Readers’ travel photograph competition: May – costume

For the theme of costume you sent us some wonderful celebratory and poignant images from everywhere from London's Notting Hill carnival to Ethiopia and Tibet
  
  


May photo comp: gondolier
Adam Weidner: After waiting patiently for a gap in the crowd I only got one chance at a clear shot before this gondolier's services were snapped up by a group of female tourists. The context and location are immediately apparent but I like the way the scene marries the modern with the traditional and paints a more progressive picture of these icons of Venice. Photograph: Adam Weidner
May photo comp: Tibetan woman
Norade Angelli: I photographed this nomad Tibetan woman and her traditionally ornate yak on the shores of Yamzho Yumco Lake. She was wearing a long green chuba, wrapped around a beautiful white silk undershirt. This warm ankle-length robe, is bound around the waist by a long sash. On top of the chuba, she had a dark sheepskin coat. The apron – made from woven wool and known as pang-than – signals she is married. Photograph: Norade Angelli
May photo comp: NHS tribute segment of the London Olympics
Kate Alley: This photo is of the nurses from the NHS tribute segment of the London Olympics opening ceremony walking to the stadium for the final dress rehearsal. It had been an incredibly hot day and the costumes were made from heavy fabric, so a lot of the nurses stripped off to the waist for the half hour walk from the dressing rooms to the stadium. The dancing nurses is one of the memorable images from the ceremony, and as such a costume people around the world will associate with Britain. Photograph: Kate Alley
May photo comp: The changing of the guard in Athens
Sara Sadler: The changing of the guard in Athens is an impressive routine which is performed in perfect synchrony. Photograph: Sara Sadler
May photo comp: Kochi
Emma Mapp: We came across these boys getting a lift back home after a day at school in Kochi, southern India. We were amazed at how many children could fit into the tuk-tuk! They saw us and asked us if we had any pens for them; we only had a few but traded pens for photographs – everyone was happy.  Photograph: Emma Mapp
May photo comp: Seville’s semana santa
Yen Baet: A bleak, rainy week during Seville’s semana santa forced several brotherhoods to cancel their processions. Holy Monday at the church of San Gonzalo had the penitents waiting for a miracle to happen, and when it didn’t, they marched the wet streets anyway, painstakingly inching their way to the cathedral. Halfway there, a break in the clouds caused light to fall on this woman’s face and for a moment her eyes beamed. I took that as my little glimmer of hope. Photograph: Yen Baet
May photo comp: Feria de abril in Seville
Slawek Kozdras: Girls dancing in flamenco dresses during the famous Feria de abril in Seville. I liked the colours, but what really makes the picture for me is the shadow of a hand in flamenco pose. Photograph: Slawek Kozdras
May photo comp: Hualapai people welcome a coach party to the Grand Canyon
Ian Jones: A Native American from the Hualapai people prepares to welcome a coach party to the Grand Canyon. The Hualapi have lived in and around the canyon for hundreds of years and have developed a range of initiatives to enable tourists to get the most out of the spectacular natural landscape, including the Skywalk, the semi-circular glass-floored platform that extends out over the canyon, which they commissioned and own. I love the contrast between ancient and modern in this shot. Photograph: Ian Jones
May photo comp: Sogeri, Papua New Guinea
William Arblaster: Traditional highlands tribal dress in Sogeri, Papua New Guinea. The headdress consists of bird of paradise and parrot feathers, and is handed down from generation to generation. Photograph: William Arblaster
May photo comp: Reed Islands on Lake Titicaca
Matt Parry: Visitors to the Reed Islands on Lake Titicaca are often greeted by an Uros chief and his family, all dressed to impress in their colourful, traditional costumes. The Uros are pre-Incan people who live on islands made from totora reeds. While many have moved to the nearby mainland city of Puno, the families that remain include many generations, from babies through to great-grandparents, and are warm, welcoming people. Photograph: Matt Parry
May photo comp: wo young members of India's Kshatriya warrior caste in ceremonial dress
Andy Snaddon: I took this photograph inside the Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. The two guards in ceremonial dress were very proud – they were preparing for a heritage class for young members of the Kshatriya warrior caste. Photograph: Andy Snaddon
May photo comp: Moors and Christians fiesta in Javea, Spain
Rob Donovan: This photo was taken at the annual Moors and Christians fiesta in Javea, Spain. Photograph: Rob Donovan
May photo comp: three young Hamer girls
Abbi Kemp: This image was taken whilst I was at the celebration of the bull jumping ceremony in the Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia. The three young Hamer girls watched in admiration as the older women took part in a tribal dance, teasing the men as they watched on. There was so much going on around me as I wandered around the village watching the dancing, goat sacrifices, drinking dens, and cleansing of children – but this image just jumped out at me.

Natalie Mayer, judge: This was almost my winner but missed out because of a small technical issue – the central interest of the image, ie the place your eye goes to first (in this case the eyes of the girl facing us) – is not quite in focus. The focus is on the girl next to her, which makes your eye flick about the image a bit, and is a little unsettling. Otherwise, lovely composition, timing and gorgeous colour palette. This photographer has a good eye. Good work. Photograph: Abbi Kemp
May photo comp: Notting Hill Carnival
Olly Denton, runner-up: I saw Flash Gordon during the Notting Hill carnival in London. As with Muybridge's famous old black and white photo of the horse running, this proves that when at speed, Flash Gordon's feet do not actually touch the ground, allowing him to cover vast distances, sometimes as much as one or two feet, at ease.

Natalie Mayer, judge: This is interesting. Is this a post-carnival walk home of shame?! Why aren't his feel touching the ground? Intriguing and fun, I like it! Photograph: Olly Denton
May photo comp: Kayan girl
David Craik, winner: After a typical Thai taxi ride up to the Doi Suthep temple in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, we were ready for a long saunter around the peaceful surroundings. Little did we know that we would be faced with 300 steps to climb! When building up the courage to start the hike, our eyes, and my camera, rested on this cheeky little Thai girl who, while taking a short break from posing for photos, let her guard down for just a second to enjoy some freshly bbq'd corn!

Natalie Mayer, judge: Gorgeous image, and it fits the theme perfectly. I love the sideways glance and lip-licking, very nicely timed shot. Photograph: David Craik
 

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