RHS Photographic Competition 2006
Colin Roberts has taken top honours in the RHS Photographic Competition 2006, sponsored by Medici, and was named RHS Photographer of the Year, winning first prize in the Tree or Shrub Category. The Winchester-based photographer's striking image of Fagus sylvatica on the South Downs, was selected from almost 3,500 entries, from across the UK and around the world.
It took the panel of judges’ two days at RHS Garden Rosemoor, Devon, to decide on the 18 winning photographs from the six competition categories. Tim Sandall, one of the competition judges and a professional photographer specialising in horticulture described the calibre of the images in the Plant Portrait, Tree and Shrub and Wildlife in the Garden categories as breathtaking.
"The best entries made a strong emotional impact. I was blown away by the quality of the images and how they moved me. There were some very clever and artistic images where the photographer had found a piece of art in nature. Colin's winning image captured my soul. It was unanimously first in its category and was the image we were still in love with after two days judging."
The winners
RHS Photographer of the Year
Colin Roberts (Winchester, Hants)
Plant Portrait Photograph of the Year
First: Liz Every (Stockport, Cheshire)
Second: Andy Phillipson (Edinburgh)
Third: Jemima Jamieson (London)
Close-up Photograph of the Year
First: Margaret Rowe (Tring, Herts)
Second: Mark Saunders (Pulborough, W Sussex)
Third: Mr G Brooke (Beckenham, Kent)
Tree or Shrub Photograph of the Year
First: Colin Roberts (Winchester, Hants) (and Photogrpaher of the Year)
Second: Kathryn Kelly (Rochester, Kent)
Third: Allan Pollok-Morris (London)
Garden View Photograph of the Year
First: Dianna Jazwinski (Poole, Dorset)
Second: Allan Pollok-Morris (London)
Third: Flavia Schoenleber (Argyll)
Wildlife in the Garden Photograph of the Year
First: Pat Dean (Hoveringham, Notts)
Second: David Maitland (Calne, Wilts)
Third: Sue Loader (Fordingbridge, Hants)
People in the Garden Photograph of the Year
First: Giles Heather (Kingwood, Oxon)
Second: James Dawson (Broadwindsor, Dorset)
Third: Adrian Fox (New Barnet, Herts)
As sponsors of the competition, The Medici Society provides the winners prizes and will also feature a selection of the winning images in the 'Chelsea Inspirations' greetings card range. The proceeds from licensed products such as these help to fund the many activities undertaken by the RHS to promote horticulture and help gardeners.
Exhibition
The RHS Photographic Competition Exhibition, displaying all the winning images, will take place during February 2007 because of exciting new developments to the nationwide competition. The competition is evolving to better reflect the high quality and quantity of entries and, for the first time, an exhibition showcasing the winning images will take place in the heart of the capital’s art district at the Medici Art Gallery, 5 Cork Street, London W1S 3LQ between Tuesday 13 February and Saturday 17 February 2007. The 2007 RHS Photographic Competition will also be launched in February. The images will then appear at RHS Garden Rosemoor, Devon, from late February and at RHS Garden Wisley from 8 March to 9 April 2007.
Judges
- Tim Sandall: professional photographer specialising in horticulture.
- Andrea Jones: professional photographer specialising in plant portraits, garden design and landscape architecture.
- Rob Whitworth: professional garden photographer.
Competition prizes
- Top prize of £1,000 is awarded to the RHS Photographer of the Year.
- First prize winners in each category are awarded £350 each.
- Second prize winners in each category are awarded £200 each.
- Third prize winners in each category are awarded £100 each.
RHS Photographic Competition 2007
The 2007 competition will be launched in February 2007. Details can be obtained by e-mailing photocomp@rhs.org.uk or by sending a SAE to: RHS Photographic Competition 2007, RHS Garden Rosemoor, Great Torrington, Devon EX38 8PH.
The RHS Photographic Competition is supported by Medici, the fine art publisher