I enjoy entering The Guardian’s weekly and monthly photo competitions. I don’t expect to win, as the standard is high. I did once have a picture featured in the online gallery, which was great.

The theme was ‘step’ and I had this snap of perfectly synchronised military guards in Cuba:

That was a one off. I enter the competitions because they are themed and a great way to motivate me to look at my photos with a keen eye.

This month’s ‘Been There’ competition is themed ‘Costume’. This is the selection I have drawn from my photo albums.

To us, this hat looks like it should be part of a pantomime costume but to the people of Inle Lake, the traditional costume is still the best sun protection.

I love Spanish Flamenco dresses and was chuffed to bits when I caught this mix of the reflected leaves with the waves of the dresses in a shop window.

In Mandalay we were lucky to stumble upon a novitiate procession – young nuns on the way to the temple. Their costumes were stunning.

Burmese men and women still wear the traditional costume of longyis in day to day life and I bought one from these lovely sisters. I like the way that their poses as well as their costumes match.

When Cuban girls turn sixteen, their coming of age is celebrated with a party. An elaborate red dress is the traditional costume. This girl was having her official photos taken in a cobbled street.

The colour and movement of the costumes in this Cuban dance show were great.

I like the way the waves of the dresses mix with the reflection of the leaves to create an abstract.

By Carole Scott