Wanderlust Winners

Wanderlust Photographer of the Year competition showcases the best amateur travel photography. This year, two of the winners just happen to be Exodus clients...

By Paul Goldstein

Andy and Angela are both outstanding photographers, this I already knew. Imagine my surprise, though, when I joined the panel of the Wanderlust Photographer of the Year judging team only to see these two shots in the short-list.

The images make me both proud and angry. Proud because they are clients of mine, and angry because I missed both of these opportunities. In Angela’s case, I saw this happen and took the whole sequence at a desperately unimaginative fast speed, for which I hate myself. By gambling on a slow speed, she was practising everything I preach, and I bottled it. Moreover, it was the first game drive of the safari and she was straight out of the blocks as I was languishing tying my laces. These photos are not easy; to get the muzzle of the male lion sharp is majestic and really makes the photo. Top work Angela.

As for Andy, this shot demonstrates superb technical skill. Taken in portrait with a little interest down low, he has captured a brief but captivating lenticular cloud build up. He has also resisted the urge to cook it in Photoshop, which I applaud. It was a brilliant moment and a perfectly executed shot. Meanwhile I was on the bridge looking for a distant polar bear, eyes glued on the horizon instead of minding my immediate surroundings, another schoolboy error.

Brilliant and worthy winners - well done. Meanwhile, it's back to the drawing board for me.

View Andy Barnes' winning shot

View Angela Osborne's winning shot