With staycations proving popular this year due to coronavirus travel restrictions, many of us have had a chance to explore more of the UK.
And these amazing pictures show just how beautiful it can be.
The winners in the 13th Landscape Photographer of the Year competition have been revealed and the shots are incredible.
The pictures from amateur and professional photographers will all be presented in a coffee table book (by AA Publishing) for you to enjoy, but we’ve got some of the best below.
In the book, available in book shops from this week, very image is accompanied by a first-hand account of the story behind the picture.
You’ll also be able to see an exhibition of shortlisted and winning entries, which will premiere at London Bridge station on November 16, before it goes on a tour of the country.
Herringfleet Frosty Sunrise by David Andrews
David Andrews, said: ‘I took this image of Herringfleet Mill in Suffolk a couple of years ago. I liked it so much that I have a canvas of it on my wall now.’
Seven Sisters Cliffs by Miguel Pilgrim
He said: ‘During a stormy day at Birling Gap, I was fascinated by the dramatic view looking towards the Seven Sisters cliffs as they were lit by the sunlight peeking through the breaks in the clouds. I like the contrast this created against the incredibly dark skies behind.’
Kilchurn and the Tree by Paul Bullen
He said: ‘A bit of a chilly start to the day at -5C and a nice covering of frost. The mist kept rolling in and eventually obliterated Kilchurn Castle [in Argyll and Bute in Scotland], but gave a lovely ethereal mood.’
Ribblehead Viaduct by Brian Nunn
The winner of the Network Rail ‘Lines in the Landscape Award’.
Roman Road by Leigh Dorey
He said: ‘As the title suggests, this was once a Roman Road, built around 43AD, as a supply route to a local fortress. It travels through deciduous woodland from the A35 in Upton to Corfe Mullen in Poole, Dorset. It is an area that I have visited with my camera many times before, but none as ethereal as this morning was.’
The Cloud Factory by Wesley Chambers
He said: ‘The unmistakable Hope Valley Breedon cement factory is also known as the cloud factory by the locals. I took this shot during golden hour one morning in January 2020. The light was beautiful – I took this at full zoom to compress the distance between the farm and factory. I like how the factory almost looks like it is floating above the farm!’
Majestic Winter Highland by Chris Gorman
He said: ‘The viaduct is well known to Harry Potter fans, having been used by the Hogwarts Express in four of the popular films. Geeky attention to weather forecasts paid off. I jumped on a plane to Scotland with various ideas in mind. Blizzard conditions initially stopped me flying the drone.
‘I decided late in the day to head to Glenfinnan, where I arrived just 20 minutes before sunset to a scene like something out of Narnia. The storm miraculously eased and revealed the hills for the first time. I scrambled the drone up knowing I had just minutes of light left.
‘I managed just two frames before hail started battering the drone and I scrambled it back again. The next day, the snow was gone.’
Yesnaby Tree Wave by Raymond Besant
He said: ‘A recent storm had died down, but a large swell was still hitting the cliffs at Yesnaby on Orkney’s west coast. I was attracted by the sea spray illuminated by the sun when the swell broke on a reef below, creating a wonderful looking wave, half caught by the light.’
The Kraken By John White
He said: ‘After three years of trying, finally I found myself in the right place as the tentacles of the kraken reached down from above to reclaim the old West Pier, Brighton.’
Moon over Quiraing by Ramteid Gozreh
He said: ‘This is a stitched panorama of early-morning moon illuminating the Trotternish range.’
Langdale in the Lake District by Martin Birks
He said: ‘The spotlight effects were turned on in Langdale in November 2017, one of my favourite areas in the Lake District. I waited a couple of hours for the light to illuminate the foreground and Langdale Pikes. I had my camera on a tripod and used a telephoto lens to pick out my composition. This also has the effect of making the hills look more imposing.’
MSC Preziosa passing Lerwick’s historic Lodberries by Ryan Leith
He said: ‘I work as a Port Controller for Lerwick Port Authority and could follow the vessel’s progress into the harbour on the radar. The fog was very thick south of the harbour. I managed to capture this image from my office window as the ship emerged from the fog bank.’
Silence by Nev Cartledge
He said: ‘This was taken in Glen Affric this last winter. I was lucky enough to get a short break in the snowstorm, leaving some soft light illuminating the mountain beyond, while the storm passed away to the right.’
Pillars Devon by Neil Burnell
He said: ‘My first shot of 2020 taken on New Year’s Day at Bellever Wood on Dartmoor. I remember being at Wistmans Wood at the time, but the conditions weren’t great so I decided to go and shoot Bellever, which can be a little easier to find compositions in light mist. After walking around for a while, I spotted some interesting channels leading into the forest. These led nicely to a light patch at the back of the scene.’
Deer in Dawn Mist by Peter North
He said: ‘This was one of those mornings when you look out of your bedroom window, see the morning mist rising and try and convince yourself that you should quickly get showered, dressed, and take your camera to the local woods.
‘For once, I actually acted on this impulse and was rewarded by this scene where the diffused sun was rising, and the mist was simplifying the normally chaotic jumble of trees into shades of grey receding into the background. About 10 minutes later the mist had disappeared and the magic was gone.’
Dawn at Fox Covert by Peter North
He said: ‘Having got up early to drive to this scene, I was rewarded with fantastic and dramatic light as the rising sunlight filtered through the trees while being diffused by the mist.’
Mirkwood by Will Milner
He said: ‘A lovely little scene, reminiscent of the fictional Mirkwood in J R R Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings series of novels. The interplay between sunlight, foliage and mist stopped me in my tracks.’
Oxford Sunrise by Stephen Hughes
He said: ‘Sunlight breaks through the mist in the early morning over the River Cherwell in Oxford. On an early morning stroll before lectures, mist had been forecast so I headed to the river and waited for the sun to come up and bring the scene to life.’
Tree in Stythwaite Meadow by David Kidwell
He said: ‘I awoke with excitement about a rare snowfall. Walking up to my favourite tree, I set up my camera to capture the stark shape standing out against the white snow and the heavy sky.
‘But I was not alone, for over the brow of the hill came a flock of eager sheep hoping not that I was going to take their picture, rather, that I was a source of their feed in this suddenly changed landscape.’
Cool Power by Stephen Cole
He said: ‘It is a rare sight to see [Nottinghamshire’s] Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station in full steam, so I took the opportunity on a chilly evening to capture this seldom-seen occurrence. Sawley Cut waterway is excellent for reflections on a calm day or night, even more so when there is a great deal of steam from the power station.’
The Winner – Woolland Woods by Chris Frost
He said: ‘Taken in spring of 2018 in a wooded area close to Milborne St. Andrew in Dorset, this was the third visit to the area in a matter of days. On the previous days, both devoid of morning mists, the light had been harsh and unappealing, but the third day delivered stunning conditions with mist swirling through the trees.
‘The low shooting position allowed more emphasis to be placed on the wild garlic and pathway.’
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch at metrolifestyleteam@metro.co.uk.
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source https://metro.co.uk/2020/10/20/amazing-images-from-landscape-photographer-of-the-year-winners-show-beautiful-scenery-across-the-uk-13449446/
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