Mr H took this photo of South Gare lighthouse, North Yorkshire, and a deserved win it is. Both Mandy and I agree that the photo is quite brilliant. The fact that the lighthouse is the most luminescent object in the composition even though the lamp is off. The word Danger nearly matches it in brightness dividing the image into 5 horizontal tonal stripes. Choosing black and white removes the distraction of colour emphasising the forbidding and portentous presence of the lighthouse. Often black and white photography feels like a sad omission of colour but not in this case. The whole environment is hostile; the peeling harbour arm, the unrefined railings and the rusty skin of the tower. It is a beacon but not a haven. Are the lighthouse and the word Danger working in unison or against each other? The perfect graduation of greys and the off-centre position make this photo our winner. Congratulations Mr H!
