August 1, 2008

Been there photo competition July 2008

This month's beach-themed competition prompted a pile of entries as high as a sand dune. Here's our pick of July's best shots - scroll through to be transported to some of the world's best beaches

Beach, Ko Lipe, Thailand — Abigail Stein: "The main beach on Koh Lipe, the southernmost island on the west coast of Thailand before you reach Malaysia" Photograph: Abigail Stein/guardian.co.uk

Burma delta — Alessandra Moscadelli: "Taken in the delta region of Burma (before being hit by the torrential rain)" Photograph: Alessandra Moscadelli/guardian.co.uk

Tarabanjina Island, Madagascar — Gurinder Brar: "This strip of land on Tsarabanjina Island, Madagascar, is sandwiched between two secluded beaches - the small one on the right and the larger unseen beach which the figure is walking towards" Photograph: Gurinder Brar/guardian.co.uk

Heddon's Mouth, north Devon — John Devolle: "We walked along the Heddon Valley path alongside the river and through the woods until we ended up here, at Heddon's Mouth. Great view" Photograph: John Devolle/guardian.co.uk

Weizhou island national Geopark - south of Beihai, Guangxi Province, China — Keith Crane: "Weizhou Island national geopark - miles of sandy beach on the South China Sea with its own spooky movie set of a tumble-down shack, straight out of Scooby Doo. It could be haunted by any number of anglers who were blown ashore in typhoons years ago" Photograph: Keith Crane/guardian.co.uk

Perranporth beach, Cornwall — Leticia Golubov: "My son playing with the seagulls on Perranporth beach in Cornwall - we get mostly pigeons in London, so it was great to have some other type of bird trying to steal our food..." Photograph: Leticia Golubov/guardian.co.uk

Nai Thon beach, Koh Samui, Thailand — Martyn Goodacre: "Nai Thon beach on Koh Samui, Thailand - it's not a touristy beach but you can sit and watch the local fishermen getting ready to spend the night in search of a good catch" Photograph: Martyn Goodacre/guardian.co.uk

Brighton beach — Oystein Lagerstrom: "My favourite beach - Brighton's pebble beach is not very glamorous nor it is it the loveliest in the UK but it is reachable for a vast number of Londoners such as myself and this mother and child" Photograph: Oystein Lagerstrom/guardian.co.uk

Varadero Beach (Playa Azul), Varadero, Cuba — Rajeshwar Chahal: "Varadero Beach (Playa Azul), Cuba - the Hicacos Peninsula juts into the sea and is practically one long unspoilt beach" Photograph: Rajeshwar Chahal/guardian.co.uk

Peranporth beach, Cornwall — Rob Padley: "Lifeguards on Perranporth beach, Cornwall" Photograph: Rob Padley/guardian.co.uk

Perhentian Island, Malaysia — Stefano Cesario: "Beach volleyball at sunset, Perhentian Island, Malaysia" Photograph: Stefano Cesario/guardian.co.uk

Winterton Beach, Norfolk — Ben Clinch: "Winterton Beach in Norfolk" Photograph: Ben Clinch/guardian.co.uk

Beach at Jericoacoara, Brazil — Donna Timlin: "At the top of the sand dunes, looking out over the beach at Jericoacoara, Brazil - the nightly trek up for the sunset" Photograph: Donna Timlin/guardian.co.uk

Bosco Verde beach, near Ostuni, Italy — Richard Davison: "Towards evening in Bosco Verde beach, Italy, this sun-worshipper slept on, oblivious to the fact that the rising tide had swept over his rock" Photograph: Richard Davison/guardian.co.uk

Mill Beach, South Durras, Australia — Jim Jones: "Not Aboriginal art, but wave erosion patterns on rock slabs on the shore at Mill Beach, South Durras, Australia" Photograph: Jim Jones/guardian.co.uk

Beach at Goa, India — Laila Vaziralli: "Due to the high volume of tourists the once beautiful beaches of Goa are slowly being destroyed by waste - we need to be more ethical and aware when we travel" Photograph: Laila Vaziralli/guardian.co.uk

Vatersay Bay, Outer Hebrides — Chris Ward: "The beach at Vatersay Bay, on the Isle of Vatersay in the Outer Hebrides. I liked the instruction painted on the road - it seemed to match the setting" Photograph: Chris Ward/guardian.co.uk

Marina Piccola beach, Sorrento — Europe's biggest travel company TUI Travel is to cut the number of planes and deals in response to the downturn, but reported that demand for holidays to destinations like Italy (pictured), Greece and Turkey are a strong as ever Photograph: Kirsten Riley/guardian.co.uk

Frinton-on-Sea, England — Benjamin Arthur: "The beach at Frinton-on-Sea, England" Photograph: Benjamin Arthur/guardian.co.uk

Beach at Biarritz, France — Marianne van Loo: "A man painting the beach scene in Biarritz" Photograph: Marianne van Loo/guardian.co.uk

Beach at Kaikoura, New Zealand — Roz Stripe: "Kaikoura Beach, New Zealand - who needs sand?" Photograph: Roz Stripe/guardian.co.uk

Boy on the beach at Dąbki, Poland — Izabela Koczkodaj: "A boy digs in the sand at Dąbki, Poland. Summer at the Baltic Sea is usually capricious so we had only two days of sun" Photograph: Izabela Koczkodaj/guardian.co.uk

Garner Bay, Espagnola Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador — Philippa Dunstan: "Sealions on the beach at Gardner Bay, Espagnola Island, in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador" Photograph: Philippa Dunstan/guardian.co.uk

Outer Banks of North Carolina beach — The winning photo, by Hannah Balchin: "Early morning on the Outer Banks of North Carolina beach, these seabirds were tempted toward my balcony with a big bag of nachos!"

Guardian picture editor Roger Tooth says: "This photograph was my choice because it's a real surprise when you turn to it and has brilliant seaside light with a mad vitality from the gulls" Photograph: Hannah Balchin/guardian.co.uk

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