Derbyshire Photographers Showcase Life Through the Lens in Peak District Photo Comp Success

Dramatic images of life in the Peak District have been revealed by the finalists in the annual Photographic Competition held by Friends of the Peak District.

Ilkeston photographer Geof Buxton’s striking silhouette of a hot air balloon at dawn near Chatsworth was the unanimous selection of the professional panel of judges who had the difficult task of choosing just three finalists from over 200 entries all celebrating 'Life in the Peak'.

We were all extremely impressed by the dramatic silhouette which showed an aspect of life in the countryside which is seldom seen – its not all ramblers and sheep in the Peak District! explains judge Professor Paul Hill. Geof has achieved a great deal of impact from a very simple shot and has produced a very striking image that captures the soft calm of a summer’s evening beautifully.

Runner-up Stephen Elliot of Hathersage was highly commended for his moody and unfamiliar view of Stone Low in the Peak District.

The composition in this picture is excellent, the broken wall and boulders provided a great line running through the shot and we were very impressed by the use of light and the way in which Stephen captured the beam of sunlight across the image – not an easy task, reveals panel member Karen Frenkel.

Third place went to Ripley’s Richard Cooper for his atmospheric image of the Great Ridge from Mam Tor showing man’s impact on the landscape in a creative way.

Judge Jerry Rawson remarked, This really is an imaginative shot, particularly with the composition and the use of the path to draw the viewer inwards. We were impressed by the drama of the piece and the fact that Richard had managed to capture so beautifully the natural exquisiteness of light.

As overall winner Geof will receive a specially produced canvas of print, courtesy of Hathersage’s Living Art Gallery, to be presented at a special event at the Moorlands Centre in Edale in mid-September. All twelve finalists outstanding images will be showcased on our slideshow later this month.

See also our Photographic Competition webpage