Mountain Photo of the Year 2020
The mountains were a saviour for many of us in 2020, which makes those images that have managed to capture a piece of that magic even more of a joy. But which has been crowned the UK’s greatest mountain photo of 2020?
We reveal the winning images from our hotly contested mountain photo competition
What is it that makes a mountain photo great? Is it the drama? The effort it took to get it? The feelings it arouses? The story it tells? What about light and composition? The reality is, it is all of these things and more, but none of them at the same time. Our judges and the public (a huge 1863 of them) almost unanimously voted for David Gilligan’s stunning night-time shot on the Glyderau in Snowdonia. And while all the above things can make a photo great, what makes a winner is more down to gut feeling, an instant reaction, something you can’t really put your finger on. The top three photos of 2020’s competition all have drama, atmosphere and skill in spades, and they all captured a magical moment in the mountains, but there’s just something about this superb shot of Castell y Gwynt in the starlight that makes you fall in love…
David says: “Me and my brother decided to wild camp up the Glyderau to make up for the outdoor experiences we had been missing due to the lockdown. We struck gold with the conditions that night. No wind, no moon and a clear night sky. To our left was Comet Neowise and to our right was a crystal-clear Milky Way, so I was spoilt for choice in terms of composition. After taking the first photo (without me in it) I couldn’t believe how good it looked on the camera. But I still felt it was missing something. It needed a person to add some scale. After making a mental note of where to stand, I manoeuvred my way up the rocks in the dark and used my remote shutter release to capture this shot. The hardest part was balancing still for 20 seconds while the camera was taking the photo. I live in a big city and most people where I’m from don’t get the chance to witness these scenes, so I’m happy to be able to share it with them.”
About the winner
David has just qualified as a paramedic, but on his days off he checks the weather to plan if he’s heading to the mountains or not. He first got into photography on a trip to Iceland, when he realised using his iPhone to take pictures wasn’t the best idea. He then bought a DSLR and taught himself how to use it, gathering inspiration via Instagram. “The only downside is deciding on if I want to live through that moment or record it,” says David. Instagram: d.gilligan_
What the judges say
Chris Upton, Fujifilm ambassador:
“This image is full of impact. The exposure has been handled very well, with a composition including the key elements of the night sky, the mountain landscape and the walker with the headtorch pointing into the Milky Way all combining to create an excellent image.”
Nadir Khan, professional adventure photographer: “This is a striking image and beautifully composed. It captures really well a sense of wonder and why we venture into the mountains – to feel connection again with our planet, and also an awareness of how small we are compared to the galaxies and stars that surround us.”