Lookback on October

October is usually the busiest month in submissions thanks to the Unsplash Awards, and this year was no different! 112,329 images were added to the Unsplash library in the past month. Here are 20 exceptional submissions and the stories behind them.

“Adventure knows no limits! Capturing a fearless leap at the harbor in Semarang, a city where travel meets vibrant local life. The blend of traditional and modern scenes makes every moment feel like a journey through time.” — Mahendra Putra 🇮🇩

“Rows of trees stand tall over a lush tea plantation in the early morning, framed by the golden light of sunrise. Mist softly settles over the landscape, creating a serene scene with mountains in the distance, bathed in the warm tones of dawn.” — Alim 🇮🇩

"A mother's journey begins in the heart of Qatar's golden desert. Captures the essence of motherhood while emphasizing the majestic beauty of Qatar's desert landscape." – Abdul Raheem Kannath 🇶🇦

“This photo was created when I went to watch a light exhibition. The indoor lights were flashing back rapidly and constantly changing colors. So I thought of using a slow shutter speed to record the process of people moving in space.” — DynamicWang 🇨🇳

“I created this illustration at a point in my life when I didn’t feel like I had it all together and I wasn’t particularly proud or happy with my situation, professionally. Illustration, full time, was also kind of fresh and I was terrified of what was to come or how stagnant the process of launching myself in this medium would be. I do remember there not having been a great deal of inspiration for this illustration, I would call it more of a reflection of the war going on inside my mind and the conversation I would have with myself almost everyday. It was kind of an anthem I would tell myself at the end of the day when looking at everything I’d achieved so far! I have no explanation for the orange though.” — Beatriz Camaleão 🇵🇹

"Sunlight streams through stained glass windows, casting warm hues onto a stone staircase inside a Gothic cathedral. The intricate arches and circular patterns in the architecture create a serene, almost mystical atmosphere. The play of light and shadow enhances the details in the stonework, capturing a moment of quiet beauty and timeless elegance." – Alexis Magnone 🇺🇾

“I wanted to get a higher vantage point to photograph the Tre Cime Di Lavaredo. After plowing through the snow for a while, I was relieved to find shelter in a cave from the elements. Inside, the beautiful icicles caught my eye, and I knew they would create a nice contrast against the deep snow outside, especially with the Cadini Di Misurina in the background.” — Daniel Seßler 🇩🇪

“This work expresses a state of growth, just like the movie I watched 'Jack the Giant Slayer', where vines extend from underground to the sky. Similar to my other works, I enjoy creating distorted, rotated, and centered images. I hope to express this theme in a more abstract and minimalist way while maintaining a relatively consistent color tone overall.” — Li Zhang 🇨🇳

“This portrait captures a moment of self-expression and authenticity. Freedom is a vital force that empowers individuals to explore their identities and embrace their uniqueness. The woman’s determined gaze reflects her deep connection to her true self, showcasing the strength of living authentically. Her presence reminds us that freedom is essential for self-discovery and creativity, encouraging us to celebrate ourselves without fear. This portrait invites viewers to reflect on their own definitions of freedom and its transformative power in the quest for authenticity.” — Sophia Lasheva 🇧🇬

“As a 3D visual artist, I am passionate about creating elegant minimalistic art that is visually appealing and straightforward to the main subject. However, I am a native of Northern India, hence, I have an affinity for blues. This is why I decided to envision silhouettes on a rainy and thunderous day, resulting in a destructive perspective in a cold, frosty manner.” — Tilak Baloni 🇮🇳

"Romania has so many hidden gems when it comes to nature, and Cuejdel Lake is one of them. This natural lake, hidden in the mountains and surrounded by forest, was formed due to a landslide that gradually flooded the valley. It’s famous for the remnants of coniferous trees that create a spectacular view. The best time to visit is during autumn, when you’ll find a symphony of colors, mist on the water’s surface, and the sound of stags roaring in the background.” — Daniel Mirlea 🇷🇴

“Sometimes it's just about driving with the boys and seeing where we will land. We drove a couple of minutes from Grenoble in France to just stroll and chill in the snow. We saw a large hill covered by snow so we decided to walk in it.” — Nicolas Meunier 🇫🇷

"Mazamas making their way up the hogsback towards the summit of Mt. Hood Original Collection: Gerald W. Williams Collection Item Number:WilliamsG: NF6 USFS 508059 Taken circa 1940" – The Oregon State University Collections and Archives

“Places of my calm. I often visit these places with my camera. A gentle blanket of morning mist envelops the forest, which is waiting for the first rays of the sun. A meditative landscape and tranquility always accompany these modest mountains of Bashkortostan.” — Daniil Silantev 🇷🇺

“I like to shoot non-standard male portraits in studio with creative colored light , here I wanted to add a little retro style in my image. I am inspired by video clips and movies with bright neon lights.” — Tatiana Pavlova 🇷🇺

“It was created during a very ordinary day when I was walking from a very picturesque location down a highway. I was bored, the road was loud and busy and so I tried to photograph a tram through the red city bus just to entertain myself. Suddenly, a speeding orange truck rushed into the shot and created a magical gap on 1/20. It was a perfect one-timer with minimum post, really. Shots like this are why I always have a camera on me even during the most mundane days (like the day I took the photo). To me, it's important to take sudden inspiration from the most boring things around you, like highways or just moving cars. It really works ;)” — Maxim Tolchinskiy 🇷🇺

“This was taken on Skomer island in South Wales where over 42k puffins come to have their chicks between May and July before heading back out to sea. It was a 5 hour stay on the island and I was looking to get a few shots with sandells in the mouths of some puffins. I was really apprehensive about getting any photos of this kind but I sat low on a path on my own in windy conditions and waited for over 2 hours to get the shot. The puffins were flying in strong winds out to sea to catch the sandells and bring them back to their nest. This cutie was bringing some back and was trying to remember where his nest was to feed their young chicks. This was shot on a Sony a7r5 with a Sony 200-600 camera.” —  Jonny Gios 🇬🇧

“One of the most unforgettable moments I've ever captured. We were in the Lofoten Islands, chasing the midnight sun. It was our last night there and, therefore, our final chance for good weather. The conditions looked perfect, so around midnight, we decided to start our ascent to a nearby mountain peak. I had visited the same peak the year before, so I already had a good idea of what it might look like during the midnight sun. After a pretty demanding climb, we finally reached the top, and the view was just breathtaking. The golden sunlight covered everything in a warm glow. And as if that wasn’t enough, three mountaineers appeared out of nowhere on a distant ridge, providing me with an incredible subject for this photo.” — Michiel Annaert 🇧🇪

“I was visiting a friend in Groningen who I luckily got to meet during my exchange semester some years ago. He was showing me around the city and I was carrying my camera without a plan to shoot anything specific. The architecture of the Forum in Groningen immediately impressed me. While standing on the escalator I noticed the people on the other escalator in front of the bright window and tried to frame some people within the window frames.” – Nick Möllenbeck 🇩🇪

“For the creation of this picture, I tried to experiment and think outside my comfort zone. I don't usually shoot in a studio or use big modifiers for the lens (without using Photoshop, working straight from the camera ), so in this case, I tried to force myself to do something different, something more poetic. The main idea was to reflect the mind's over saturation and I think it worked pretty well!” — Ave Calvar 🇪🇸

See you in a month when we take a look back on November!👋 (Psst, want to make the next round-up? Include a description with your submission.)