Fatstock Show photo up for pic of the year

VOTES SOUGHT FOR PEOPLE’S CHOICE PRIZE

A PHOTO taken at Uppingham’s annual Fatstock Show has been nominated for the People’s Choice category of the international Travel Photographer of the Year Award (TPOTY).

Andrew James, of South Luffenham, captured the image, which features in a line-up of 100 photos selected from the TPOTY finalists.

The competition attracts more than 20,000 entries annually, from amateurs and professionals from more than 140 countries.

“It’s always nice to get shortlisted as the standard of the TPOTY competition is so high,” Andrew said.

He won in the Hot/Cold category of the 2018 TPOTY awards with a photo of an elephant seal and gentoo penguin.

“This particular shot was only taken down the road from my office in Uppingham, although the photo I won a category with last year was taken in Antarctica,” he said.

“I’ve always loved photography and I try to capture photos in my own distinct style.

“When they get noticed in a competition as popular as TPOTY, it is a real honour.

“This image was a moment when all the right elements came together.

“It is quite a funny shot and that’s what appealed to the judges I think, because comedy is hard to capture in a photo.

“Now we’ll see whether the people voting share my sense of humour.”

Andrew said his passion for photography began as a hobby when he was a journalist and led him to become the editor of Practical Photography magazine for 13 years.

He still writes for international photography magazine Digital Camera, but now runs his own business, Foto-buzz.com.

The People’s Choice category of the Travel Photographer of the Year Award will be decided by public vote.

Voting closes at 5pm on January 16 and the winning images will be announced on January 21.

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