ABOVE: Competition Winner Guy Standen's image of St Malo

Entries to the France Magazine and Photography Monthly photo competition have been flooding in since its launch a few months ago and we are delighted to announce the winners.
With several hundred entries to choose from, the judges – France Magazine editor Carolyn Boyd and deputy editor Rachel Scott, and Photography Monthly editor Jeff Meyer – had a difficult task on their hands. In the end, Guy Standen’s arresting image of Saint-Malo in Brittany, taken from the sea, was chosen as the winning picture as its beautiful composition stood out among the rest. “It must have been a very difficult image to capture,” said Carolyn Boyd, “as it was taken from a boat that would have been moving. I also love the fact that it captures the anticipation and excitement of arriving in France.”

Jeff Meyer commented: “Guy has captured an amazing sense of depth. I love how the wall leads your eye through the frame and into the historic city of Saint-Malo, giving the viewer a new interpretation of one of France’s most-photographed locations.”

The picture takes a prestigious position as one of the 14 pictures in the France Calendar 2012. The first prize also includes a two-night break to Saint-Malo courtesy of
Brittany Ferries.

Second place went to a vibrant picture of the Roman Pont du Gard, near Nîmes in Provence, taken by Phil Carpenter. He wins a Brittany Ferries Portsmouth to Cherbourg return crossing. “This picture just says ‘summer in France’ to me. You can almost feel the sun on your face when you look at it,” said Carolyn . “Look at that beautiful colour! This couldn’t have been an easy picture to take, and the low angle and reflection in the foreground complete what is a very pleasing image,” said Jeff.

Third place went to a picture of a bicycle on the île de Ré by Richard Tatton. Rachel Scott said: “The colours in this picture are simply gorgeous and what better to capture the idea of France than a bicycle?” Jeff added: “I love this picture for its quirkiness, yet also for its wonderful sense of symmetry.” Richard receives a Made in Provence hamper worth £100 as his prize.

Six further entries have also won a FRANCE Calender 2012:

Rocamadour, by Tracey Whitefoot
Aix-en Provence, by James Gurney
Toulon, by Michael Tuska
Loubressac, by Andy Cory
Honfleur, by Ian Spooner
Saint Malo, by Dewi Williams
Congratulations to all those who won, and thank you to all those who entered.