A big thank you to everyone that took part in the competition.
A photographic competition staged at one of Cornwall’s most spectacular spring gardens attracted entrants from many different parts of the country.
The Caerhays competition offered three categories – people, landscapes and plants. Judges have now selected the winners and were pleased with the standard of entries.
Charles Williams, owner of Caerhays and one of the judges, was surprised at the number of entries.
“This was a first so we were in unknown territory. We had over 40 entries altogether and that encourages us to make this an annual event.
“The castle, woodlands, gardens, wildlife, coastline and wide countryside views at Caerhays provide a stunning range of opportunities for photographers and we are pleased to give the winners some much-deserved exposure for their work.”
Professional photographer Charles Francis, of Heligan, was one of the three judges. Most entries, he said, were in the ‘plants’ section, with a good number in ‘landscapes.’
The ‘people’ category attracted least entries.
“The paucity and quality of entries for the ‘people’ section indicated that, apart from some happy family snaps, few contestants were prepared to get to grips with actually photographing people as their subject. Consequently, the judges only felt able to award one prize in this section,” he said.
Nevertheless, the response to the competition had been encouraging and he hoped it would grow in stature and scope in future years.
The overall winner of the competition was Namik Birer, of Hertford. His picture of the front lawn and tower, with lake and hills beyond was also winner in the landscape category.
Learning of his success, Namik said:
“I did not expect that I would be a prize winner, therefore it was a fantastic surprise to learn that not only was my picture the winner of the landscape category, it was also the overall winner of the Caerhays Photography Competition.
“I am extremely proud and very excited to have won.”
And he explained how he went about choosing the location for his winning picture:
“I explored various locations in Caerhays Castle grounds before settling on this particular landscape scene.
“I love the subtle positioning of the tower, quietly observing the rolling hills in the distance.
“Also the vibrant colours of the foreground contrast wonderfully with the muted tones in the background.”
As overall winner, he receives a night’s stay in the luxurious, five-star country house retreat, The Vean at the heart of the Caerhays estate.
He also wins a year’s membership of the Friends of Caerhays and a plant from Burncoose Nurseries up to a value of £25.
In the ‘plant’ category, the winning picture came from Barrie Newman,
Charles Francis said:
“This photo of the Camellia was chosen as it combined a good plant portrait with good photographic technique. The backlighting gives added depth to the blossom and some front lighting helps to fill in where there would have been shadows, added to which the 'bokeh' concentrates the viewers' gaze on the centre of the plant whilst allowing the background to become blurred.”
Liz Cleves, of Wadebridge in Cornwall, came joint second in this category, with a picture taken through a leaf skeleton.
She said:
“I am normally a painter (in oils and watercolours) so I go about looking at the world in a somewhat quirky way! I think that I am blessed that I live in a wonderful world... full of beauty and inspiration, and that is why I love to visit Caerhays in the spring.”
Charles Francis said:
“Liz Cleves's creative combination of a magnolia flower and a skeleton leaf introduces an imaginative mixture of mosaic / stained glass concepts into the medium of photography. The patterning and enhanced colours make this picture stand out.”
Steve Grummitt, of Tavistock, submitted the winning entry in the ‘people’ category.
Charles Francis said:
“The lady with her dog on the bench became the winner of this category because of its gentle humour with both of them apparently enjoying the same view and with the dog wearing his collar and her having a shoulder-bag strap across her back in an approximately similar position.”
Caerhays marketing officer, Lucinda Rimmington, was the third judge and will be making use of many of the images in a variety of ways. She said:
“The castle and grounds are inspiring in photographic terms and it has been rewarding to see how they are seen through the eyes of different people. What catches one person’s attention is very different from how another responds.
“We will be using the pictures on our web site and in other promotional material. Some of them will also go on display in our exhibition at Caerhays during the 2013 season.
“Our thanks are due to all those who entered and we hope they enjoy their much-deserved prizes.”
The winners
Overall Winner and winner of Landscape category:
NAMIK BIRER, Hertford.
Prize: 1 night B &B for 2 in the 5*Vean
1 year’s membership to the ‘Friends of Caerhays’
A plant of his choice from Burncoose Nurseries up to £25
Plant category
1st - BARRIE NEWMAN
Prize: 1 year’s membership to the ‘Friends of Caerhays’
A plant of his choice from Burncoose Nurseries up to £25
Joint 2nd
MO MILLS, Feniton, Devon.
Prize: A plant of her choice from Burncoose Nurseries up to £25
LIZ CLEVES, Wadebridge, Cornwall
Prize: A plant of her choice from Burncoose Nurseries up to £25
People category
Winner
STEVE GRUMMITT, Tavistock, Devon.
Prize: 1 year’s membership to the ‘Friends of Caerhays’
A plant of his choice from Burncoose Nurseries up to £25
Landscape category
1st - NAMIK BIRER
Prize: see overall winner
Joint 2nd
WENDY WAINWRIGHT, Hythe, Kent.
Prize: A plant of he choice from Burncoose Nurseries up to £25
ANNE JEDREJEWSKI
Prize: A plant of her choice from Burncoose Nurseries up to £25