Thomas Martin McShane, Day Break, Brisbane (URBAN 2026)

I was reminded why I always pack my camera when I first looked over the balcony and saw this view. It was midday. The sun was harsh the and glare off the office windows made it challenging to study some parts of the city, but I none-the-less started unpacking my tripod and my 5D. I spent a few minutes every hour throughout the day and night framing various groups of buildings, zooming in for close crops and trying to understand how best to convey what I was feeling through a picture. But as the sun crept over the horizon it was clear to me I needed the wide shot. The entire landscape drenched from the east in the most stunning, iridescent orange light highlighting a gentle calmness on the river whilst at the same time breathing life into the heart of the CBD.

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