November Been there competition: solitude – in pictures

Here are the shots that best capture this month's theme of solitude
  
  


Travel: Been there Nov Nigel Walker
Nigel Walker: My picture was taken during a walk from Bondi beach to Coogee along the Sydney coast. Although the weather was quite mild it was September, which the Australians still regard as winter, and there weren’t many people on the beach, so this guy defiantly sunbathing in the middle of a huge stretch of empty sand caught my eye. What makes it look funny to me is the way he has covered his face with the red T-shirt. Photograph: Nigel Walker
Travel: Been there Nov Paula Harris
Paula Harris: This photograph was taken on the edge of the Namib desert, as I was climbing a sand dune named Elim Dune. In the distance I saw a speck of dust and managed to grab a few pictures as the vehicle crossed the valley – the perfect road trip. Photograph: Paula Harris
Travel: Been there Nov Susan Anderson
Susan Anderson: I took this picture on a bitterly cold morning in Berlin. It's a strange city in that for me it had no real identity. Each district felt revinvented and different. I did the usual sites: East Side Gallery, Checkpoint Charlie and the Brandenburg Gate. Eventually I found myself at the Holocaust Memorial. It’s here I captured my friend Lesley in her red coat, losing herself among the open stone walls. It was only then I sort of understood why Berlin is many wonderful things but not one city. Photograph: Susan Anderson
Travel: Been there Nov Genevieve Hathaway
Genevieve Hathaway: Solitude in the mountains of Washington State: when I am alone in the mountains, I am reminded how vast the world is. This photo was taken on the approach to the Tooth, during an ice and rock climb in the Cascade Mountain Range. Photograph: Genevieve Hathaway
Travel: Been there Nov Stephen Chapman
Stephen Chapman: This is a view down on to Cape Town's affluent suburb of Clifton. It's a long, hot hike during the summer to reach the top of Lion's Head. I was attracted by the pensive nature of this scene after reaching the summit one warm evening in January – it matched my mood perfectly. Photograph: Stephen Chapman
Travel: Been there Nov Steven Catanatch
Steven Catanatch: The photo was taken at Cape Hillsborough, Queensland. My then girlfriend - now wife - and I were travelling around Australia in a camper van so stopped overnight, awaking for breakfast at sunrise. The beach was peaceful and remote; the sunrise beautiful and romantic. The kangaroo hopping along the beach made it even more special and magical. I love the impact the silhouette has on this photo. Photograph: Steven Catanatch
Travel: Been there Nov Dominic Burdon
Dominic Burdon: I took this in Yunnan, China, earlier this year. I chose to hike to these amazing, water-filled rice terraces (so that I could see the villages on the way) and was surprised to find just one woman standing in awe on the viewing platform. In China it's very rare to see a solo person anywhere, especially at a tourist site. I shot this very quietly, making sure she didn't know I was there. Photograph: Dominic Burdon
Travel: Been there Nov Mitchell Kohler
Mitchell Kohler: I travelled to the mountains of Romania to photograph the farmers of the region and document their daily lives. Growing up on a farm helps draw me towards wide open places where you can see forever. It also gives me a great affinity for people like the man in this photo, who is taking a break from tending his flock of sheep. Photograph: Mitchell Kohler
Travel: Been there Nov Alan White
Alan White: This shot was taken at Yellowstone national park, at the Grand Prismatic Spring. As the steam cleared the woman sitting on the bench became clear and I captured her solitary moment, taking in the grand beauty of the surroundings. Photograph: Alan White
Travel: Been there Nov Ra Goel
Ra Goel: A solitary, dusty road winds down from the 5,150m-high Pang-La pass in Tibet, towards a valley that will ultimately meet with the great Himalayan range. In the distance sit mountain peaks reaching up above 8,000m, including the majestic Mount Everest. The location is remote. The land is inhospitable. The view is breathtaking. Photograph: Ra Goel
Travel: Been there Nov Andreas Ettl
Andreas Ettl: I took this photo at Maspalomas beach on Gran Canaria early in November, moments before sunrise. Initially I just wanted to capture the beautifully lit clouds and dunes, when all of a sudden my girlfriend walked into the frame to capture this breathtaking moment herself. I pressed the shutter button without her noticing, resulting in an even more striking photo. We were the only ones at the beach, and seeing the sun rise with nothing other than sand and fresh, cool air around us made this a very special moment of solitude for us. Photograph: Andreas Ettl
Travel: Been there Nov Mark Muldoon
Mark Muldoon: While backpacking, my friend Simon and I like to muck about with our photography. In the silence of Wadi Rum desert in Jordan, we were eager to climb to the top of this brilliantly red dune and collaborate on getting photos of each other jumping off. This, our favourite, was taken on my humble compact Sanyo VPC-W800 and without any Photoshop skills (I have none). Photograph: Mark Muldoon
Travel: Been there Nov Matt Perry
Matt Perry: This photo shows the iconic stilt fishermen of Sri Lanka. There are two different types of stilt – the more common ones close to beach and these further out to sea, where the men face the incoming tide as opposed to the shore. The stilts are further apart and when you are the only one out there in the dying light with a big storm on the way, there are perhaps not many more lonely places. Photograph: Matt Perry
Travel: Been there Nov Narumon Kasemsuk
Narumon Kasemsuk: This photo was taken at the Maruyama Zoo in Sapporo, Japan. When I captured this moment, I felt that sometimes solitude can happen although we are among other living things. Photograph: Narumon Kasemsuk
Travel: Been there Nov Chris Mole
Chris Mole: The photo was taken on the South Downs near Ditchling Beaxon. I was first attracted by the similarity in shape between the single cloud and the single bush in silhouette. I then waited for the figure to come into view to add another element to the composition - evoking hopefully the feeling of solitude, but also purpose. The walker is experiencing 'wandering lonely as a cloud'. Photograph: Chris Mole
Travel: Been there Nov Louise Morgan
Louise Morgan: This photo was taken in Jaipur. I got up early as I always do when travelling, as I like to see the city waking up. I was near the city palace and the place was bustling before 8am. I was struck by how solitary this man was as he walked slowly past the early morning activities – I wondered where he had come from and where he was going. Photograph: Louise Morgan
Travel: Been there Nov Pauline Litton
Pauline Litton, runner-up: We saw this solitary chinstrap penguin on his own iceburg off Elephant Island, Antarctica. Why wasn't he joining the rest of the family? (Not to mention the thousands of others there in the background on the island)? For us he symbolised the isolation of Antarctica.

