Photographic Competition 2019 Winners

Class 1: Alpine Plant in a Natural Landscape

In this class, we look for a plant or group of plants to be prominently featured in an alpine setting.

Importantly, judges want to see the scenery supporting, but not dominating the composition. They want it to convey a sense of context and geographical location.

First Prize: Ursula Junker, Switzerland

Crocus vernus. Winteregg near Mürren, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland:  April 2019.

Camera: Nikon D850 (DSLR) with a Sigma Art 14mm lens (full frame): exposure 1/100sec at f16, ISO 100.

Ursula’s image was so admired by our judges, that they chose this one, out of all 8 winners, to be the Overall Winner for 2019 – that is, they declared it the best photograph from all classes. Congratulations, Ursula!

Second Prize: Liam McCaughey, Northern Ireland

Papaver lateritides. In the valley above Olgunlar, with a view to Kaçkar Dağı, 3937m, the highest point in the Kaçkar mountains, Turkey: July 2019.

Camera: Panasonic DC-TZ95 (Compact Superzoom) with a 4.3-129mm lens at 4.3mm (equivalent 24mm): exposure 1/800sec at f4.5, ISO 80.

Third: Tony Goode, Wales

Crocus vernus subsp. albiflorus. Upper slopes of Grand Chamossaire above Bretaye, Alpes Vaudoises, Switzerland: June 2019.

Camera: Panasonic DMC-FZ38 (Bridge) with a 4.8-86.4mm lens at 4.8mm (equivalent 27mm): exposure 1/400sec at f8.0, ISO 100.

Class 2: Portrait of an Alpine Plant in the Wild

In this class, we want to see an entire plant featured, including all flowers, leaves and stems. The immediate scenery need only suggest the feeling of a wild place.

First Prize: Celia Sawyer, UK

Hepatica nobilis. Acquacanina, Marche, Italy: May 2019.

Camera: Nikon D7100 (DSLR) with a Tamron 10-24mm lens at 22mm (equivalent 33mm): exposure 1/500sec at f10, ISO 320.

Second Prize: Arne Jakobsen, Norway

Silene uralensis subsp. arctica. Longyearbyen, Svalberd, Norway: July 2014.

Camera: Nikon D700 (SLR) with a micro-Nikkor 60mm lens: exposure 1/800sec at f8.0, ISO 320.

Third Prize: Roy Bowden, UK

Pulsatilla halleri. Mount Falakron, Macedonia, Greece: April 2019.

Camera: Canon EOS 5D IV (DSLR) with a Canon EF 100mm macro lens: exposure 1/83sec at f11.0: ISO 400.

Class 3: Close-up of an Alpine Plant in the Wild or Cultivation

Here the photographer’s objective should be to reveal the intimate beauty of alpines by emphasising features of special interest. These might include individual flowers, groups of leaves or floral structures.

In the wild, in the garden or in the studio, natural or artificial lighting, anything creative is allowed!

First Prize: Harry Jans, Netherlands

Saxifraga punctulata. At 5120 metres Zuogong, Dungda La, Tibet: July 2019.

Camera: Nikon D7200 (DSLR) with a 50mm lens (equivalent 75mm): exposure 1/160sec at f14.0, ISO 250.

Second Prize: Arne Jakobsen, Norway

Ebenus cretica. Topiliano Gorge, Crete, Greece: April 2009.

Camera: Nikon D200 (DSLR) with a micro-Nikkor 60mm lens (equivalent 75mm): exposure 1/500sec at f10, ISO 160.

Third Prize: John Dower, UK

Dianthus superbus. Dolomites, Italy: August 2006.

Camera: Fujifilm FinePix S7000 (Bridge) with a 7.8-46.8mm lens at 7.8mm (equivalent 35mm): exposure 1/294sec at f5.0: ISO 160.

Class Four: Alpine Plant in Cultivation in a Garden

Photos for this class can be taken in your own garden or a garden you’ve visited.

You can choose to display plants in close-up, portrait or landscape format. This class is intended to appeal to photographers who simply love alpine plants and gardens.

First Prize: Mark Mathews, UK

Acantholimon litvinovii. Alpine House at RHS Garden, Wisley, UK: October 2019.

Camera: Huawei P20 Pro (Smartphone) with a 4mm lens (equivalent 27mm): exposure 1/195sec at f1.8, ISO 50.

Second Prize: Celia Sawyer, UK

Fritillaria meleagris. Own garden in Long Compton, Warwickshire, UK: April 2019.

Camera: Nikon Coolpix A900 (Compact Superzoom) with a 4.3-151mm lens at 4.3mm (equivalent 24mm): exposure 1/100sec at f3.4, ISO 80.

Third Prize: Greg Johnson, Australia

 Meconopsis horridula. Grown from seed in own garden in Canberra, Australia: November 2019.

Camera: Samsung S9 (Smartphone) with a 4.3mm lens (equivalent 26mm): exposure 1/145sec at f2.4, ISO 50.

