Selected by Matt Wragg - Climbing a tree isn't an automatic POD, you have to work to get it right. And when you have a perfect brown line of a trail running through the shot, those deep, lush green PNW ferns and a rider in red kit to pop out from it all, well then you do get one.
It's a good question, stuartd769. I'll tell you what I see in it and maybe that will help you. There are a lot of elements working for this image. First thing I noticed was the unique perspective - it's interesting because it's a different way to look at an activity that we are all very familiar with. Different isn't always good, and can be cheap because it's an easy way to capture the viewers attention, but I think the birds-eye-view works here, perhaps because it's so far up the tree. I love the stark contrast between the deep green ferns and the vivid red, orange, and yellow (gloves) of the subject; it really makes the subject stand out. The photographer chose a section of trail that has an "s" curve, which is always more pleasing to the eye than straight lines and he composed and timed the shot so that the hard lines of the almost obtrusive tree draws the eye (and viewers attention) back to the subject. Lastly, all the ferns seem to be pointing at the center of the image, again, drawing attention back to the subject; perhaps the only element the photographer didn't intend to influence the image, but it's there anyway. I hope that helps.