Competition: Landscape photography winners announced

This March, hundreds of photographers - on both sides of the Atlantic - entered their stunning landscape photos to MPB’s monthly photo competition. Our team was thrilled by the quality of the submissions, and it was hard to choose the winners. Congratulations to Seán Grady and Jon Hill, who have won £100 and $100 respectively.

Take a look at the winners and the runners-up below, and remember to submit your entries for April’s photo competition.

Winners

Snowden vista by Seán Grady

This was taken on the way to Snowden Peak last September, looking down onto the two lakes, Glaslyn and Lyn Liydaw. We were so lucky with the weather. At the time, I was shooting with my old Nikon D750 fitted with the Sigma 24mm f/1.4 ART, handheld due to the gorgeous light. I have since sold the kit to MPB and replaced it with the Nikon Z7 with the Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 S, the 50mm 1.4 prime and the 70-200mm f/2.8 VR II. 

I started taking photos about four years ago. My first DSLR was the Nikon D3300, which I upgraded for the Nikon D7100, then the D750 and finally (so far) the Nikon Z7. I have updated lenses over the years, mainly through MPB. Meeting other amateur photographers, listening to advice, watching YouTube vlogs, and a lot of trial and error, I feel I am reaching a point where I am happy with my shots. My latest gear is a set of Lee filters, big stopper and three ND grad filters, plus the 105mm polariser.

My advice to anyone starting off - just keep taking photos. Don’t get disheartened that you can’t achieve those amazing shots you see plastered all over social media. Upgrade your kit when it is reasonably possible. 

My shot was one of those - when you see on your computer, it brings a huge smile to your face. I was happy with the shot, especially considering I didn’t have a single filter at the time. 

Thanks, Seán. You can see more of Seán’s work on Twitter @kingbov1

Mormon Row Barn by Jon Hill

My background as a photographer is that I am an avid amateur who enjoys landscape and wildlife photography. I started doing photography as a way to show my ex-wife that I was a good photographer, which she said I was not. I enjoy not only doing landscapes and wildlife but sports as well.  

This photo was done on the anniversary trip I took with my current wife to Jackson Hole in April of 2019. The gear I used to take the shot was a Nikon D500 with a Tamron 10-24 f/3.5-4.5 at 21mm. I also used a Manfrotto 190XPROB tripod with a Manfrotto 460m head. The shot was taken at ISO 100, and was taken around 4:30 in the afternoon. Whenever we travel, I like to plan trips where we have never been before and are a photographers ‘paradise’.  

For someone just starting, I would say shoot what you like. Also, find out as much as you can about your equipment and how to use it. Find a style that fits your own style, I like for my pictures to show the scene as I actually saw it, for example.

The only thing that I would change about the photo is I wish the sky had been a little more interesting. While the overcast and low-lying clouds added character to the shot, I would have loved to have had some sunset colours. If you have never been to Jackson, WY, it is a great destination for photography with the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone both so close. I would love to go back to the area in the fall when the leaves are turning.

Runners up

Light Dance by Yao Pey Yong

Team plantation by Paul Graville

The photo is in fact a two-shot panorama. Shot on FujiChrome Provia 100F, on a Pentax 6x7 using the excellent SMC Pentax 67 f/4.5 55-100mm zoom lens. It was scanned with an Imacon scanner. It’s of a tea plantation in Kerala, southwest India. I’d spent all weekend trying to photograph the area, but the weather and light were a bit poor and I haven’t yet learnt how to make slide film work well in anything other than bright sunshine. But on the way home, the sun came out so I stopped the taxi when I saw the tea leaves glowing in the morning light.

Thanks, Paul. You can see more of Paul’s work on Instagram @graville

Winnats Pass by Daniel Gaffey

This is Winnats Pass, in the Peak District in northern England. A narrow, steep road that winds through the rocky valley to the town of Castleton. You usually see sunrise photos from here, but I feel it looks just as good draped in fog. I took this photo on a Canon EOS 6D with a 17-40mm f/4 lens.

Thanks, Dan. You can see more of Dan’s work on Instagram @dan_gaffey92.

Sunrise over Lake McDonald by Angie Purcell @wanderinglensphotos

A huge thank you to everyone who applied, we were thrilled by the quantity and quality of the submissions.