Amateur Photographer of the Year

Here are the top ten images uploaded to Photocrowd from Round Six, Night and Low Light, with comments by the AP team and our guest judge

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Round Six

Night and Low Light

Low light is like catnip to the photographer. As light drops and reduces, it gives dimension, depth, colour and atmosphere to a photographic image, allowing previously ordinary scenes to gradually come alive. Low light has the power to either reduce a potential composition to its basic elements, or it can introduce a riot of conflicting tones and colour temperatures. It’s no wonder that generations of photographers have exploited it to their advantage. This is always a particularly strong round, and seems to unleash entrants’ creativity – and this year has been no exception.

1 Eric Browett, UK Death from above 100pts Nikon D500, 10-20mm at 13mm, 1/250sec at f/18, ISO 400

Guest judge Sarah Lee says: 'For me, this image was a clear winner.

Firstly, the composition is superb. It's so confident and daring to use a flash that way against the night sky with a subject as fleeting as an owl in flight. The grass adds a real sense of drama and movement. The relationship between the owl and the landscape is vividly drawn, the flashlit fronds perfectly complementing the owl's feathers frozen in the same burst of light. There is something slightly unnerving, too, about the image, like a piece of folk art. I mean this as a compliment - I absolutely love this image.'

2 Sirsendu Gayen, India Two old men 90pts

Nikon D750, 24-120mm at 24mm, 1/40sec at f/7.1, ISO 2000