographer's notice. The photographer has successfully closed in on an interesting detail of an everyday scene, giving the image lovely shapes that are very pleasing to look at - the triangle of the ladder really makes it. Since the painter is the main subject, he might have benefitted from being just a touch further into the shot - this would make it just a little more comfortable for the eye, in my opinion. Well spotted. Photograph: Doug Nicholls/guardian.co.uk
Photographer Chris Mole: Swimming in the sea in Brighton in December
Judge Natalie Mayer: Isn't the outdoors just bloody great! Splashing about in some pretty tempestuous waves on what looks like a cold, but splendid day. This photo has a wonderful perspective, you really feel a sense of the noise of the waves and the pebbles as the tide sucks up and down the beach. And the lovely movement of the people caught in action, I can almost hear their screams. I think the photographer probably got his feet wet, but it was well worth it. Photograph: Chris Mole/guardian.co.uk
Photographer Mitra Nataraj: The photo was taken on the New York subway and captures what I love most about a city subway: that the train is not just a mode of transport, but a venue.
Judge Natalie Meyer: This is a lovely moment caught on the NY subway. The divided composition adds to the feeling of the photograph being a "stolen moment" rather than a posed shot. I like the different, and very real, expressions on all of the people. Also the sense of friendship and intimacy between the girls, versus the lone, rushed lady on the other side, oblivious to the fun going on beside her. Photograph: guardian.co.uk
Photographer Libby Powell: A dawn descent to the watering hole in Aberdare national park, under the watchful gaza of Mount Kenya
Natalie Mayer, judge: Although this image could have been improved by waiting until the water was more still so that the animals' reflections appeared sharper, I still think the idea is fantastic, and well spotted by the photographer. Seeing the animal reflections, but not the animals themselves, is a lovely twist. I think it's important when shooting landscapes to look for that little bit extra from your scene - to change the image from a representation of what everyone would see if they were faced with this view, to a unique viewpoint visualised only by the photographer. Photograph: guardian.co.uk
Photographer Chris Mole: Playing in the fountains on the Southbank, London
Judge Natalie Mayer: So much movement and fun, you can almost hear the screams of the kids. I also like the choice of black and white, eliminating all the distractions and making a clean and very graphically pleasing image. Photograph: Chris Mole
Photographer Lisa Freiburg: The picture was taken in a tiny village, close to Bobo-Dioulasso in Burkina Faso.
Judge Natalie Mayer: This image really captures 'local life' as it happens. In a way, I think that it would have been even more engaging if the lady wasn't looking into the camera. This is hard to achieve, and you certainly don't want to sneak around offending people taking pictures when they don't know you are there. I find a good way to achieve this, and stay on good terms with your subject, is to take one picture when she looks, smile at her (with your camera still very close to your eye!) she will then automatically look away and assume you are done, and then, very quickly you have to take the next shot. Bam. That's the keeper. Photograph: Lisa Freiburg/Guardian
Photographer Jason Pemberton: Cycling out of Pokhara in Nepal I spotted these farmers carrying feed through the intensely green rice paddies
Natalie Mayer, judge: This is a really nicely balanced composition, and it certainly takes in the theme of green, so for me it is the outstanding winner this month. The photographer has included just enough to make the shot interesting to look at - if that fella hadn't been at the front, providing us with some detail, or if any distracting elements had been included around the edges, then the composition wouldn't have worked nearly so well. Photograph: Jason Pemberton
Photographer Peter Leyden: 'Red Cabin in a Black and White World', taken from a cruise ship near Bodø, Norway, north of the Arctic Circle. I love the contrast of the bright red cabin sitting among the stark black trees and white snow.
Judge Natalie Mayer: This is lovely. Cold and crisp. The sparse composition works well giving the image a good sense of isolation. Photograph: Peter Leyden
Photographer Marie Peyre: The resident population of ducks in the Old Town of Fredrikstad, Norway, is a popular local attraction. In winter the moat freezes over, and the ducks, no longer able to find food there, relocate to the quayside by the River Glomma, where they wait for handouts from visitors and locals alike. They make quite a sight - particularly against the white background of freshly fallen snow.
Judge Natalie Mayer: This is a nice simple image which made me smile. The picture would work even better with the top distractions cropped of. I'd like to see just enough to know where the road ends and the hedges start, but anymore is just distracting the eye from the fun part of the photograph. Photograph: Marie Peyre
Photographer Annabelle Butterworth: While I was in North India, my friend, Sumna, was overjoyed to show me the calf she had just purchased, a symbol of her new improved status in her village
Judge Natalie Mayer: This is a very genuine moment captured, and I like the photographers comment on the shot. The image could benefit from a more in-depth look at black and white conversions, sometimes the automatic conversions that come with consumer software, or in camera, are very basic and leave the image flat. A bit more contrast would add interest to the image. Photograph: Action images
