Ethereal dew pond wins South Downs Photo Competition
January 13, 2015
“For some this is as far from a typical view of the South Downs as you can get, people might be surprised that we chose it, but it’s a magical photo and the longer you look the better it gets.”
Nick Heasman, Western Area Manager for the South Downs National Park Authority and competition judge
“This is a cracking shot. A technically excellent photograph even in this exceptionally strong shortlist, I am impressed by the talent out there.”
Steve Watkins, Editor of Outdoor Photography Magazine and competition judge
An ethereal photograph of a dew pond at dusk by Andy Flowerday has been chosen as the winner of the South Downs National Park Authority’s photo competition 2014/15 – taking home a first prize of £250. The image is so surprising and the quality of entries was so high that a shortlist of eight photos are now being opened up to a ‘people’s choice’ vote with a prize of £100.
View the shortlist and vote for your favourite
First prize
The judges praised Andy’s skill in capturing a moment of still drama that perfectly fit this year’s theme of ‘Hidden Gems’. Although there are no people in the shot a lonely thorn tree has a character of its own, standing firm in the bleak landscape. There are many manmade dew ponds sitting high on the South Downs that would once have been used to water sheep out on the dry chalky hills.
“I have been past this dew-pond on several occasions and thought there could be potential for a nice image of it,” says Andy. “The sunset wasn’t going to give the glorious colours I had hoped for; however the cloud cover that was increasing led to some lovely soft shades of colour. I used a special filter to blur water and cloud movement. It was a very still evening – I used a four minute exposure and the tree didn’t move at all during that time.”
Second prize
A partly hidden cyclist resting in the shade of a leafy wood came close second place. Taken by Neil Hulme in Eartham Woods. The judges were impressed with the originality of the composition, which draws you in to a private moment in a lush woody world.
“As I re-entered the wooded section of Roman road I stopped, to marvel at the patterns made as sunlight cascaded down through the beech trees,” says Neil. “The cyclist suddenly appeared from the right and dismounted, to take a well earned rest on the bench I have sat upon so many times myself. He never saw me, so I managed to surreptitiously capture his own moment of quiet contemplation.”
Third prize
Another surprising shot of a surfer wading into the sea at sunrise has won third place for Ivan Talboys. As well as the balance of the image the judges loved how it captured such a personal moment. Few people would come to the South Downs to ride surf and it’s clearly not the best in the world. But the surfer has followed the weather and he’s going out to get his fix.
“The previous night’s weather forecast had suggested a brief respite from the storms that had battered the coast all winter,” says Ivan. “I initially went down to Tidemills to capture the sun rising by Seaford Head but was greeted by some glorious pink clouds and it seems I wasn’t the only one interested as about half a dozen surfers turned up to catch some morning waves.”
This is the third year that the South Downs National Park photo competition has run but the quality was so high that for the first time the South Downs National Park Authority has introduced a ‘People’s Choice’ vote.