Guardian readers November 5, 2012

Readers’ travel photograph competition: October – weather

From an Indian monsoon to a snowstorm in Yorkshire, you captured the theme of weather beautifully in this month's photo competition. Here are the best images – click through the gallery to find out who judge Natalie Mayer selected as the winner

Readers gallery Oct 2012: Grand Canyon — **Emma Cox:** At the end of a long day walking the Grand Canyon rim we were caught in a violent electrical storm. With limited cover it's not a great place to be, but as the storm started to subside, the evening sun broke through the clouds and created a stunning double rainbow and enhanced the colours of the canyon. On this occasion I was relieved we had decided not to make a dash back to lower ground for cover. Photograph: Emma Cox

Readers gallery Oct 2012: From the Astrological Clock in Prague — **Rory McDonald:** I was up in the tower of the famous Astronomical Clock in Prague, looking down on all the people in the square waiting for the clock to chime. Their brollies were so colourful. The rain didn't put them off and everyone waited patiently. Photograph: Rory McDonald

Readers gallery Oct 2012: Hove beach — **Lucy Mallows:** I’m not into technical details; I prefer to capture a moment and an emotion with my pocket Canon IXUS 200 IS. The quality of the light over Hove was almost spiritual. I like the composition of the two halves of the picture, telling a story; the blurred beach feels optimistic while the clear city side is dark and foreboding. The vanishing point leads towards the sun and gives hope, yet I felt the power of nature and the elements. Photograph: Lucy Mallows

Readers gallery Oct 2012: Sveta Sofia church — **Dominic Burdon:** This was taken in Sofia, Bulgaria, just after a summer storm had passed. I had to lie on the ground to get the right angle of reflection on the puddle. There were still a few stray raindrops falling and luckily my puddle managed to catch one just as I pressed the shutter. I took many shots before this happened, but for me this one gives the picture more of a story about the weather. I turned the picture upside-down so the Sveta Sofia church can be better appreciated. Photograph: Dominic Burdon

Readers gallery Oct 2012: Rain on Wandsworth Common, south London — **Michael Sutherland:** I took this picture on Wandsworth Common, south London, when I was walking home and got caught in a heavy shower. I took cover under the nearest tree and then noticed all of the other people scattered about the park who had had to do the same. I thought it summed up the UK weather, and fortunately I had a camera with me to capture it. Photograph: Michael Sutherland

Readers gallery Oct 2012: Richmond, Great River Race on the Thames — **Frances Bonnington:** I took this shot while on a day trip to Richmond to watch the Great River Race on the Thames. It was a beautiful day, one of the last we've had this year, and everyone was sitting in the sun on the quayside, enjoying their beers. Photograph: Frances Bonnington

Readers gallery Oct 2012: Se storm Morayshire — **Julie Dyer:** I spotted this scene at the height of a storm while driving through Morayshire. Breakers four metres high crashed over the lighthouse and harbour walls, sending swirling water into the only safe haven. I stood and watched as gale force winds unfurled the sail and ripped it to shreds. It made me realise how vulnerable we are when the weather takes control. Photograph: Julie Dyer

Readers gallery Oct 2012: Wengen railway station in the Bernese Alps, Switzerland — **Felix Bettelheim:** I was in a snow shower at Wengen railway station in the Bernese Alps, Switzerland and saw this pipe-smoking gentleman, who appears to belong to a bygone era. In the background is a Wengernalpbahn rack and pinion train. Photograph: Felix Bettelheim

Readers gallery Oct 2012: Duomo in Florence — **Valda Bailey:** Looking for all the world like some clandestine coloured-cajole wearing cult, I spotted this group of tourists alongside the Duomo in Florence. I used a slow shutter speed and intentional camera movement to accentuate the relentless wetness and poor visibility. Photograph: Valda Bailey

Readers gallery Oct 2012: Flooding in Manila — **Matt Paish, special mention:** Flooding in Manila provided a rare novelty for some of the city's kids – swimming in the streets! Despite the extreme weather causing misery for many in the city, all I saw in Malate district were smiling faces.

**Natalie Mayer, judge:** Beautifully captured natural and candid smiles in this image. It's just a shame the boys create such a distraction. Photograph: Matt Paish

Readers gallery Oct 2012: Cliffs of Moher — **Emily Craig, runner-up:** I was with a group of friends at the Cliffs of Moher, County Clare, on the west coast of Ireland. The day before we'd been housebound by Hurricane Katia. There was still a gale blowing and the roar of the wind was deafening. At one of the viewpoints I caught my friend Florence trying to protect her ears from the noise and the slicing cold of the wind.

**Natalie Mayer, judge:** There is a perfect simplicity to this image. The girl appears unselfconscious and 'in the moment', drawing us in to the feeling and atmosphere of the scene. I can almost imagine the photograph coming to life, as if in a video. I hear the noise of the wind whistling through the hills … beautiful. Photograph: Emily Craig

Readers gallery Oct 2012: Chairs, Yorkshire hotel — **Craig Appleyard, runner-up:** Anticipating rain, the staff at this Yorkshire hotel had laid the chairs on their backs to avoid them collecting water – but they hadn't bargained for a huge snow storm in April. I managed to get this shot before people could walk through the snow. Although the photograph was taken in colour the scene looks distinctly monochrome.

**Natalie Mayer, judge:** Very effective. I love how this depicts all kinds of weather so subtly – wind, snow and sun. The stillness of the scene, combined with evidence of former movement and storm and now the sunlight streaming in. This image has a real sense of passing time. Very nicely observed and beautifully photographed. Photograph: Craig Appleyard

Readers gallery Oct 2012: India — **Jamie Furlong, winner:** As monsoon approaches, schoolchildren in Kochi, Kerala, prepare for another season of heavy rainfall. It is not uncommon for roads to remain permanently flooded throughout the summer, but the young students delight in splashing through the warm puddles as they make their way to school.

**Natalie Mayer, judge:** This is a splendid image. Lovely composition, very graphic and striking. Beautifully rendered in black and white. There is stunning movement and feeling in this image. A very well deserved winner; I would like to see more from this photographer. Photograph: Jamie Furlong

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Readers’ travel photograph competition: October – weather

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