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As the days grow shorter, the skies seem to become ever more vivid, with autumn sunsets remarkable for their firy shades of red and orange, and their striking pink and purple hues. We received many excellent sunset shots from you this September, as well as a selection of Slow Moments captured in some of Europe's most beautiful destinations, including Germany's serene Berchtesgaden National Park, a bustling Roman piazza, and Turkey's spectacular Lycian Way.
It's never easy choosing a winner, but we can now reveal which entry our judges have settled upon as 'Moment of the Month' for September 2020...
The winner & other highly-commended entries
WINNER: Rose Howie, 'Reflect'
The Solway coast which splits England and Scotland caught at a magical time of day.
RUNNER-UP: Wendy Reed, 'The river wakes up'
On a magical morning by the Thames at Little Wittenham, the tranquillity was only punctuated by a single flight of honking geese.
RUNNER-UP: Val Hopfinger, 'A moment's stillness'
A swallowtail's pause for nectar
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Angus Laing, 'Lady of the Lake'
A moment for quiet reflection beside the still waters of the Alpine glacial lake Obersee in the Bavarian Alps
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Helen Jackson, 'A quiet reflection of St Pauls'
A leisurely walk through a tourist-free, worker-free City of London gave me time to appreciate the magnificent architecture. This refection of St Pauls was taken looking into a nearby statue.
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Michael V Greenway, 'Sunny Sunday Morning Economica & Coffee'
A leisurely Sunday morning coffee sat in Piazza Novona watching the world of Rome go by. After the Six Nations Rugby at the Stadio Flaminio - Italia vs Wales - the afternoon before.
What the judges said...
"Looking at Rose Howie's entry, 'Reflect', it's hard not to feel a sense of calm and wellbeing. Almost everything about it is engaging and absorbing – from the perfectly still waters to the carefully defined detail of the clouds, the rowing boat and the gently furrowed sand. Rose's skill as a photographer has resulted in an image which draws the viewer in and allows them to form a connection with the landscape, which for us is what a Slow Moment is all about.
For these reasons, and also because the title 'Reflect' seems so wonderfully apt, we chose this entry as our winning 'Moment of the Month' for September. Many congratulations to Rose.
Taking the first runners-up place is the fabulous 'The river wakes up' by Wendy Reed. Although we received many excellent sunset shots this month, it was this atmospheric sunrise which caught our attention. We love the magic of the scene – the geese seemingly caught in flight, the ethereal, blush-coloured sky and the sun burning brightly through the mist. By contrast, Val Hopfinger's photograph of a swallowtail pausing for nectar is remarkable for its clarity – exactly the kind of detail you notice when you take the time to really engage with your surroundings."
To enter a Slow Moment of your own...
Upload your favourite Moment – captured in an evocative image and described in no more than 40 words – via our simple form. Before you do, be sure to read the terms and conditions.
Take a look at our previous winners and runners-up
AUGUST WINNER: Allan Harris, 'Having a chat in a rehearsal break'
These two amateur actors were having a break during rehearsals for the York 2012 Mystery Plays production. I don't know what scandal they were discussing.
AUGUST RUNNER UP: Anne Brown, 'What's round the corner?'
A good holiday is planned, but you never know what is round the corner!
AUGUST RUNNER UP: Asia Goldie, 'Through the bubble'
On a busy day in Edinburgh, a man was blowing bubbles as if he hated his job. Yet as they caught the sun they glistened, and children ran through them laughing. For a brief moment I joined in, too.
JULY WINNER: Fiona Parr, 'All aboard'
The steam train has just left the station and all that’s left behind is the smell of the smoke. A silence descends until the next one rolls in amidst a fresh plume of smoke.
JULY RUNNER-UP: Wendy Reed, 'My bench'
In a quiet square in Venice, I was amused to see a cat stretched out enjoying the sun, sharing a bench with a seemingly unrelated couple.
JULY RUNNER-UP: Isabel Galsworthy, 'Sunset at the peaks'
We witnessed this at the end of 2019. It's a winter's sunset over the peaks of Stanage Edge. My father and I watched it go down, taking the time to appreciate the beauty of our last moment in nature.
JUNE WINNER: Louise Waldron, 'Reflections of Lucca'
Beautiful buildings surrounding the Piazza Anfiteatro reflecting their warm yellow hue in the rain puddles on the ground. Always remember to look down as well as up!
JUNE RUNNER-UP: Karan Tuxford, 'Magic Morning'
It had snowed the night before and we really couldn't wait to start our walk but then, we saw this peaceful and perfect scene. The seat invites you to sit and hold on to this moment forever.
JUNE RUNNER-UP: Steve Lee, 'Better Tomorrow'
Sometimes, after a day thrashing you, the weather says “sorry” at sunset.