COTSWOLDS PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION – WINNER TAKES IT ALL
The winner of the Cotswolds Photography Competition has been announced. Organised by the Gloucestershire Tourist Information Centres group, the competition was launched with the aim of producing a special calendar for 2014 representing all the Cotswold towns which are home to our Tourist Information Centres and showcasing some of the areas unique views.
Isobel Milne, Chair of group said “The idea behind the photo competition and calendar was to celebrate our lovely Cotswolds towns. It was also to draw attention to the asset each town has in their tourist information centre; these are used by visitors to the area and local residents alike. We are thrilled with the response.”
Some stunning entries were received despite the adverse weather conditions throughout the year, with entries being received from local residents to those from areas such as Leicestershire and Buckinghamshire. There was even an entry from as far afield as Florida in the USA! But the main overall winner was someone much closer to home. Martin Fry, Head Teacher of Horsley Primary School, Horsley near Stroud, and a member of Cheltenham Camera Club was thrilled to be awarded the top prize with his winning image of ‘Sheep at Sheepscombe’ in the category ‘A Cotswold View’. He said “My major love is photographing the Cotswolds. Travelling along the lanes to work, the landscape is the inspiration for my photographs – you get a unique picture of Gloucestershire in all its different moods.”
Assisting with judging, Chris Dee, Marketing & Tourism Manager from Cotswolds Tourism said “We felt that the winning entry summed up the appeal of the Cotswolds both for visitors and proud locals. Time of day, mists or shadow often make the familiar unfamiliar and the routine beautiful in the Cotswolds.”
The most popular category proved to be ‘A Cotswold View’. Other category winners include: images of Winchcombe Station and Broadway Tower by Jason Williams, Mill Bank in Tewkesbury by Paul Smith, the Victoria Basin in the Gloucester Docks by Carole Williams, Cheltenham’s Neptune’s Fountain by Leslie Macleod-Downes, Cirencester Park in the Snow by Ian Lloyd-Graham and view of one of the iconic bridges in Bourton on the Water by Roger Weatherburn Baker.
Martin Fry, our overall winner will receive:
A luxurious night stay for two at Hotel du Vin, Cheltenham (including 3-course dinner and breakfast).
£50 gift Voucher from the London Camera Exchange, Cheltenham.
Canvas of winning photo supplied by The Darkroom, Cheltenham.
12 months subscription to Cotswold Life magazine.
Martin added “It’s really great to be able to share a love of the Cotswolds through my image being featured on a calendar – I can’t wait to see it in print.”
2014 Cotswolds Calendars will be on sale in Visitor Information Centres (VICs) from the Spring. These will complement the range of items available in the VICs which include local crafts, gifts, books, maps and event tickets. In addition to this there is attraction and transport information and tickets which are great for locals and visitors to the area.
The winning images will also be displayed in some of the Visitor Information Centres around the county throughout the year starting from 11
th February at Moreton Area Centre.
