The 2018 Mark Gunter Photographer of the Year Awards closed last week, and over its duration, we received hundreds of incredible submissions from around the world – truly some of the best cycling photography of the year. In addition to being a great showcase for the talented entrants, the Awards also have two important purposes – raising a significant amount of money for cancer research through Tour de Cure, and by providing financial support through Young Cyclist Assistance.
Now that entries are closed, it’s over to our panel of judges – Graham Watson, Wouter Roosenboom, and Russ Ellis – to decide who’s going to be awarded the Mark Gunter Photographer of the Year Awards.
Each of the judges have gone through the difficult task of shortlisting their top ten images from each of the four categories. From these shortlists, the judges will deliberate on the top three of each category in the coming days – with final winners to be announced on January 11, 2019.
“This year’s judging of the Mark Gunter Awards carried with it the realisation that the level of quality in the entries has risen yet again, and in all categories too. As such, there was both a sense of satisfaction at seeing the competitiveness edge up yet further, but also increased pressure to make the right choices from such fine photography. Three years ago, Wouter Roosenboom’s winning shot stood out so far ahead of its rivals, it made the judge’s work easy. In the 2018 awards, any one of the top-ten images amongst the pros’ could have won. The same goes for the ‘enthusiast’ category – back in 2016, the gap between ‘pro and enthusiast was enormous. This time around it was sometimes hard to see the difference between some of the ‘pro and enthusiast entries, a fact that made judging far more difficult.
The greatest progress, however, has been made amongst the ‘smartphone’ entries. It never fails to impress me what creativity can be achieved with such basic machinery – and even some mighty-fine race-action shots of the Tour de France have made it into the top-ten compilations. I’ve enjoyed most of all a virtual tour of the worlds finest landscapes. The mountains, valleys, oceans and forests alongside which cyclists often ride were a favourite part of my life when I was shooting the big races. So I suppose it’s only natural that my judgement of the many entries is influenced by what I once photographed, with the beauty of the sport at the summit of my reasoning. As I studied each and every photograph, I often felt it could have been me taking the image, perhaps that’s how far the quality of the entries has risen?
Graham Watson is arguably the most well known and experienced cycling photographer on the planet. His iconic images have captured some of cycling’s most significant moments and with 44 years of photography under his belt, he is one of the pioneers of the sporting media. He kicks off with his shortlist from the 2018 Mark Gunter Photographer of the Year Awards.
Here’s Graham’s shortlist from the 2018 Mark Gunter Photographer of the Year Awards.
Eloise Mavian @eloisemavian: “Christopher Froome climbing the Colle delle Finestre during his epic breakaway on stage 19 of the Giro d’Italia.”
Alex Whitehead @@alex_swpix: “Alena Amialiusik, Alice Barnes, Hannah Barnes, Elena Cecchini, Lisa Klein and Trixi Worrack of Canyon-SRAM on their way to winning the Women’s Team Time Trial at the 2018 UCI Road Cycling World Championships in Innsbruck, Austria.”
Dario Belingheri @@dariobelingheri: “Huge crowd in Catania, the “snake” running through the streets of the city invaded by the crowd, under the Volcano Etna, during the start of the 4th stage of the Giro d’Italia 2018.”
James Startt @jstartt: “Quite often the Paris-Nice race is decided on the final week-end, but this year my favorite shot came from one of the opening stages as the peloton rolled across the plains of northern France. As we came across this field of wind turbines, I stopped and waited for what seemed like hours. I expected to see the peloton strung out, racing by. Instead when the pack arrived, they were clearly in a down moment. But as the peloton inched towards the turbines they formed a perfect composition.”
Paolo Martelli @@paolopennimartelli: “Jacek Berruti, the son of the beloved Luciano, passed away last year, riding the white roads of Tuscany during L’Eroica 2018.”
Matt Grayson @@mattgrayson_photo: “Braving the elements on Mam Nick in the Peak District, UK.”
Alex Whitehead @alex_swpix: “Oz Sanchez of the USA beats Alex Zanardi of Italy in the Team Relay event at the 2018 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships in Maniago, Italy.”
Gary Main @garymainphotography: “”Oil” This was taken at Leicester Classic and I was not sure weather to put it in or not. Firstly no one had more that road rash and all the riders were okay. No one mined me using this. It was a sprint to the finish and a tangle of bikes caused a spectacular crash. I was the only photographer who got this shot. The other where by the bike pits so I moved back to get a long shot. As being a sprint you get a good celebration well past the line. This time was different.”
Roberto Bettini @sprintcycling: “The effort to perform an impressive deed.”
Dani @daniapphoto: “Last meters before Michael Woods emotional win in Monte Oiz stage during La Vuelta 18. Vasque crowd was amazing, cheering all riders.
Jordan Benjamin-Sutton @peloton_perspective: “The peloton passes the Colosseum on Stage 21 of this years Giro d’Italia.”
Reid Neureiter @reidnewphoto: “The break has a half mile lead on the peloton. this image was taken in mid-summer during the practice races at the Colorado State Patrol training track on South Table Mesa in Golden, Colorado. The track is not entirely flat, allowing me to capture the three break-away riders in sharp focus the foreground, with the chasing bunch in the background.
Anthony Leutenegger @anthonyleutenegger: “Wout van Aert, wearing the world championship jersey, powers through the muck and mud of of the Grand Prix Nommay on a cold day in France.”
