As we leave behind the tumultuous year of 2016, Andy Blackmore asks the picture editors and photographers of major agencies, publications and organisations to choose their stand-out images from the past 12 months.
John Childs
Sports editor, Getty Images
My favourite image of 2016 is this picture of Chad Le Clos as he looks up at Michael Phelps during the final few metres of the men’s 200m butterfly final at the Rio Olympics.
It happened for a split second but Getty Images’ staff photographer Adam Pretty captured the moment to perfection. It shows Phelps’ utter determination and concentration, at the same time as showing Le Clos realising that he couldn’t catch his arch rival. Phelps went on to win his 20th Olympic gold medal and reclaim the 200m butterfly Olympic crown from Le Clos.
The rivalry between the two swimmers had, by this time, become legendary. This image shows just why Phelps is the most decorated Olympian of all time. www.adampretty.com
Ray Wells
Picture editor, The Sunday Times
I’m a great admirer of David Yarrow’s work, and the patience and technical skill that are a prerequisite for wildlife photography at the highest standard. This shot of eight Siberian tigers gazing with nonchalant indifference over a -25°C snow scene in Harbin, north-east China, looks deceptively simple. For one thing, they aren’t moving with interest down the slope towards the photographer!
To get a photo as good as this takes a huge amount of time, planning and cooperation on the ground, plus, in the case of this image, 25 chickens for the tigers to eat. Shot pin-sharp on an 85mm portrait lens from the back of a truck at the only time of day possible for the light, animal studies do not come much better than this. Visit www. davidyarrow.photography.com
Jeff Moore
Photographer and founder member of the British Press Photographers’ Association
This story is from the December 31,2016 edition of Amateur Photographer.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 31,2016 edition of Amateur Photographer.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Canon finally opens up RF mount
SIGMA is releasing six APS-C lenses for Canon EOS RF mount, thus widening the choice of glass for Canon’s previously ‘closed’ RF system.
Tony Kemplen on the.Leidolf Lordomat
A camera made in Germany in the early 1950s and discovered at a charity shop
Stories from the heart
Kenyan fine art photographer Thandiwe Muriu has a gift that she was encouraged by her parents to explore from a young age.
Cameras big in Japan again
AFTER over a decade of bleak news about the key Japanese camera market, domestic research firm GfK Japan has reported positive growth for the first time in 13 years.
Shooting Shogun
What's it like to be the stills photographer on one of the biggest and best historical dramas on TV?
Handle with care
For his latest book, Fragile, Paul Hart has stepped away from the documentary approach of his previous projects into something more personal. Ailsa McWhinnie finds out more
Leica SL3
Leica's top-end mirrorless model gains a 60MP sensor, tilting screen, and significantly improved autofocus. Andy Westlake takes a detailed look
More DxO updates
EVER-INDUSTRIOUS French photo-editing specialist DxO has announced its latest batch of updates.
Budget Honor phone with 108MP camera
WITH the UK phone market dominated by Apple, Samsung and Google, other makers, notably from China, are jostling for a remaining slice of the pie.
Google AI editing tools free for more phones
MORE AI-based photo-editing tools will become available from 15 May, with Google announcing that its Magic Editor will be free to use on Android and iPhone handsets and many Chromebook laptops.