After keeping you all in suspenders, I am absolutely delighted to announce the winners of the Visual Image Competition. It was genuinely a hard decision as the images were often so different from each other in subject, location and style.

I am actually really glad I had the chance to show my top 12 as every one of those had great potential in terms of describing their own particular 'sense of place'. The 6 semi finalists took this sense one step closer and each one moved me very distinctly about places I've never even seen.

These final three all create a strong sense of place, mood and geographic identity, to me at least. Above that they are also just wonderful simple compositions and are photographically strong even if not technically perfect. These images made me wonder, made me smile and made me reminisce. I am genuinely pleased with the choice and on showing my poet wife Carol, she agreed entirely with my decision making me feel even happier

In third place for it's moody evening atmosphere, the dusk street lights and the view over the houses in the street opposite, like an illustration from Under Milk Wood, lies "In My Room" by Diana Manzanilla

http://americymru.ning.com/group/leftcoasteisteddfod2010visualimagecompetition/forum/topics/in-my-room

In second place, for it's starkness, it's contrasts of cold and warmth, natural and man made, landscape and activity and just semi surreal layout, was "Ice Fishing Village on Kempenfelt Bay" by Christine McSorley

And finally, the winner who created the image which made me smile, perfectly balanced in terms of composition, light, dark and content, with superb juxtaposition of elements which leave you wanting to know more about the place, the event and the rest of the story, is "Foggy Morning" by Wild Canary. The moment I saw this image I fell in love with it, Wild Canary discusses 'hiraeth' in his text, yet I have a longing to experience places like he depicts in his photo, and the connections he makes between cultures. I wish this had been shot on a professional camera as it's an image I'd love a print of myself. Llongyfarchiadau wir Wild Canary, a llawer o ddiolch

As a little post script, I would like to say that "Brook Dripping Water" by Peter Lewis is seriously worthy of a merit for it's consideration, concept and execution. It was an exceptionally well constructed piece of Hockney'esque joinery which really does create a sense of place with a moody atmosphere and shifting emphasis on content. Thank you Peter.

So that's all folks, it took a LOT longer to assess your entries than I thought it would but I can assure you of my seriousness in deliberation. I wish there had been hundreds more entries but the examples here would have held their own anyway

Dymuniadau Gorau iawn i gyd

Glyn Davies