Picture credit: Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett from Derbyshire triumphed in the annual UK-based contest with his image of Crummock Water in Cumbria – praised as ‘magical’ by awards founder and renowned landscape photographer Charlie Waite.
‘When Charlie rang to tell me of my win I was driving and answered on my hands-free phone,’ said Tony who presumed he must have won one of the lesser prizes.
‘Charlie said, “Put both hands on the steering wheel and take a deep breath… you have one first prize. Congratulations”.’
Tony, who beat thousands of entries to claim top spot, added: ‘It took a stiff whisky and a shared bottle of wine later in the evening before the significance really began to dawn on me.’
Charlie Waite said: ‘As each year passes, I am reminded of the great talent and commitment of those photographers who make supreme efforts to do justice to the UK’s stunning landscapes.
‘Tony Bennett’s magical image evokes the spirit of the Lakes – a personal view that speaks to many.’
Meanwhile, a photo of a steam train at Scotland’s Forth Bridge won the Lines in the Landscape Award, which is run in association with Network Rail.
A free exhibition of the best entries from this year’s Take a View Landscape Photographer of the Year opens at the National Theatre in London on 7 December.
Images from the past four years of the Lines in the Landscape competition can be seen at the National Railway Museum in York from 23 November.
USA Landscape Photographer of the Year to launch in November
