stephen pierce, Waiting for Summer to Return (LANDSCAPE & ENVIRONMENT 2026)

This image explores the contrast between playfulness and stillness within a winter landscape. The colourful swan-shaped boats, once symbols of leisure and summer, sit quietly among snow-covered docks, creating a striking contrast with the cold, rugged mountains beyond. I am drawn to the way ordinary, weathered objects can become poetic when placed within a vast natural environment. The warm orange, yellow, and cream tones of the boats bring a sense of nostalgia and human presence, while the snow, mountains, and muted sky create a feeling of silence and solitude. Through this image, I wanted to capture a moment between seasons—a place that feels temporarily paused, where traces of summer remain surrounded by winter. The photograph invites the viewer to reflect on the passage of time, the relationship between human-made spaces and nature, and the quiet beauty found in unexpected places.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.