Guardian readers September 3, 2013

Readers’ travel photograph competition: August – street life

Scroll through the gallery to see the winner of this month's photo competition – the theme was street life

BT comp Aug: sadhu having an afternoon nap — Monika Mukherjee: This shot, of a 'sadhu baba', was taken in an ashram in Varanasi, India. They are the holiest in India, and very friendly. When I saw one of the them having a nap I couldn't resist. The glasses, orange with red colours, empty background, makes it the picture perfect for me. Photograph: Monika Mukherjee

BT comp Aug: Street scene — Steve Jack: This is Nick and his friend, a helpful guy, who told me where I should go photograph next when I was down in Deptford, south London. Photograph: Steve Jack

BT comp Aug: Brooklyn — Feldore McHugh: I recently visited New York and was staying in a Hasidic Jewish part of Brooklyn. Even in the scorching summer heat the men were wearing their traditional black hats and long coats. I wanted to convey, in this shot, some sense of life in this fascinating area. Photograph: Feldore McHugh:

BT comp Aug: Varanasi — Sonal Mangla: A monk takes a break by the cremation ghats of Varanasi. There are thousands of people here, chanting mantras, practising yoga or taking a dip in the Ganges. Yet this one caught my attention, basking in this colourful bliss. Photograph: Sonal Mangla

BT comp Aug: London Bridge — Emma Mapp: I took this from the roof of No 1 London Bridge, of city workers making their way to London Bridge station. I have called it 'The Salmon Migration' as the throngs of people make the same journey each night to get home, with the same determination that salmon possess to get their destination. Photograph: Emma Mapp

BT comp Aug: Rocinha in Rio de Janeiro — James Belkevitz: I took this in Rocinha in Rio de Janeiro. It is the largest favela in Brazil. The subjects were more than willing to pose for the camera. My friend who speaks Portuguese translated to me that the girls in the photograph said if we took photographs of them they would be famous back in the UK. Photograph: James Belkevitz

BT comp Aug: Alaró on Mallorca — Lucy Hirst: Once a year on the third Friday of June, the people of Alaró on Mallorca head to the main town square to witness an incredible display that would give any health and safety executive a heart attack. Shortly after midnight, the 'demons' light their fires and parade the streets accompanied by an epic underscore of bass drums. After walking the streets they return to the central square and unleash the explosive booby trapped madness on the unsuspecting observers. The savvy among us are doused in water and dressed in trousers and shirts, and hooded with balaclavas. Complete and utter beautiful madness. Photograph: Lucy Hirst

BT comp Aug: San Francisco's Chinatown — Jon Nicholls: As we wandered through San Francisco's Chinatown one hot August afternoon I saw this dragon mural and the stain on the sidewalk. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the boy running up the street. I clicked the shutter of my old Nikon and hoped for the best. I couldn't believe my luck when the film was developed and I saw this image glowing at the end of my slide viewer. It's the closest I've ever come to a 'decisive moment' Photograph: Jon Nicholls

BT comp Aug: ew Delhi, impromptu tattoo parlour — Jason Roof: Among New Delhi's many street vendors, was an impromptu tattoo parlour right there on the pavement. I circled around to get a better view before capturing this moment. Photograph: Jason Roof

BT comp Aug: Varna; on the Bulgarian Black Sea — Tom Dyer: On a sailing holiday in Varna, on the Bulgarian Black Sea, the harbour wall was decorated all the way along with work from various graffiti artists. At sunset many of the locals would come and enjoy the view, painting, reading or simply chatting with friends. This is one individual who I shot from the boat. Photograph: Tom Dyer

BT comp Aug: man was reflective sheet — James Guppy, runner-up: This man was using this reflective sheet to better his sun tan – or so it seemed. Out of the shot – taken in Washington Square, New York – was a group of young women enjoying their yoga class. Is he using his reflective sheet so he can take a peek from behind?

Natalie Mayer, judge: This one was a potential winner if the photographer had just been a little braver with the composition. I love the scene and the subject. In a bit closer, less depth of field and the shot would be less cluttered and busy. Still, a great fun moment and nice observation of life. Photograph: James Guppy

BT comp Aug: next to the Bosphorus in Istanbul — Marc Ehrenbold: Taken in winter, next to the Bosphorus in Istanbul, an old man selling pigeon feed gives directions while a young boy runs around scattering the flock. The old man was not alone and there were other booths in the square selling seeds and also tourist trinkets. The young boy was in his element and relished sending the pigeons up into the sky. I used a slightly slower shutter speed to emphasise the movement of the birds.

Natalie Mayer, judge: Nicely observed scene with plenty to hold the interest. I'd like to have seen a few more frames … a bit more bird/boy action could have made this one a real gem. As it is, the eye doesn't know quite where to settle, but still it shows an interesting element of street life and culture. Photograph: Marc Ehrenbold

BT comp Aug: Budapest — Jenny Downing, winner: This photo was taken in the bitter cold and persistent rain of a grey, wintry Budapest. It was just a fleeting moment; my husband and I were on our way to lunch and I noticed the reflection of this beautifully patterned tiled dome in a puddle on the pavement. I stopped to take a photo and fortuitously, someone walked briskly past just as I pressed the shutter. I have flipped the resulting image by 180 degrees.

Natalie Mayer, judge: This is a beautifully captured reflection image … spot-on composition and timing of the shot. Very good. Photograph: Jenny Downing

Leave a Comment Cancel comment