'Travel' was the topic for our October photo competition and few places in the world escaped the lenses of our globe trotting readers. In the end we had nearly 700 entries, with images revealing the diversity of cultures, people, architecture and landscapes that exist on this endlessly interesting planet.
Guest judge Todd McGaw, 2012 AIPP Travel Photographer of the Year, took time out to assess the shortlist and highlighted three images for special attention. Here's what he had to say about the entries:
Travel is amazing for the soul. Whether you go overseas or visit somewhere new in your own country, seeing and experiencing another place and culture is just really good for you. For me, it's about challenging my senses, pushing the edge of my comfort zone, and just appreciating this beautiful world and the amazing people who live in it.
Good travel photography is a mixture of genres. We take elements from landscape, documentary, and portrait photography and meld them together to communicate to the viewer what it was like to be there – the sights, the sounds, the smells and more. This is what I love about travel photography. There were some great images in the shortlist but, for me, three really stood out.
Winner: 'In the Light of Ra,' by Natesh Vallury. This is a striking image. I really appreciate the graphical representation of culture, humanity, and the environment here. Super contrasty light and colour palette conveys a harsh environment with a rich and deep cultural history recorded on the wall. I love the stillness of the subject supported by the strong shadow and negative space combination; the shape of which also resembles the very hieroglyphics/illustrations that it reveals.
Commended: 'Yadnya Kasada Girl,' by Pia Jessen. A great travel portrait. This photo makes me want to go to Mount Bromo, Indonesia, where this shot was taken. A very engaging expression on the young person crouching – and the photo is beautifully framed with the man off to the bottom left against the smoke. Lovely colours too.
Commended: 'Hong Kong Taxi,' by Matthew Krumins. I can feel this scene – the rain, the traffic and the horns honking! A crazy night and a local taxi driver just doing his thing. Well composed and exposed (although maybe just a touch heavy on the HDR treatment), with nice leading lines from our subject, the friendly taxi driver, following through to the top right corner via the taxi rank and the gutter, and a nice red colour continuance. Solid.
Natesh Vallury has won a a Spyder4PRO from Kayell Australia, valued at $240.
Congratulations to Natesh and all the shortlisted photographers.
The theme for our November competition is Texture. Entries close 30 November 2014. The theme for our December competition is The Beach. Due to the upcoming Christmas/New Year's break, entries are open now and will close earlier than usual, on 18 December 2014.
ABOUT THIS MONTH’S JUDGE: Todd McGaw is an award-winning wedding and travel photographer. Based in Queensland, McGaw's recent accolades include AIPP Queensland Wedding Photographer of the Year 2013, AIPP Master of Photography 2012, AIPP Travel Photographer of the Year 2012, AIPP Queensland Wedding Album of the Year 2012, AIPP Queensland Wedding Photographer of the Year 2011. In 2013 American Photo magazine included McGaw in its Top 10 Wedding Photographers in the World.
Winner: 'In the Light of Ra,' by Natesh Vallury. "This is a striking image. I really appreciate the graphical representation of culture, humanity, and the environment here. Super contrasty light and colour palette conveys a harsh environment with a rich and deep cultural history recorded on the wall. I love the stillness of the subject supported by the strong shadow and negative space combination; the shape of which also resembles the very hieroglyphics/illustrations that it reveals." – Todd McGaw. 
Commended: 'Yadnya Kasada Girl,' by Pia Jessen. "A great travel portrait. This photo makes me want to go to Mount Bromo, Indonesia, where this shot was taken. A very engaging expression on the young person crouching – and the photo is beautifully framed with the man off to the bottom left against the smoke. Lovely colours too." – Todd McGaw. 
Commended: 'Hong Kong Taxi,' by Matthew Krumins. "I can feel this scene – the rain, the traffic and the horns honking! A crazy night and a local taxi driver just doing his thing. Well composed and exposed (although maybe just a touch heavy on the HDR treatment), with nice leading lines from our subject, the friendly taxi driver, following through to the top right corner via the taxi rank and the gutter – and a nice red colour continuance. Solid." – Todd McGaw. 
'Back to school,' by Nirvan Gelda.
'Cairo camel market vendor,' by Vicki Harrington.
'Cotton Castle,' by Leo Cleary.
'Deep in Thought,' by Casey Eveleigh.
'Endless Empires,' by Ben Majdlik.
'Finishing Touches,' by Guy Needham.
'German Twins,' by Mandy Gwan.
'Horse and Rider, Mt Bromo, Indonesia,' by Nick Everett.
'Iceland 5,' by Jason Freeman.
'Idyllic,' by Jason Freeman.
'India,' by Leanne Clark.
'Lake Bled Slovenia,' by C Dao.
'Let's Go For An Adventure,' by Ron See.
'Peace in Lifou,' by Justin De Castro
'Photo Of A Photo Within A Polaroid Photo,' by Asherly Bradac.
'Rwanda,' by Harrison Thane.
'Saigon-Organised Chaos,' by Deanna Palmer.
'Shopping,' by Joshua Tagicakibau.
'Shy Maasai School Girl,' by Ali McNicol.
'Soweto,' by Alan Coligado.
'Spirit in Tibet,' by Michelle Li.
'The Pyramids and the Sphinx,' by Alan Coligado.
'Through The Window,' by Peter Sawers.
'Travelling Via the Train,' by Sue McArthur.
'Tweed Valley,' by Turkey Tom.
'Ubuntu,' by Simone Cheung.