Tom Humpage, judge: I like the comedy aspect of this image - it's well caught. I'd have liked the pengiun to be a little more to the right and to not have the top of the rock cropped off. Despite this it's a creative take on the theme and a lively capture. Photograph: Pauline Litton
Travel: Been there Nov Nicole Carman
Nicole Carman, runner-up: I took this photo at Aquinnah beach, on the US island of Martha’s Vineyard, south of Boston. This nudist beach was deserted that day as it had been raining and was still really misty. I stumbled upon a lone easel just sitting on the sand, and then spied the naked artist, who had gone for a swim. The whole scene was quite surreal.

Tom Humpage, judge: What a brilliant shot - it practically moves! You can taste the sea spray and feel the cold of the water. Totally spontaneous and well captured in that split second. The colours and light are fantastic. My one issue is the two people on the right, who detract from the theme of solitude - I'd have liked them to be cropped out. But otherwise a really fantastic image. Photograph: Nicole Carman
Travel: Been there Laura Cook new
Laura Cook, winner: Solitude can be found in a crowd. When visiting an adult literacy group in Kamakwie, Sierra Leone, I came across a room where most learners had formed pairs or small groups to work but one young lady had chosen to separate herself in order to concentrate.

Tom Humpage, judge: The photographer has created solitude using light which is unusual among this shortlist. I like the way she is staring into the camera so you know it's a genuine facial expression rather than a fleeting tick the camera has captured. The young girl is singled out, which makes you think about what destiny has in store. Great composition – a shot to be proud of. Photograph: Laura Cook
 

Leave a Comment

Required fields are marked *

*

CAPTCHA

*