Guardian readers May 31, 2012

Readers’ travel photograph competition: May – water

This month's striking images, on the theme of water, took us from a fish market in Devon to a rice field in Bali. Click through to the end to find out who our judge Natalie Mayer selected as this month's winner

BT May: Okovango delta in Botswana — Dale Morris: This shot was taken on a kayak trip up the Okovango delta in Botswana. The delta was flooded, opening the Selinda Spillway for the first time in years. The hippos, crocodiles and elephants kept us on our toes – around each bend of the river we really did not know what we would find. I marvelled at the clarity of the water and the fluffy clouds you could see reflected in the river. I positioned myself as low in the water as I could – watching out for crocs and other angry animals. I wanted the kayak to be central to the picture, to give the shot a feeling of the journey Photograph: Dale Morris

BT May: Burano in the Venetian Lagoon — Julia Mcilwaine: On the island of Burano in the Venetian Lagoon, houses are painted in bright colours. According to tradition, fishermen painted them in different colours so they could see them as they returned from sea through the misty lagoon Photograph: Julia Mcilwaine

BT May: Rice field, Bali, Indonesia — Iwona Rutyna: I took this photograph in Bali, Indonesia, to portray the beauty of a rice field. The water itself mirrors the rice grass, a Balinese hut and the blue sky above it, but hardly seem to be present in the image. The photograph is turned upside down, to enhance this sensation Photograph: Iwona Rutyna

BT May: Surrfing in the Canary Islands — Andy Lawrence: I was on a surf trip to the Canary Islands and saw these huge waves detonating on the shallow reef, some rideable, some not. The photo shows a bodyboarder, on his way out to test his luck, taking in the view. There were some of the world's best bodyboarders out this day, literally risking life and limb, and I wanted to capture the intensity of the wave from the cliffs above, framing a rider in shot for scale. I shot at more than 1/1000 sec to freeze the water movement Photograph: Andy Lawrence:

BT May: Songkran festival of water, Thailand — Jessica Swan: This was taken during Songkran, the festival of water that marks the Thai new year. The festival has transformed from blessing your elders with a drop of water to a national water fight. This shot was taken in the Khao Sok national park – the family were waiting by the road and threw water at every car that drove past for good luck. So much fun Photograph: Jessica Swan

BT May: Kerala waterway — Hannah Asquith: A boat was taking us to our hotel in Thrikkunnapuzha, on Kerala's inland waterways. As we forged along the water, these two fishing boats came into view. The way in which they were snuggled up under the coconut palms, with the late afternoon light falling on both them and the palms, was spectacular Photograph: Hannah Asquith

BT May: Sea view — Jacob Cockle: This photo was taken just after sunrise on a semi secret surfing location in north Cornwall we call "T Reef". I was submerged, swimming, dodging powerful waves, at the mercy of the waters – it felt like being in a room with a wild animal, one that could thow me around like a rag doll. Swimming with my camera (using a fisheye lens encased in a steel, custom-built housing) to be in the right place at the right time, I had this one fleeting moment where everything fell into place Photograph: Jacob Cockle

BT May: fishermen on the Li river, in southern China — Dominic Burdon, runner-up: I'd heard about traditional fishermen on the Li river, in southern China, who still use cormorant birds to fish for them. It was pretty cold when I was there, so there were few fishermen to be seen, but after witnessing the technique from afar a few times, I persuaded a couple of fishermen to come closer so I could photograph them.

Natalie Mayer, judge: This is a beautiful image with lovely light captured. Something about the composition makes it a little unbalanced though; I would have liked to see it without the biggest mountains placed behind the main subject – it makes it all a little heavy on the right. But still, a really lovely shot Photograph: Dominic Burdon

BT May: River Nile , Uganda — Jayne Harris Waller, runner-up: I took the picture when travelling in Uganda recently. It shows how the River Nile supports many different populations. The local men fish with throw-nets every morning, while many hippos bask in the cool water.

Natalie Mayer, judge: A lovely slice of life with lots going on. Well timed for the fisherman's throw, which was an important touch. I feel the composition could have been improved slightly by shifting perspectives so that the fishermen don't intervene with the background – although, fair enough, the photographer may not have had the lens required to pull this off. Great shot though, I love the subtlety of the hippos in the foreground – one to be proud of! Photograph: Jayne Harris Waller

BT May: Fish market in Brixham — Ollie Jarman, winner: This image is part of a series capturing the essence and importance of the fishing industry in Britain. Shot over a period of time spent at fish markets in Brixham and Plymouth, south Devon, the water cascading over the floor creates this surreal watercolour look.

Natalie Mayer, judge: Gorgeous oily rich colours, and lovely, faultless composition. This one appears splendidly simple – which good photography should. Lovely entry, well done! Photograph: Ollie Jarman

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