Elena Galdón Callaway, aged 10 from Caleta de Vélez, Malaga, and Aitana Gallego, aged 16 from Alicante, were chosen as the winners of the 2024 Summer Photography Competition, organized by Specsavers Ópticas. Their wonderful images, really captured the fun, sun and activities they were enjoying during the summer holidays and hundreds of people took to social media to vote for their favourite.
A panel of three judges whittled down the entries to the final five in each category. The judging panel was made up of award-winning photographer David Tome, Carrie Frais, Director of the website Mum Abroad, and Dispensing Optician Gracie Glister from Specsavers Ópticas in Javea. They were really impressed with the standard of the entries.
Carrie Frais commented, “The talent showcased in this competition is remarkable, with each photo capturing the joy, energy, and vibrancy of summer in a unique way. These young photographers have truly brought the spirit of the summer season to life through their lenses.”
Gracie Glister was also blown away by the standard,“The quality of these summer images is exceptional, with crisp detail and vibrant colours that bring every element to life. The high resolution allows for a clear, sharp focus, the colour balance is precise, with rich blues and greens that feel natural and warm golden tones that reflect the heat and light of summer. Depth of field is often used expertly, blurring the background just enough to keep the subjects front and centre, while still maintaining a sense of the broader environment. The lighting in these images is perfect, with natural sunlight enhancing every scene, making the photos look bright, inviting, and full of life. These qualities combine to create images that feel immersive and timeless, as if they could pull you right into the joyful moments they capture.”
All three judges selected Elena Galdón Callaway’s beach scene in their shortlist. Dave Tome commented, “This is a photo that immediately fills our ears with the gentle murmur of the waves and the squawking of the seagulls. The colour of the dress makes the girl with her back to us in the foreground stand out even more, and in the background – the summer.” This fantastic photo gained over 200 comments across Facebook and Instagram, and was the runaway winner in the Junior Category.
All three judges also shortlisted Aitana Gallego’s waterfall image in their shortlist. Despite a hotly contested fight between two of the Senior entries, this dramatic image won, with over 100 comments on social media choosing this as their favourite.
David Tome commented, “Summer is not only about the beach, and what could be better than cooling off in one of the many waterfalls that cover our beautiful country. Including a person in the photograph makes us understand the impressive scale of the waterfall.”
Gracie Glister was also very impressed by this picture, “The image captures the breathtaking beauty of a waterfall in the height of summer, its cascading waters tumbling over moss-covered rocks into a crystal-clear pool below. Sunlight filters through the dense canopy of trees, casting dappled light onto the scene and illuminating the mist that rises from the falls, creating a soft, ethereal glow. The scene feels both tranquil and full of life, embodying the refreshing, untamed energy of summer in nature.”
These talented young photographers each win a €50 Amazon voucher and a pair of sunglasses to enjoy the sun in style.
The team from Specsavers Ópticas would like to thank everyone who entered the photography competition and congratulate them for the high standard of the entries. You can see all the shortlisted entries on Facebook @SpecsaversOpticas and Instagram @specsaversspain.
