Natural Landscape Photography Awards 2022
In 2022, I entered the Natural Landscape Photography Awards for the second year running. Firstly, to support the competition and also for an opportunity to receive feedback from other photographers whose work I greatly admire.
After entering the competition in year one I had the privilege of two of my photographs (below) being published in the inaugural competition book, which is a stunning photography book in its own right (available here). In the second year, I entered a total of 12 images. A mix from my trip to the Laugavegur trail in Icleand in the summer and more recent images from Scotland.
Overall I was very happy with the feedback I received in year two. Unlike other competitions I have entered, NLPA provide detailed feedback on every single image entered, including those which are not successful.
This year, of the 12 images entered, 8 made it to the finals of the Grand Scenic category (the only category I entered) and a combined portfolio of my 6 highest scoring images made it to the first round of live judging (final 39 of 995 qualifying portfolios) for the main prize of Natural Landscape Photographer of the Year.
“Binnean Beag & the Grey Corries from Binnean Mor” 2021
“Coigach & Assynt from Sgùrr an Fhidhleir” 2021
“Stob Ban & Stob Coire Easan, from Sgor Eilde Beag” 2021
In addition, two of my favourite images from the last year managed a runner-up and category win - more on that below.
Firstly, one of my favourite images from late 2021 (“Stob Ban & Stob Coire Easan, from Sgor Eilde Beag” above) made it to the runner-up spot in the mountains category.
Finally, marking my biggest personal achievement in photography to date, “The Black Mount from the Black Wood of Rannoch” was chosen as the winning image in the Frozen Worlds category. Reflecting on the image after the competition, I wrote a small piece about how it was made and some thoughts it provokes in me.
“The Black Mount from the Black Wood of Rannoch” 2022
Reflections on “The Black Mount from the Black Wood of Rannoch” (Frozen Worlds, Winner")
Taken during the fickle winter of 2022, this photograph represents the ephemeral quality of the Scottish highlands in winter, which makes it both a frustrating subject and ceaselessly inspiring in equal measure. With temperatures rising and falling above and below freezing in a constant cycle, I would not be surprised to learn that every drop of snow had returned to the nearby Water of Tulla by the following morning.
Nevertheless whether by good luck or perseverance - this was not my first visit - I found myself in the right place, at the right time to capture what is an all too rare sight in Scotland. That is, a native pine wood in the shadow of a snow covered mountain.
Whilst the approach to this particular area is by no means straightforward - involving a choice between crossing pathless saturated ground or fording the aforementioned river - it would be misleading to portray this as wilderness. The keen-eyed may spot an electricity pylon camouflaged amongst the trees. Those familiar with the area will know a railway line passes through not far down the hillside.
Does any of this detract from the photograph? Yes and no. Yes, because natural places are, in my view and that of many other outdoor photographers and enthusiasts, deserving of the care and respect required to preserve them for us, for future generations and for their own sake. No, because embracing imperfection is a necessary prerequisite to honest representation of the landscape as it is.
And what is the point you may ask? Simply this. Appreciation of the natural beauty of the landscape ought to go hand-in-hand with respect for the subject. In my view, the honest depiction of the landscape in photography is (or ought to be) underpinned by both principles. Reflecting on this now, if I am proud of this photograph, it is for its adherence to all of the above, first and foremost.