Tyler Haab @carbonstattkondition “@Szymonbike on the Grosse-Scheidegg in the Swissalps (Canon)”
Craig Huffman @craigsclicks: “”Elfin Time Trial” – Speed, motion and helmet graphics helped create this fun image from the Red Kite Omnium #4 Tempus Fugit Individual Time Trial in Castro Valley, California, USA on Sunday, March 25, 2018.”
Will Davies @cyclingalps: “Spot the pink cyclists. Grosse Scheidegg, one of the most beautiful climbs in Switzerland.”
h.a.photo: “Gulnaz Badykova and Maria Novolodskaya of Team Russia are fighting in the women’s Madison race at Tissot UCI Track World Cup in Berlin 2018.”
Zac Williams @z_w_photography: “Sometimes just finishing is all that matters.”
Gert-jan Warrink @gwarrink: “Team Waow Deals during stage 3b (team time trial) of the 2018 Healthy Ageing Tour. In perfect harmony, in perfect sync, that’s what a team time trail is about.”
Wilco Dragt @wilcodragtphotography: “Col de la Bonette #1. The Col de la Bonette is one of the iconic cols in the French Alps. The final loop brings you to the Cime de la Bonette, at an altitude of 2802 m.”
Graeme Langhorne @graemelanghorne: “”G riding into Yellow’ Time trialling up a mountain with a stage winner on your wheel. La Rosiere. 1330 Tour de France Week. July.”
Shaharin Wan @wshah: “Passo Vrsic, Slovenia. Vršič Mountain Pass with its 1,611m is the highest road pass in the Eastern Julian Alps. The high-mountain road from Kranjska Gora through Vršič to Log in Trenta has 50 serpentines, 24 on the side of Kranjska Gora and 26 on the Trenta side.”
Wouter Hoogenboom @bicycle.racing.pictures: “Painting with city lights. Bronx, New York.”
David Fussell @d.fussell: “Sunrise above the clouds – Banks Peninsula, Christchurch, New Zealand.”
Wouter Hoogenboom @bicycle.racing.pictures: “Jumping over the barriers at Rainey Park Cyclocross, Astoria, New York.”
Pete Canny @ _elcamino: “Pinning on a number. It’s always to good to finish a race in wet conditions upright. Despite the rain stopping before this race around Latrobe Uni there were still wet roads, slippery painted lines and fire engines responding to a fire to contend with. All whilst trying to be first over the line.”
Martijn Zijerveld @imagehunters: “The forests are a place of light and trails showing us a different country and ride.”
Mark Geary @ogaram: “I captured Catalina Soto at DISC in Melbourne, during one of her races. I used my GoPro. The lines show a lot of movement and give the impression of speed.”
Sergio Ros de Mora @rosdemora: “This picture may just seem a bunch of people cheering a woman up while cycling. But it’s not that simple, the cyclist is Olga and was detected a breast cancer back in 2015. Since she was under a genetic testing she was diagnosed at an early stage and overcame it. Nowadays she is capable of doing sports again and able to face a challenge such as a time trial. What’s more, the woman in black standing on the left is her current genetics oncologist and the reason she seems deeply moved and proud of.”
Craig Huffman @craigsclicks: “I Never Gave Up…” – Just 166 days after a horrific cycling accident: 25 broken bones, serious internal injuries, 10 days in a Trauma Center and the long road of rehabilitation, an emotional Annette Williams (USA) embraces her husband Kenny following her Gold Medal performance during the UCI Masters Track Cycling World Championships, Women 55+ Scratch Race Final at the Velo Sports Center in Carson, California, USA on October 9, 2018.”
Katie Busick @katiebusickphotography: “”Biggest Fan’ Ellen Noble’s grandmother tries to go to as many of her races as possible. You can see her posting up on the sidelines as Ellen takes the win at the Exeter Classic.”
Alexander Law @alex_law_photo: “In August 2012 my Dad was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and although it was discovered quickly, it had spread to 5 of his internal organs and required an intensive 12 hour operation to remove the disease.It has always been his dream to compete for his country so we persuaded him to compete in the UCI amateur Time Trial Championship, the winners of which would qualify for Team GB.I had the privilege of following my Dad’s journey and am very proud to say he is now a Team GB athlete.”
Wouter Hoogenboom @bicycle.racing.pictures: “Once a cyclist, always a cyclist. This spectator came out with his cycling friends to proudly support and watch the races at a local criterium event in Harlem, New York City.”
Lukáš Ronald Lukács @lucassaganronald: “I’m suffering the GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder) for more than 2 years. I’m always so nervous and I’m losing energy so faster than before. Because of this, I had to stop studying and I’m at home now. But for some seconds I don’t feel this. When I got at the top of my dream mountain after more than hour and it took 2 times longer than before, I just lift my bicycle with the last remaining energy and I felt the freedom again. So this is my proud cycling moment, when I defetead myself.”
Nicolas Abad @nicoabad: “September rainy morning didn’t stop beginners from competing.”
Craig Simons @donwhippet: “I know kids sport shouldn’t really be about winning but to see my 4 year old daughter standing on the top step of the podium at FOJCX this year, looking so stoked with herself, a gold medal around her neck and hands raised to the crowd… So proud of her.”
George Turner @jorgeterner: “Leonard Turner racing in the U13 South Australian MTB championships.”
Scott Thor @scottthor: “I had a really tough ride; hot, windy, hungry, mentally not in to it. That all melted away when I turned on to my street and my son was out riding his bike, waiting for me to come home.”
Thank you @Graham Watson for your insightful choices.
To catchup on all the Showcases visit Mark Gunter Photography. and here to see Russ Ellis’s shortlist and Wouter Roosenboom’s shortlist.
For more information on the #markgunterphotoawards2018 check out CyclingTips.