Five entries showcasing the winter wonders of the local landscape have been selected as winners of the Clyde and Avon valleys’ seasonal photo competition – as the hunt for spring winners begins.

Winter views of a moody view of The Beeches in Lanark, a view over the Clyde at Mauldslie, sculptures at Chatelherault and a sunny snow shot in Braidwood by Denise Baranowski (Lanark), Aileen McCaskill (Law), Carrie Metcalf Watson (Ferniegair) and Stuart Stevenson (Braidwood), were the four winning images across the categories of Geology, Inspired by the Landscape, Play and Woodlands, selected from over 100 entries.

The judging panel were so impressed by an image of the rare nacreous clouds over Nemphlar that they awarded 11 year old Lucy West (Nemphlar), a prize too. Subsequent rounds of the competition will include an under 16’s category.

The images were picked by the Heritage Lottery Fund supported Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership (CAVLP) team with the assistance of Crawford based Archibald Photography Ltd, and framed copies of the winning entries were awarded to their owners at the CAVLP Offices in New Lanark on Wednesday 23 March.

“We are so impressed by the quality and volume of winter entries,” says Sarah O’Sullivan, Communications Officer for CAVLP. “The diversity of the images showcases what a special part of the world the Clyde and Avon valleys are. With such stunning landscape on our doorstep, we know that the spring round of the competition will be full of beautiful and colourful images taken throughout the valleys.”

Spring entries to the competition can now be submitted under the themes of Geology, Industrial Heritage, Orchards, Wildlife and Woodlands, until 31 May.

Each winning photographer wins a framed print of their photograph and submitted images may be selected for display in Clyde and Avon valleys exhibitions, postcards and digital interpretation of the area on the CAVLP website, alongside credit to the original photographer.

Judging takes place quarterly, after each seasonal category closes. Spring entries should be submitted to CAVLP by 31 May 2016 at midnight, with summer entries closing 31 August. Overall winners from throughout the year will be picked in September 2016.

Photographs should be taken in, or looking into, the Area of Great Landscape Value which follows the Clyde and Avon valleys from just south of Hamilton to New Lanark and Strathaven respectively. A map outlining the boundary is available in the competition guidelines, available on the CAVLP website, www.clydeandavonvalleys.org. The area is well known for attractions such as Chatelherault Country Park and New Lanark World Heritage Site but there are many, more hidden features of the landscape that tell an equally important part of the area’s story.

Open to all ages and photographic abilities, now with a separate competition for under 16’s, entries are judged on creativity and individuality as much as technical skill.

“This competition has gone from strength to strength,” says Donna Marshall, Manager of CAVLP.  “More than double the number of local photographers entered the competition this time round and they’ve captured the most beautiful and diverse views of the amazing and unique landscape of the Clyde and Avon valley. We have been hugely impressed by the quality range of photography talent locally.”

Photographs can be entered in a digital format to info@clydeandavonvalley.com or in print format to: David Dale’s House, Rosedale Street, New Lanark, ML11 9DJ.

To see all of the winter entries, please visit the gallery on the CAVLP Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ClydeandAvonValleyLandscapePartnership

For full information on the competition, visit www.clydeandavonvalley.com/news or email info@clydeandavonvalley.com.

Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership
www.clydeandavonvalley.org