Editor's Choice 'Outstanding Image' of 2019

Earlier this week I got the latest copy of Amateur Photographer magazine, in which I had a Reader Portfolio double page spread back in August. As it's the end of the year, this month's issue featured a selection of the editor's favourite reader images, and I was delighted to see that my Dubai Skyline shot has been selected as one of his 'outstanding' images from 2019! Always lovely to get that kind of recognition . . .

You may recognise the image from the carousel on my home page, but if you'd like to see it in more detail, here's a larger copy!

This shot was taken from the top of The Palm in Dubai, looking out towards the Dubai skyline, on the first morning of my first trip to Dubai. I wanted to capture a misty skyline and also the rising sun, but before any flare was visible – to create that warm ‘urban oasis in the desert’ feeling. However, the skyline on its own did not feel interesting enough, just floating in the sea, so I decided to include a section of the boardwalk on the Palm as well.

I liked the warm glow reflecting on the walkway, and the lone figure in the distance was an added bonus for extra context. I had to work quickly as the sun was rising rapidly, and once it came out of the haze I knew I would have too much flare. What I didn't realise at the time was how lucky I was to see it like this, as on every other morning the skyline was partially or totally masked by the smog and the heat haze!