Judge Jones rules again

Reed International’s ‘Travel Today’ online newspaper is widely regarded as the Australian Travel industry’s go-to information source. Who better then to once again adjudicate on such a truly Australian photographic contest than Travel Today’s founding editor, Steve Jones. In his five years in the job, Steve has earned a reputation in travel circles as a hard-nosed, no-nonsense journalist who delivers and expects the very highest of standards.
Those of you who entered last year’s water-themed photo contest and this year's 'Seeing Red' event, know Judge Jones  applies those same exacting standards to his adjudication duties. As he did last time, Steve will be selecting the top ten photos from all the entries and a public vote will then determine the outright winner.
Although his job has taken him from the Cairo to the Christchurch and from London to Lima, Steve still instantly lists the Australian Outback as his favourite travel destination.

“It is a place that still excites me and intrigues me,” he says. “Whether I am chasing barramundi in the Northern Territory, marvelling at the wildlife and wilderness on Kangaroo Island, or 4WDing on Fraser ... I just get goosebumps each and every time I prepare for a trip.”

The theme of the photo competition is ‘Life on the Road ’. So what will Jones be looking for in his winners? Steve says there are many elements that have to come together to make a great pic.

“Of course, technical skills are important but they are not always a necessity ... the subject, the mood, the lighting, the atmosphere, the moment ... they are all part of it,” he says. “And it’s a subjective medium ... I won’t know the stories behind each of the photos and that is often what makes them so extra special to the person behind the lens.”

It’s a tough job then but somebody’s got to do it. Our thanks to Steve for agreeing to step up to the plate yet again. We are lucky to have him on board. Good luck everybody.
Click here to find out how to enter.