Class 5: Alpine Garden (or Part of a Garden) Showing Features Used to Grow Alpine Plants

In this class, we look for photos showing troughs, raised beds, crevice gardens, pots, screes or alpine houses.

We hope the photographs in this class will inspire others to grow and display alpines in a myriad of different ways, from a compact, individual setting to on a grander scale.

First Prize: John Dower, UK

Lauteret Botanic Garden, at 2100 metres in the Dauphiné Alps, France: May 2014.

Camera: Panasonic DMC-FZ200 (Bridge) with a 4.5-108mm lens at 4.5mm (equivalent 25mm): exposure 1/200sec at f4.0, ISO 160.

Second Prize: Celia Sawyer, UK

Erigeron glaucus. Growing in a wall in Appledore, Devon, UK: June 2019.

Camera: Apple iPhone 7 (Smartphone) with a 4.0mm lens (equivalent 28mm): exposure 1/798sec at f1.8, ISO 20.

Third Prize: Vida Svahnstrom, Scotland

Alpine House at St Andrews Botanic Garden, Scotland: September 2018.

Camera: Nikon Coolpix L820 (Bridge) with a 4.0-120mm lens at 7.7mm (equivalent 43mm): exposure 1/200sec at f3.6, ISO 125.

Class 6: Alpine Fauna in the Wild

Wild flowers are always accompanied by animals, from the mammoth to the miniscule.

Many are popular subjects for keen photographers. So, in this class, we invite photos of animals in a mountain landscape or among alpine plants.

First Prize: Tony Goode, Wales

Blue butterfly (Plebejus sp.). Meadows at Antagnes, Alpes Vaudoises, Switzerland: June 2019.

Camera: Nikon D5200 (DSLR) with a 55-200mm lens at 200mm (equivalent 300mm): exposure 1/250sec at f14, ISO 640.

Second Prize: Niels Finnerup, Denmark

Sterna paradisaea (Arctic Tern). Island of Gotland, Sweden: June 2018.

Camera: Nikon D750 (DSLR) with a 300mm f2.8 lens: exposure 1/200sec at f4.0, ISO 100.

Third Prize: Roy Bowden, UK

Podarcis siculus (Italian Wall Lizard). Anapa gorge, Sicily: April 2018.

Camera: Canon EOS 5D II (DSLR) with a 70-200mm lens at 200mm: exposure 1/100sec at f10, ISO 100.

Class 7: Alpine Landscapes

Here, judges look for photos of an alpine landscape that concentrates on the scenic beauty or geology of the setting, so photos needn’t feature alpine plants.

Photographers should be inspired by unusual natural beauty, from the small and intimate to the grand panorama.

First Prize: James Miller, UK

Laguna Colorada, Reserva Nacional de Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa, Bolivia: September 2013.

Camera: Olympus EPL-1 (Micro Four Thirds – Compact System) with a 14-42mm lens at 14mm (equivalent 28mm): exposure 1/400sec at f9.0, ISO 200.

Second Prize: Ursula Junker, Switzerland

Hannig above Sass-Fee, Valais, Switzerland: October 2019.

 Camera: Nikon D7500 (DSLR) with a Nikkor 10-20mm lens at 12mm (equivalent 17mm): exposure 1/500sec at f11, ISO 100.

Third Prize: Mark Mathews, UK

Grey Lake, south of Kangding, Sichuan, China: June 2019.

Camera: Huawei P20 Pro (Smartphone) with a 4mm lens (equivalent 27mm): exposure 1/1370sec at f1.8: ISO 50.

Class 8: Quirky Images of Alpine Plants

For this class, anything goes! Judges are looking for a quirky, amusing or unusual image featuring alpine plants and digital manipulation is allowed. Let your imagination run riot!

First Prize: Alex O’Sullivan, UK

Azorella-monantha and Tom Pickering in Patagonia: December 2018.

Camera: Nikon Coolpix S33 (Tough – Compact) with a 4.1-12.3mm lens at 7.1mm (equivalent 71mm): exposure 1/640sec at f5.3, ISO 125.

Second Prize: Hilary Birks, Norway

Cynomorium coccineum (Desert Microphone). Wadi Rum, Jordan: March 2019.

Camera: Pentax K-70 (DSLR) with Pentax DA 18-135 lens at 53mm (equivalent 79mm): exposure 1/100sec at f8, ISO 400.

Third Prize: Tony Goode, Wales

Crocus niveus in own garden. A sequence of shots stitched together using the free online service at Fotor Collage Maker.

Camera: Nikon D5200 (DSLR) with a 55-200mm lens at 200mm (equivalent 300mm): exposure 1/200sec at f13, ISO NA.

Enter the Photographic Competition

If these inspirational photos have piqued your interest, maybe you’ll consider entering our Photographic Competition yourself this year?

Visit our pages about the competition, how to enter the competition and the compeition rules for more info!