Image of the Month 2014

"For the downloadable images - Right-click
(PC & Some Macs), [Ctrl-click Some Macs] on the image below which suits your screen and select 'Set as Background',
[Use Image as Desktop Picture]"

December 2014 - "Brushed Aside" by John Curgenven

These caught my eye at one of the many roadside stalls in Vietnam. Whilst still under Communist Rule, private enterprise is now encouraged and is evident throughout this colourful country. The original RAW file was colourful but in this case I processed it to add more vibrancy and saturation using the Pop-Art Filter on my Olympus PEN.

1024 x 768 (4:3) 1280 x 720 (16:9) Facebook Timeline Cover More from this photographer.

November 2014 - "Bordeaux Miroir" by Ron Sutton

The water mirror of Bordeaux, is a shallow pond reflecting the Place de la Bourse and docks of Bordeaux. In operation since 2006, it has an area of ​​3450 square meters, making it one of the largest in the world. It cycles from being a two cm deep pool, then draining so it looks like a mirror, then sending up a fog of very fine water.

1024 x 768 (4:3) 1280 x 720 (16:9) Facebook Timeline Cover More from this photographer.

October 2014 - "Volcanic Peninsula" by Chelin Miller

This month's featured image is by Chelin Miller LRPS who lives in England. She has enjoyed taking photographs ever since she was a child, but her interest became clearer in 2008 with her first DSLR. Over the years she has lived in several countries; this makes her appreciate the impermanence of places and people in a particular way and recording through photography how her family grows is most rewarding. She enjoys all aspects of the craft, but Travel Photography is her passion: it encompasses all other genres. It helps her to understand the cultural, human, and geographic aspects of a place; to become a better observer, more aware of the detail and the general picture.

1024 x 768 (4:3) 1280 x 720 (16:9) Facebook Timeline Cover More from this photographer.

September 2014 - "Sunset in Sarawak" by Peter Lee

Peter Lee Pui Weng ARPS lives in Sarawak Borneo, in a small town called Sibu. He has been taking photography seriously since 2008 and shooting sunsets is his favorite activity. He gained his ARPS distinction on Travel in March 2014. Peter always uses a wide angle lens with ND or GND filters for his sunset photography and he says a sturdy tripod and a remote shutter are a must to minimize camera shake.

1024 x 768 (4:3) 1280 x 720 (16:9) Facebook Timeline Cover More from this photographer.

August 2014 - "Aurora Borialis" by Keith Pointon

This month's selected image was taken by the Secretary of the Royal Photographic Society's Travel Group when he visited Norway last year. The various shots he obtained inspired so many of the group's members that another trip has been arranged for them next January. Travel and photography have been an enduring part of Keith’s life since an early age. His first camera was a Christmas present when he was 12 years old and living in Malaya. He never looked back. He quickly learned to develop and print his own black and white prints and has always enjoyed the qualities of monochrome images.  A former teacher of Geography and Geology, it is not surprising, that landscapes and travel have been the backbone of his photography. Field trips and holidays to wide ranging places, Iceland, Antarctica, India, North Africa and the Mediterranean are a feature in his work.

1024 x 768 (4:3) 1280 x 720 (16:9) Facebook Timeline Cover More from this photographer.

July 2014 - "Aldeburgh Beach" by Ron Sutton

Another shot on the same beach taken just 15 minuted later.

1024 x 768 (4:3) 1280 x 720 (16:9) Facebook Timeline Cover More from this photographer.

June 2014 - "Aldeburgh" by Ron Sutton

This beach scene was taken at Aldeburgh in Suffolk. I saw the colours of the beachfront houses and as they faced due East it had to be an early start. The shots were taken just as the sun rose over the horizon hence the long shadows. Walked the entire length of the beach then back to the hotel for a full English!

1024 x 768 (4:3) 1280 x 720 (16:9) Facebook Timeline Cover More from this photographer.

May 2014 - "Bell Wood" by Sarah Curgenven

The unusually warm, wet winter we have just experienced in England has produced vibrant displays of Bluebells. This month 's image is a painting with digital brushes on a photo taken by my daughter during our walk in the Hampshire Woods on Good Friday, when we spotted the rarer white flower amongst the sea of blue.

1024 x 768 (4:3) 1280 x 720 (16:9) Facebook Timeline Cover More from this photographer.

April 2014 - "Walmer Castle" by Stephen Barrie

Built during the reign of King Henry VIII, Walmer Castle is one of the most fascinating visitor attractions in the South East. Originally designed as part of a chain of coastal artillery defences it evolved into the official residence of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. The Duke of Wellington held the post for 23 years and enjoyed his time spent at the castle and in recent years Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother made regular visits to the castle.

1024 x 768 (4:3) 1280 x 720 (16:9) Facebook Timeline Cover More from this photographer.

March 2014 - "Pollinating Bee" by Eric Hatch

A bee heavily-laden with pollen, trying to find that one more bit before heading back to the hive. The real challenge with this shot was getting the bee in focus and not getting stung -- this was shot from about 4 inches away!

1024 x 768 (4:3) 1280 x 720 (16:9) Facebook Timeline Cover More from this photographer.

February 2014 - "Winter Reflections" by Taylor Baskin

I stumbled onto this scene while doing some scouting in Yosemite during my last visit.  I was first drawn to the scene by the crisp reflections of the snow covered trees in the distance. But as I shot close ups of the banks, I noticed the clouds above starting to turn orange in the late afternoon light. I threw on my blue-n-gold filter to help really bring out those warm tones and took this wide angle view of the Mereced River and Yosemite's valley walls. I only wish I could have fit all of the three rocks into my composition.

1024 x 768 (4:3) 1280 x 720 (16:9) Facebook Timeline Cover More from this photographer.

January 2014 - "City Snow" by John Daly

Nevada City was first settled in 1849, during the California Gold Rush, as Nevada (meaning "snow-covered", a reference to the snow-topped mountains in the area). The Gold Tunnel on the north side of Deer Creek was the city's first mine, being located in 1850. See our tutorial on taking better snow photographs.

1024 x 768 (4:3) 1280 x 720 (16:9) Facebook Timeline Cover More from this photographer.

You might want to subscribe to my Better Photographs Blog. This RSS feed is a blog which will let you know whenever any new or changed Web pages appear on this site. It also keeps you up-to-date with other news and information that will help you to achieve superb results.

 What's an RSS feed?

Return from Image of the Month to Better Photographs home page.

Thanks for your help.