Take a View, Landscape Photographer of the Year 2014

[Wayland]

I was a little worried that I might not get anything into the Landscape Photographer of the Year Awards this year.

Our Iceland trip had produced lots of good results but were not eligible for ”Take a View” because they were outside the UK.

With growing work commitments on top of that, I thought my entry looked a little bit thin this time around as a result.

So, I’m very pleased to say that this shot, taken at Midnight on 27th August 2013, made the shortlist, was Commended and will make it into this years book and exhibition.

Sadly, there are not many places in Britain that the Milky Way can still be clearly seen. I had to travel almost to the tip of the Llyn Peninsula just to find a spot where the stars could shine through the light pollution that has stolen the dark night sky from most of us.

I had spotted this old watch post earlier in the day and it put me in mind of a great chimney pot, so I knew exactly how I wanted to use it for the picture. An early evening sea mist almost defeated my plans but eventually it cleared just long enough for the shot I wanted.

A half Moon rose to my left giving a little illumination to the stonework and also adding some blue to the midnight sky. The warm glow on the horizon spilled up from Aberdaron on the coast. Even here the sky is indelibly stained with our wasted illumination.

This quiet evening reminded me of my Father, who passed away twenty four years before this picture was taken.

He was a photographer as well, keen enough to experiment with developing his own images when he was younger.

When I first started to become interested in photography as a teenager, he nurtured that seed by converting a small cupboard under the stairs into a darkroom for me.

Without that encouragement I suspect my life might have been very different.

Dedicated to the Loving Memory of

John Derrick Lindsay Waidson

2nd July 1926 - 27th August 1989

[marlunn]

Superb image, very well done on your inclusion in the book and exhibition. My sincere thanks for sharing your story, a very fitting dedication.

[Donald]

Congratulations, Gary. An image worthy of the honour.

[Wayland]

Thank you.

I've been luck over the years but I really didn't think I had much of a chance this year.

[John 2]

Original, well envisaged and very well executed. You might get the impression that I like it. Congratulations.

[Mike Buckley]

I remember this image well and am glad to see that it is getting its due recognition. Your narrative is also especially enjoyable. Hopefully you can convince the editors of the book to include the dedication to the memory of your father.

[Wayland]

I could have added it to the text but I didn't think it would be quite right for the book somehow.

I've put it up on my web site, which generally gets a boost in traffic from the book as it carries my URL in the appendix.

[ST1]

Congratulations Gary, a great image and dedication, well done.

[HaseebM]

Congratulations! Very well composed.

[tbob]

Congratulations I am glad you are getting the recognition you and this image deserve

[FrankMi]

Impressive doesn't even start to convey the elegance of this image. Congratulations on the well deserved honor Wayland!

[Downrigger]

Brilliant - as so well noted already. Well deserved recognition, and a dedication many of us understand completely.

[Suzan J]

Congratulations, Gary, on a most unique and original landscape. Your dedication to your father is quite moving. How wonderful to have had such an inspiration in your life.

[Wayland]

It's funny isn't it, that at the time I couldn't see how influential my father had been.

Hindsight is always 20:20 I guess.

[Kaye Leggett]

Beautiful and yet more beautiful.

Will the image be part of the exhibition at Waterloo Station ? I'm hoping to visit this one sometime next month, and if so, will make an extra point of looking for it.

[Stinky]

Very nice. Congratulations.

[bnnrcn]

Congratulations Gary , super image

[Wayland]

Beautiful and yet more beautiful.

Will the image be part of the exhibition at Waterloo Station ? I'm hoping to visit this one sometime next month, and if so, will make an extra point of looking for it.

It should be, although I don't know if it'll be a print or just part of the screen display.

Let me know if you see it because with my work load at the moment I doubt if I will make it to the exhibition this year.

[Shadowman]

Nicely done.

[IzzieK]

Congratulations Wayland -- you deserve this one too this time around...Keep up the good work.