Monday 21 Oct 2013
Cumbrian images commended in national photography competition
- Region & Route:
Two striking images of the railway in the Lune Gorge in Cumbria were commended in the Network Rail-sponsored Lines in the Landscape Award at this year’s Take a View’s Landscape Photographer of the Year competition.
Two entries by Robin Coombes were among the ten commended by renowned landscape photographer Charlie Waite in the Lines in the Landscape category. Their images were judged to be amongst the best of around 500 photographs that capture Britain’s extensive rail network and its relationship with our landscape.
Robin’s photographs depict two very different scenes in Cumbria’s Lune Gorge. In the first shot, a Pendolino travels along the West Coast Main Line, which runs parallel to Saturday traffic on the M6 and an approaching thunder storm.
The second photograph is more nostalgic, as Robin explains: “This was my chance to shoot the A4 Pacific 60009 ‘Union of South Africa’ on the Cumbria Mountain Express at full line speed in torrential rain during a thunder and lightning storm. Rain was falling so hard I did not even see the train come around the curve, so it was one chance to lift camera, shoot and hope for the best. It is one of my all-time favourite shots and shows that railways continue to run in all winds and weathers regardless of motive power or age.”
Robin will have his images printed in a coffee table book showcasing around 150 of the best entries and all the category winners, including the overall Landscape Photographer of the Year 2013.*
Dyan Crowther, route managing director for Network Rail, said: "This competition celebrates some spectacular scenes where the railway meets the great British landscape. The railway we manage and maintain form a significant part of the British landscape including the spectacular route through the Lune Gorge. Robin has captured two very different scenes in the Gorge in a beautiful and thoughtful way. Well done to him, and all others commended in the Lines in the Landscape category."
Notes to editors
The best images from this year's competition will be displayed at an exhibition at the National Theatre in London from 7th December 2013 to 8th February 2014.
Landscape Photographer of the Year: Collection 7 – published by AA Publishing will be available from 31st October RRP £25.
Robin took his commended images using a Nikon D7000 with 18-300mm lens @ 250mm (35mm equiv = 375mm). 1/640 sec, f/8, ISO2000 and a Nikon D7000 with 18-300mm lens @ 72mm (35mm equiv = 108mm). 1/500 sec, f/9, ISO400.
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