Feature image: Simon Gill | other photography as credited
This year Lucas — now 9 years old — judged both the Professional and Amateur categories. Just like our panel of judges, Lucas poured through all the images, created his long list, and then whittled it down to make his top ten.
His selections this year, show his interest in a broader range of cycling disciplines, some beautiful light (something that Mark absolutely loved), some beautiful landscapes, and some still moments.
I wish I’d videoed him while he made the many comments on the longlist, as he was insightful but also decisive about the cuts.
Before you scroll down to see his winners, a few words about Lucas at this years Tour Down Under — he spoke about the awards to cyclists and photographers, with such pride and confidence, after years of hearing me speak to photographers about the Mark Gunter Photo Awards. To say that I am proud of him, is a 1000% understatement.
It’s an honour for me to watch Lucas grow up and share in these awards. I started them so he’d have something tangible to hold onto and to know about his Dad. And I’m just so proud of him.
To grow up without a Dad is one thing, and something we can never change. But to grow up knowing the story of your Dad, and to share in the community of cycling photographers, is something special.
Ok, now please enjoy Lucas’s winners and top tens.
Leeanne & Lucas
PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY
If Wallers Arenberg is known for Paris Roubaix, an amateur nighttime cyclocross takes place on this legendary site. The opportunity to have fun with light… Here Eddy Lefebvre, French amateur champion in a tunnel on the circuit.
Photo by Gaëtan Flamme @sportpic_agenc
As part of my job as a photographer, exploring is one of the main reasons for a early wake up every morning. To explore not only means to travel to new places, but also to try to see places from other points of view. In this case we were crossing (and exploring) our own country (Italy), Puglia, the heel of it. As soon as I saw this salt pans, I imagined cyclists crossing the thin border, reflecting on colors.
Photo by Paolo Penni Martelli @paolopennimartelli
Adam Yates’ dog Zoe went into the Team Emirates UAE bus at the start of stage 2 of the Tour De France and re-emerged in her very own yellow jersey. Here, Zoe shows her affection and pride for Adam’s achievements with a good old fashioned lick of the leg! You occasionally encounter lovely moments like this at the start of stages at the Grand Tours when families visit the riders.
Photo by Simon Gill @simongillphoto
We are in France, Les Gets for the Mtb Worldcup. We are a few photographer at the second turn of the track. For our position we can see the start gate. Loic Bruni see us from the gate and make him a hello with my hand. 2 turns later i send us as much dirt as he can ! I love spening time on the hill for MTB race.
Photo by Billy Ceusters @billy_lebelge
Unbound Gravel is a very hard race to shoot. You are in off-road cars all day long following racers over the 200 mile course. This spot was the first stop we drove to and by the time we got to this creek the peloton was already shattered and bikes were already destroyed. Some riders opted to go through the creek full speed ahead creating this beautiful fan of water and some riders actually stopped and washed their bikes before they continued on their race.
Photo by Daghan Perker @dperker
Members of the Nelson MTB Club do a night ride together after midnight on the 1st of April on the first day Sharlands Mountain bike park has been open in 9months due to logging in the area.
Photo by Braden Fastier @braden_fastier
I was photographing on a warm, foggy morning near Homer, Alaska when I spotted these two cyclists appear out of the fog up the beach from me. I grabbed just a couple of photos before they disappeared into the mist.
Photo by David Shaw @david_w_shaw
Self-portrait in Gold Beach, OR. The sun had just dipped below the horizon as I was grabbing my bike…bit of a happy accident
Photo by Brice Shirbach @bricycles
An athlete training before the European Bmx – Park in Krakow, Poland
Photo by Ivan Benedetto @benedettoivan
I find beauty in chaos, captured in the heart of an adrenaline-fueled descent, this mtb downhill photo epitomizes the essence of extreme thrill and raw nature.
Photo by Pino Moreno @pinomoreno
Our daughter at this year’s Ecoica Valkenburg. She already likes every kind of cycling event.
Photo by Dennis Fischer @md_cyclingpics
Urban winter bike commute at it’s best. White, cold, quiet, empty streets. silent urban flow. cemetery Ohlsdorf, Hamburg
Photo by Gert Kaessens @jestergeefloydkay
A morning B Grade Criterium in Noosa where I got down below the race and shot up to them as the crossed the straight. The lens flare was stunning and instead of trying to avoid it I wanted to use it. I love its aesthetic, and as a cyclist a criterium will often cause sparkling vision from the effort!
Photo by Glen Bucklar @gbvision_active
Golden hour at the Traka. I spent some quite time here, taking a lot of photos and changing my camera settings. I’m happy with how this one turned out.
Photo by Carlo Anzolin @carlo_anz
Kids often do not hold back at races, so I really liked the expressions of the kids at the startline of the OCBC National Championships (MTB) held in July 2023 in Singapore.
Photo by Dean Koh @deankohbiker
Lacets of the Tarentaise. A lesser known climb all the way to La Combe and beyond. I recall the smell of the pine on the way up and being able to seek shade within the alpine gradients and not seeing a single soul apart from mountain goats. So tranquil and peaceful. A perfect Summers climb. One of the best kept secrets…..
Photo by Bella Leach @Bellajlleach
On 6:00 am on Tuesday and Friday mornings from Spring through Fall, a group of 30+ riders in Denver, Colorado, meet for a 25+ mile race-pace group ride around Cherry Creek State Park. By late September, this ride is departing in the dark, and the sun rises as they enter the Park. This was taken at sunrise September 23.
Photo by Reid Neureiter @reidnewphoto
Never.Give.Up. Nothing says maximum effort more than sprinting in cycling shoes on the punishing cobbles of the Guildford crits, in this case most of the slightly uphill finishing straight.
Photo by Chris Wallis @wallisphotos
Vuelta al Valle (Colombia) The female peloton seen from above. I was lucky enough to be the only photographer with a drone for this race. I flew it high and got lucky as the female peloton swing by the bridge. I had just a few seconds to compose the shot. It’s a small peloton, but it’s colombia in a shell.
Photo by Mateo Rueda @mateorueda
Mont Jovet, in the high-altitude gravel playground that is the Tarentaise valley The views never disappoint.
Photo by Graeme Langhorne @graemelanghorne
To catchup on all the Showcases visit Mark Gunter Photography. Check out the Shortlists, Graham Watson’s Choices, and the Winners of the 2023 Mark Gunter Photo Awards.
For more information on the #markgunterphotoawards2023