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.
“Sadly, I never got to meet Mark, but thanks to this amazing competition that has been created in his memory I was able to find out about Mark’s work and his love for cycling photography. It really is an honor to be a judge on this competition and I have loved looking through all the wonderful images that have been submitted from fellow pros, part time photographers and amateurs alike. There are images from literally all over the world which is amazing to see!
There were 4 categories this year and we judges have looked at every submitted image and picked our top 10 from each.
Regardless of the category my process for making my selections remained them same, as I looked through the images I was looking for images that just made me pause on them as I was scrolling through, something about the image needed to grab me and make me want to look deeper at it. It could have been the movement in the image, the light, the emotion a story or just that it made me smile.
I hope you all like my choices. Well done everyone. Russ”
Russ Ellis is a passionate sports photographer from the UK, who has been working full-time in the field since late 2015 covering events including Paris-Roubaix and the Tour de France. With a distinctive style that captures the emotion and intimacy of the sport, Ellis has quickly made a mark in the industry.
Here’s Russ’s shortlist from the 2018 Mark Gunter Photographer of the Year Awards.
Simon Wilkinson @swpix_cycling: “Alena Amialiusik, Alice Barnes, Hannah Barnes, Elena Cecchini, Lisa Klein and Trixi Worrack celebrate winning the Women’s Team Time Trial at the 2018 UCI Road World Championships in Innsbruck, Austria.”
Jean-Pierre Ronco @@imagewriterphotography: “The last climb of the Tour de France 2018, in the pyrenees, for Chris Froome after a tour like no other for him.”
Pauline Ballet @@paulineballet: “Under the rainbow. Arctic Race of Norway 2018, Stage 3. This picture can be summarize in the first sentence I pronounced after taking off my motorbike helmet at the end of the stage: ‘Well, it will take me some time to recover from this stage’.”
Kristof Ramon @kramon_velophoto: “As a former race winner, John Degenkolb finds his personal cube in the famous showers and allows for the race (effort/emotions) to sink in after finishing (Paris-Roubaix 2018).”
Chris Auld @@cauldphoto: “Going Deep, Wout Van Aert giving everything at this years Strade Bianche, collapsing at the top of the final climb into Siena.”
Egoitz Bengoetxea Iguaran @otxabi: “More than a century of frustrated painters trying to imitate photographies to meet an insane guy trying to imitate paintings with his modern camera…”
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.
Kristof Ramon @kramon_velophoto: “Sjoerd van Ginneken (NED) smoked out on top of the infamous Kapelmuur/Muur van Geraardsbergen during the 2018 Ronde Van Vlaanderen.”
Kristof Ramon @kramon_velophoto: “An exhausted Wout Van Aert crashes to the ground after racing incredibly strong (finishing 3rd) in his very first Strade Bianche. This feat propelled the CX World Champion into WordTour ‘hot prospect’.”
Chris Auld @cauldphoto: “The calm before the storm, Didi takes a few moments to gather his thoughts, before UCI Elite Womens Road Race, Innsbruck Austria.”
Zac Williams @z_w_photography: “Sometimes just finishing is all that matters.”
Wilco Dragt @wilcodragtphotography: “Team LottoNl-Jumbo chasing a leader group in the Dutch semi-classic Veenendaal-Veenendaal 2018. They succeeded in bringing their world-class sprinter Dylan Groenewegen to the front, who rewarded them with winning the race.
Jordan Benjamin-Sutton @peloton_perspective: “Wout Van Aert collapses after crossing the finish line at this years Strade Bianche.”
Mats Palinckx @matspalinckx “During the six days of Ghent the changing is key at the 500m sprint. The speed is high, so it’s very difficult to get it right. With a slow shutter speed I tried to capture the speed and the difficulty.”
Anthony Leutenegger @anthonyleutenegger: “A young girl watches the female racers go by at the UCI World Championship Road Race 2018 in Innsbruck, Austria. Her family booked this airbnb a year in advance to get the best view of the race. One generation inspiring another.”
Celine Hoogenboom @bicycle.racing.pictures: “Reflection of intense ‘cat and mouse’ during the UCI sprint tournament at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center in Breinigsville, Pennsylvania.”
David Gillam @djgillam: “Admission is free and the views are primo at the Gastown Grand Prix in Vancouver BC.”
Chris Wallis @wallisphotos: “Snapping the Snappers – everyone’s part of the crowd. As the Tour de France peloton winds its way through the french country side some times it only the photographers watching.”
Alistair Merrifield @alistairkiwi: “The industrial backdrop to the Newcastle cyclocross race held as part of the NSW CX series.”
Tyler Haab @carbonstattkondition: “@Szymonbike on the Grosse-Scheidegg in the Swissalps (Canon)”
Wouter Hoogenboom @bicycle.racing.pictures: “Painting with city lights. Bronx, New York.”
John Braynard @jbraynard: ”That time of year where the clouds hang in the valley all morning. It’s great to get above it and think about all the people having cloudy miserable days down below while you soak up the rays :).”
Tim Clairs @tclairs: “My favourite switchback, any time of the year, col de la Faucille, France.”
Oleg Kostine @legotoaster: “Tunnel Vision. Cycling through a tunnel built by Brunel in a hidden Cotswold valley feels like a portal into another dimension.”
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.”
Matthew Stevenson @mattwstevenson: “This day involved suffering. The passo Mortirolo followed by the Gavia which trying to outrun the ever encroaching thunderstorms made for some dramatic riding and soul searching efforts.”
Graeme Langhorne @graemelanghorne: “”Solo sunrise spin through the morning mist.’ Richmond Park #SigmaCommute. November.”
Marek Litinsky @bike.or.donut.there.is.no.try: “Foggy cruise in the woods.”
Alexander Law @alex_law_photo: Part one; “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.”
Alexander Law @alex_law_photo: Part two; “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.”
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.”
Wouter Hoogenboom @bicycle.racing.pictures: “Balancing cycling with a busy family life is a challenge that many people can relate to. After Luiz’ daughter Mia was born, it wasn’t easy for him to stick to a structured training program. But that was exactly what he did and not without success: He went on to win the New York State Criterium Championship! However, the best part of this story is that Luiz got to celebrate this highlight with his daughter – a dream come true!”
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.”
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.”
Nicolas Abad @nicoabad: “September rainy morning didn’t stop beginners from competing.”
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.”
George Turner @jorgeterner: “Leonard Turner racing in the U13 South Australian MTB championships.”
Thank you @Russ Ellis for your insightful choices.
To catchup on all the Showcases visit Mark Gunter Photography. and here to see Graham Watson’s shortlist and Wouter Roosenboom’s shortlist.
For more information on the #markgunterphotoawards2018 check out CyclingTips.