GUEST BLOG BY JENNIE FRENCH
At this year’s Festival of Nature in Bristol’s Millennium Square, I was privileged to be able to display five brilliant photographs showing off a snapshot of Bristol’s local nature. These photographs were the five finalists chosen by the judges of my Capturing Nature Photography Competition. The aim of the competition was to allow local amateur photographers to showcase the nature that can be found in and around Bristol and Bath. It also forms part of my Masters research project where I am investigating how images encourage adults to interact with local nature. With help from the Bristol Natural History Consortium to set up and run the competition, I received pictures of everything from insects to landscapes with each picture bringing a different perspective of what can be found in these two diverse cities.
After the deadline for submitting photos, the entries were judged down to five finalists; Dawn by James Blackburn, Swan Drying its Wings by Adam Andrews, Sunlight in the Woods by Holly Mynott, Gosling Gaggle by Wayne Powell and The Bristol Buck by Eleanor Smith.
Displayed in the University of the West of England’s tent, the five photos were handed over to the public to decide the overall winner of the competition. I was pleased that both adults and children were able to interact with the photos and cast their votes by sticking stars in the voting panels under each photo. While manning the stall, visitors constantly praised the quality of all the photos and many found it incredibly hard to choose their favourite!
Over the course of the weekend, 590 votes were cast with a clear overall winner; Sunlight in the Woods taken by Holly Mynott. In response to the photo, lots of visitors commented that they wanted to be there and it is clear to see why; congratulations go to Holly for taking such a beautiful photograph!
Congratulations to all the finalists and thank you to everyone who entered the competition; it was amazing to see the diversity of local nature that can be found in Bristol and Bath!
WINNER! Sunlight in the Woods by Holly Mynott
FINALIST: Swan Drying its wings by Adam Andrews
FINALIST: Gosling Gaggle by Wayne Powell
FINALIST: The Bristol Buck by Eleanor Smith
FINALIST: Dawn by James Blackburn
