Your Best Shot: Jan 2026 - The Beach - The winners!
Your Best Shot is a photo competition open to Australian residents. There's a different theme every couple of months, and a selection of the winning shots will be published in AP mag and online.
Each issue, AP's Editor Mike O'Connor will choose six images to be published both in print and online, with both a winner and a runner-up selected. Our winner will also receive an amazing prize thanks to Think Tank.
You can find out all the details for entry and the themes for 2026 here.
Theme: The beach
Our winner: Bondi surfer by Penelope Robertshaw
Editor’s comment
Penelope Robertshaw says this shot from inside the Bondi Pavilion at Bondi Beach was captured during a light rainfall.
“This surfer gifted me with a striking foreground subject for the beach and headland beyond,” she says.
What we liked about Penelope’s image was how she not only captured a busy beach setting, but also drew our attention to the young surfer surveying the scene, presumably before heading down to the water.
There is a hint of apprehension in her expression perhaps, but also a quiet confidence. That mix of emotion adds depth to the moment and brings something different to the frame.
Technical details
Nikon Z7 II, NIKKOR Z 24 mm f/1.8 S lens. 1/800s @ f10, ISO 640.
Highly commended
Brighton sand by Lleyton Mundt
Editor’s comment
Lleyton Mundt says on his European and UK holiday he tried to take a photo in every town to look back on.
“I was trying to work the beach huts into a photo and ended up overthinking it,” he recalls. “After wandering through the town I noticed the waves lapping onto the sand and came away with this shot.”
Well done on finding a quieter frame to focus on! The result is a simple ‘pattern’ shot done really well, with no distractions to challenge the viewer’s attention. There’s some nice soft textures as well that really add to the image too.
Technical details
Canon EOS 70D, 18mm-55mm lens @ 31mm. 1/400s @ f11, ISO 200.
Special mentions
How I did it
I came across this really bizarre scene during a family holiday to Culburra, NSW, where a fisherman was being swarmed by a pack of pelicans. I love how this frame captures the tension and menacing foreboding of the pelicans, ready to pounce on any scraps of fish.
Technical details
Nikon F2, Kodak Portra 400 (expired), 35mm AIS Lens, aperture and shutter speed unknown.
How I did it
The shot was taken handheld on a summer’s morning in Mallorca while exploring a new beach with my family.
Technical details
Canon EOS R5, Canon RF 70–200mm F4 L IS USM lens @ 135mm. 1/160s @ f4, ISO 100. Polarising filter.
How I did it
I am lucky enough to live on the Central Coast of NSW and have many beaches and waterways to choose from. This one was at Birdie Beach, NSW.
Technical details
Fuji X-T5, lens unknown. 1/320s @ f9, ISO 125.
How I did it
We were staying at a perfect Bed and Breakfast in The Catlins, New Zealand for two nights. We were practically locked in as there was a car rally closing the only road in or out. In between showers we walked to the beach and I got low to get this dramatic picture. This was just taken on my phone.
Technical details
Samsung S22, 6.4mm lens. 1/1600s @ f1.8, ISO 12.