Tranquil snap of wintry walk among sunlit trees wins photo competition
A stunningly serene picture of walkers on a sunny winter’s day isthewinneroftheSouthDowns National Park’s Annual Photo Competition.
Chanctonbury Ring by Tim Kahane took the top spot in the popular photography contest, whichattractedover400entries, a record-breaking number for the competition.
The theme for this year was My Tranquil Haven and judges agreed that Tim’s peaceful photograph met the brief perfectly, capturing a moment of serenity amid the uncertainty of 2020.
Meanwhile, the competition alsoincludedaseparatecategory forbestwildlifeimage–withfirst place going to an extraordinary photograph of a hare sprinting across a snowy field in the South Downs.
The competition judges were award-winning photographers Finn Hopson, Carlotta Luke and Rachael Talibart, as well as Nick Heasman, countryside policy manager for the South Downs National Park Authority, and Doug Jones, SDNPA member,
Rachael said: “I really like the lookoftreesinwinterandthere’s a soft light hitting some of these trees that I find very pleasing to theeye.Thetreescreatetheeffect of this being a safe haven and I love that.”
Nick said: “This is the epitome of a tranquil haven. Chanctonbury Ring is an amazing place, shrouded in history and folklore and a real beacon on the South Downs. This image captures its magical beauty exceptionally well.”
Carlotta said: “I would like to be right there – it just feels so peaceful.”
Photographer Tim, from WestChiltington,receivesa£250 prize.
He said: “I grew up in the shadow of the South Downs and their contour has been the backdrop to my life. Every day theschoolbuswouldfollowtheir lineandeverydayChanctonbury Ringwoulddominatetheskyline. This emphatic grouping of trees high on a scarp hillside and alone in their mythical company remains an iconic landmark in my life.
“The Downlands are a constant source of inspiration. MyphotographofChanctonbury Ring on a winter’s afternoon is an essence of my relationship with those memories and the landscape. A fraction of a second in 80 million years of evolution.”
Runner-up prize in the My Tranquil Haven category went to Dawn over the River Arun, taken by Lindsey Chadwick.
Doug said: “I can imagine hearing the birds singing. To me thisisarealhavenoftranquility.”
Rachael said: “I love the bird. I think as a viewer, your eye goes tothebirdstraightawayandthen you start to travel round the rest of the photograph.”
Photographer Lindsey, from London, picks up a prize of £150.
She said: “I’ve always found water soothing. There’s something about its gentle flow that calms the mind, especially at dawn when there’s no-one around except you and the birds. This photo was taken early one midsummer’s morning on one of my favourite sections of the South Downs Way. I’ve always loved the South Downs National Park but this year, the Park has come to mean more to me than ever before – its beauty has been an endless source of comfort whenever I’ve been able to go there for a walk.”
The third prize was awarded to Shelter from the Sun, taken by Botond Adorjan, who photographed his daughter gazing through an opening in the trees at the chalk escarpment towards Butser Hill in Hampshire.
Finn said: “I really like this peaceful photograph and the humanconnectionitrepresents. As a family we’ve spent a huge amount of time this year doing things like this and discovering placeswe’dneverbeentobefore.”
Carlotta said: “I love the story behind it. I have an emotional connection to it. During the lockdown, people have really sought out the South Downs with their children and this represents that in a very positive way.”
Botond, from Bognor Regis receives £50.
He said: “The first lockdown we spent at home. At the beginning we really enjoyed the time spent together, we baked pizzas, we read stories to my five-year-old daughter, but after a few weeks it became really annoying, so we started to plan an adventure. We needed a challenge. After the easing of the lockdown we decided to hike the South Downs Way. We didn’t have time to do all the 100 miles, but in five days we managed to hike nearly half of the route. We definitely will continue the adventure – we plan to finish the South Downs Way in spring.”
Winningthewildlifecategory wasRichardMurraywithWinter Runner, a stunning photograph taken in Selborne.
Finn said: “I’ve seen a hare once on the Downs and it was fantastic. To capture this momentofahareinfullsprinting mode is very impressive.”
Carlotta said: “The hare is caught off the ground, obviously running really fast and its face is looking right at the photographer. I love seeing the snowflakessuspendedintheair. You get a sense for how fast the hare is.”
Photographer Richard, from Waterlooville, wins £100.
Hesaid:“Ivisitedthislocation on numerous occasions to photograph local hares and formed a good understanding of their movements in the area.
“On the morning I took the photograph the landscape was transformed by a light dusting of snow and I sat still for well over an hour in a field verge with the snow falling around me.
“I was frozen and about to give up when my patience was rewarded as a drove of hares appeared across the field in front of me. Looking through my camera’s viewfinder and seeing these majestic animals in the falling snow sprinting towardsmewasanunforgettable experience.
“I feel incredibly privileged to live so close to the South Downs National Park and to have access tosuchawidevarietyofbeautiful landscapes and animals to photograph in the area. To have won the wildlife category of the South Downs Photography Competition is a surprise and huge honour.”
Thejudgingpanelalsohighlycommended four images: Rivers of Mist by Stuart Hutchinson; Sunrisethroughthewildflowers by Shelley Cornes; Reflected Little Egret by John Lauper and Wheat Ear by William JohnsWarner.
All the winning and commended images, as well as 13 other shortlisted images, will now be put forward to the People’s Choice.
People can vote online for their favourite photograph and the winning photographer will receive £100.
The online poll closes at midnight on January 31.
Visit www.southdowns.gov. uk to cast your vote.