AP's free monthly comp May '26 'Rural life' - the winners!

Congratulations to Margot Hughes, and her image A Dirty Dusty Drought, that has won AP's free monthly photo competition for May 2026.

What we liked about Margot’s shot was the way it captured so much of what defines the Australian outback: a dry, dusty landscape and harsh conditions, all with a beautifully balanced composition. The dust and composition also creates a strong sense of depth, drawing the viewer into the scene and conveying the vastness of the environment.

Margot wins a a Leofoto tripod valued at $399 thanks to our great sponsor Leofoto Australia. 

We also chose three special mentions:

Over on Facebook, Dani Watson narrowly took out the People's Choice, with 160-odd votes at competition close. Dani wins a 12-month digital subscription to AP mag for her win.

If you'd like to enter our June comp, there's just a few days left. The theme is 'Home' and you've got until the end of the month to get your entries in. You can enter here.