2009 Nature Photography Competition

Prize Winners Feedback

1st Prize – Gordon Rae – “Between Day and Night” Gordon’s photograph of the beautiful sunset afterglow one evening at Lochmaben is a very literal interpretation of the theme “Colours of Nature”. The pink sky and reflection make the image, without it the impact of the photograph would be lost. The strong composition, using the jetty as a lead into the shot is a favoured technique employed by many landscape photographers. For me the pier in its semi-dilapidated state tells a story of humankind’s encroachment on nature, and its subsequent gradual reclaim. In the years to come, the wooden structure will collapse and in time will be colonised by a diverse range of species.
Photographing sunsets can be intensely frustrating, although rewarding experience. It often takes many visits to a location until the photographer returns home with the images he or she desires. Patience and determination are paramount, as is a good technical knowledge of photography. This is clearly evident in Gordon’s choice of using a neutral density graduated filter to hold back the exposure of the sky.

2nd Prize – Derek McGinn – “Winter Visitors” Derek’s photograph of this very colourful group of seasonal visitors is a superb natural history image. Waxwings are a tricky subject and Derek’s shot is pin sharp. The diffused light, as a result of the heavily overcast sky apparent in the background really sets the bold colours of the photograph off. The russet tones of the Cherry leaves seem to be echoed in the plumage of the bird’s heads, fitting in well with the theme of this year’s competition.
The main point of interest in the photograph is the Waxwing flapping its wings. It is not an easy task to render this type of movement as a blur, whilst retaining a suitable degree of overall sharpness. By selecting a relatively slow shutter speed for the focal length of the lens Derek has taken a leap of faith somewhat. A higher ISO allowing for a much faster shutter speed would have resulted in virtually freezing the movement. As such, the effect and emotional response in viewing the image would not be the same, to a degree would be diminished somewhat.

3rd Prize – Martina Cross – “Berridale” Martina’s photograph has a duality about it. In a way it is a combination of two types of photography. A landscape photograph is the obvious, and a botanical ‘subject in habitat’ is slightly less apparent. The scene comprises of the intense blues of the sky, and the vibrant opposing yellow and oranges of the Lichens. The lush greens of the grass and the Thrift contrasts with the purple/pink hue of its flowers.
Thrift (Armeria maritima) is also known as the Sea Pink, which is a very subtle although possibly unintentional interpretation of the theme “Colour of Nature”. The lines of the ancient Caithness Flagstone lead the viewer’s eye into the subject, then around the frametaking in the landscape the plant is growing in. The form of the dominant cloud in the sky, almost repeats the overall shape of the Thrift, juxtaposed balancing one another. The placement of this cloud is pivotal to the successful composition. This type of positioning is not always a conscious decision on the part of the photographer, and often takes the form of a ‘feeling’ or ‘gut instinct.