Art Evolution » Winners announced in prestigious photographic competition (December 2007)

Winners announced in prestigious photographic competition (December 2007)

Chick Defense, the award winning image by John Short.

The results are in…..and Washington Wetland Centre is proud to reveal its winners in the WWT Nikon Photographic Competition 2007.

After much deliberation and nearly 500 photographs, the judges - WWT Washington centre manager Chris Francis and local wildlife photographer Eric Bird - awarded first place to Art Evolution photographer John Short (adult category) and Bridie Husband (junior category).

The lucky pair each wins a set of Nikon Travelite EX 8 X 25 waterproof binoculars worth more than £100.

John and Bridie represented the North East, at an event in London, as their stunning images went head to head with those from WWT’s eight other UK centres.

Mr Short, from Whitburn, said he was delighted to hear that his photograph had been chosen.

“It is a huge compliment to have experts such as the WWT select one of my images for submission into the national finals,” he said. “This success will without doubt motivate me to continue to develop my photographic skills whilst enjoying the wonderful surroundings and resources of the WWT in Washington.”

Mr Short, a 54-year-old marketing director, has been a keen wildlife photographer for many years, taking and developing his own images from the age of 17. More recently, he has expanded into digital equipment and uses telephoto lenses so as not to disturb his subject.

“I think it is important not to cause threat or distress in my photography. ‘Take only photographs, leave only footprints’ is a good motto,” added the dad-of-two, whose children live in Australia with his six grandchildren.

Winner of the junior category, Bridie Husband, has only been trying her hand behind the camera lens for a year. But already she appears to have a natural gift for composing shots, a talent which was picked up on by the judges.

WWT joined forces with industry leaders Nikon earlier this year to launch its first annual photographic competition, which aimed to capture the beauty of WWT’s nine diverse wetland centres. Entries to Washington included everything from colourful woodland birds, delicate dragonflies and vivid autumn woodland to fluffy ducklings, dramatic shots of birds in flight and the centre’s cheeky trio of goats.

What the judges said of John Short:

“This image is the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. It represents the struggle for life – a struggle which WWT is working tirelessly to overcome. It also juxtaposes the innocence of the gosling and the fierce protectiveness of the parent perfectly. Technically, the shot is beautifully composed and the photographer has made great efforts with the angle.”

April 4, 2008 11:47am

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