Image of the Year 2008
Golden Hour, Elgol, Isle of Skye by Rachel McCann
The 2008 Digital Dawn Image of the Year competition highlights what a fantastic year of landscape photography we enjoyed at some of the most beautiful and dramatic locations in the British Isles. Rachel McCann's excellent winning image above attracted the most votes from more than 500 viewers of the website, and prompted this critique by Denis Sturman: "It's a great composition and chosen viewpoint, aided by good lighting which emphasises the enormous rock face to good effect. The composition draws you in from the closest rock to the furthest hills, inviting you to explore every inch of the image. Fantastic photography!"
But this year's competition was a very close run contest. Joe Bowes' atmospheric No 4 image Between The light from Buttermere was just three votes behind and prompted this winning critique from viewer Brian Ellwood:
"I find that the camera magazines are always looking for “dramatic” landscapes which generally appears to mean colours and composition that are loud and brash and capture instant attention. It is a personal thing, but for me being out in the country/seaside etc with the camera is a relaxing thing. As people have more and more stress in their everyday lives I think there is a demand for relaxing landscapes that generate contemplation. That is not to say they should be chocolate box scenes, but I think images such as “Between the Light” challenge the viewer to look a little more closely to find the drama in the landscape. It is there in this image just as much as an orange sky over a rock in the sea, but I think the image is at first calming and then allows the viewer to wander off into what he/she may have thought about if they were sat in that spot with that light."
So two very differing images and differing opinions, which is what Digital Dawn leader Garry Brannigan does his best to encourage. Landscape photography is all about self-expression and enjoying creating images that are unique to you.
Other images that attracted a substantial number of votes were: No 8: Room to Breathe, Embleton Bay, Northumberland by Pam Harrington; No 10: Dying Back, The Great Wood, Derwentwater by Jacky Banyard; No 25: The Longest Day, Budle Bay, Northumberland by Ken Trevor.
1: Cul Mor and Canisp from Stac Pollaidh by Neil Bryce
2: Fleeting Life, Dunstanburgh by Brian Greenway
3: Lakeland Reflections, Standshag Bay, Derwentwater by Suzy Keeling
4: Between the Light, Buttermere, Lake District by Joe Bowes
5: Golden Falls, Crackpot, Swaledale by Iain Laskey
6: Reaching Out, Takavaig Woods, Isle of Skye by Rachel McCann
7: Lakeland Dawn, Hawes End, Derwentwater by Sandra Emptage
8: Room to Breathe, Embleton Bay, Northumberland by Pam Harrington
9: Golden Calm, Buttermere, Lake District by Greg Smart
10: Dying Back, The Great Wood, Derwentwater by Jacky Banyard
11: Golden Hour, Elgol, Isle of Skye by Rachel McCann
12: Into the Light, Hudswell Woods, Swaledale by Guy Heyligen
13: To the Point, Wain Wath Force, Swaledale by Jamie Bodley-Scott
14: Sunset Clouds, Achnahaird Bay, Inverpolly by Lou Bray
15: May Blossom, Hawes End, Derwentwater by Sue Bulmer
16: Decisive Moment, Derwentwater, Lake District by Mark Bristow
17: Ice on the Falls, Wain Wath Force, Swaledale by Ian Larkin
18: Edge of the Weather, Talisker Bay, Isle of Skye by Matt Bell
19: Autumn Glory, Hawes End, Derwentwater by Lisa Burdett
20: Sun on Ice, East Gill Force, Swaledale by Julie Skelton
21: Curves on Skiddaw, Keswick, Lake District by Barbara Sellars
22: Halo, Derwentwater, Lake District by Paul Quinlan
23: Soft Light, Talisker Bay, Isle of Skye by Aynsley Halligan
24: Sand Shadow, Budle Bay, Northumberland by Brian Greenway
25: The Longest Day, Budle Bay, Northumberland by Ken Trevor
26: Change of Direction, Budle Bay, Northumberland by Neil Porter
27: Calm Dawn, Coigach and Drumrunie lochan, Inverpolly by Bob Evans
28: Rain? No worries...Tokavaig Woods, Isle of Skye by Coralin Harrison
29: Edge of the Day, Monks House Rocks, Northumberland by Mike Cheetham
30: Golden Dale, Reeth, Swaledale by Alan Nunn
31: Forces of Nature, Rumbling Kern, Northumberland by Alan Kinroy
32: Day Break, Glen Sligachan, Isle of Skye by Chris Harrison
33: Peat Stain and Flow, West Burton Falls, Wensleydale by Paul Mortimer
34: Burst of Colour, Hudswell Woods, Swaledale by Ken Cave
35: Summer Meadow, Muker, Swaledale by Richard Burn
36: Shaft of Light, Glen Sligachan, Isle of Skye by Mel Bell
37: Nature's Curve, Tokavaig Woods, Isle of Skye by Linda Jackson