FATHER AND SON IN WALES COMMENDED FOR NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD

Tuesday 25 Oct 2011

FATHER AND SON IN WALES COMMENDED FOR NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD

Region & Route:: | Wales & Western: Wales & Borders; | Wales & Western

Three talented Welsh photographers have received commendations for the Network Rail 'Lines in the Landscape' special award at the Take a View Landscape Photographer of the Year Awards 2011. Among the trio of runners up is a family of father and son - Taliesin Coombes and Robin Coombes.

These four entries from Wales have dominated the short list for the Network Rail award, which celebrates the best photography for the British rail network. These were chosen from around 500 entries by competition organiser and reknowned photographer, Charlie Waite.

Photographs by Rory Trappe (North Wales), Taliesin Coombes (Cardiff) and Robin Coombes (Cardiff) will be featured in the awards book, Landscape Photographer of the Year Collection 5, by AA Publishing. Their work will also be part of an electronic display along with more than 100 of the very best images from this year’s competition at a free exhibition at The National Theatre on the Southbank in London from 5 December 2011.

Last year’s Young Photographer of the Year, Taliesin Coombes, picked up a 2011 commendation for the Network Rail ‘Lines in the Landscape’ section. Two photographs of the railway network taken by his father Robin were also commended for the same award. Rory Trappe was commended for a long exposure shot of a train leaving the Blaenau Ffestiniog station in North Wales.

Commenting on the competition, Charlie Waite said: "It was a delight to be the judge for the Network Rail Award again this year. Our railways have always been very close to my heart and, over the last few years, I have personally made the decision to travel by train, rather than car, whenever I can. The juxtaposition of the rail infrastructure with the surrounding landscape presents a myriad of photographic opportunities and it was good to see many of them realised so well this year."

Mark Langman, Wales route managing director, Network Rail said, “Network Rail has so many stunning structures that stretch across our land and waters, helping to create beautiful views such as this, which inspire so many to capture them every year. Network Rail has the special duty of protecting and promoting our historic network as well as building a modern railway for the 21st century. Travelling by rail is becoming ever more popular, and we hope that, through this competition, even more people will recognise its importance to Britain today.”

The photograph, taken by Shahbaz Majeed from Dundee, was deemed the very best image of the national rail network. Mr Majeed wins a weekend break and a guided tour of the Severn Tunnel’s Sudbrook Pumping Station, including travelling down the 180ft lift shaft to the complex of underground culverts, sub-tunnels where you can safely observe the trains as they pass.

Notes to editors

Please note that all images supplied by or on behalf of Take a view remain the copyright of their respective photographers. They may only be used for press/promotional purposes in direct connection with the Take a view - Landscape Photographer of the Year Awards and must be credited.

The overall winner of the Landscape Photographer of the Year 2011 was Robert Fulton from North Lanarkshire with his remarkable image of a winter field in Stirlingshire, Scotland. His picture was chosen by the judges from the thousands of entries that showcased the richly diverse landscape of the UK. Robert wins the top prize of £10,000.

Network Rail Lines in the Landscape Award – runners up 2011
- Ian Cameron from Moray - Culloden Viaduct, Highlands, Scotland
- Robin Coombes from Cardiff – Speeding train, Bescot, West Midlands, England
- Robin Coombes from Cardiff – After the storm, West Highlands, Scotland
- Dale Rockell from Bedfordshire – speeding train, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire,
- Rory Trappe from North Wales - Blaenau Ffestiniog station, Wales
- Aaron Yeoman from Hertfordshire - Criss-cross, Hungerford Bridge, London
- Tim Daniels from Cambridgeshire - Night time passenger train, Leicestershire, England
- Carl Hodge from Cumbria - Ulverston Viaduct, Cumbria, England
- Taliesin Coombes from Cardiff - Crossing trains, Rannoch Moor, Scotland

Exhibition details:
Take a view – Landscape Photographer of the Year 2011 Exhibition
In association with Network Rail & Epson UK
With over 100 beautiful landscape images printed using the latest Epson inkjet technology

Dates: Monday, 5th December 2011 - 28th January 2012
Times: Generally open 9.30am – 10.30pm, Monday – Saturday (from 4pm on Bank Holidays) and Sunday 12pm - 6pm. Please check National Theatre website for final details. NB. Closed on 8^th January for NT event.
Venue: Lyttelton Foyer, National Theatre, South Bank, London SE1 9PX
020 7452 3400

PRIVATE VIEW (by invitation): Tuesday, 6^th December 2011

Seeing Landscapes – Charlie Waite talks
To tie in with the exhibition, renowned landscape photographer and Awards founder, Charlie Waite, will give talks, in the National Theatre Bookshop, at 7.45pm on the 13th & 14th December 2011 and the 23rd & 24th January 2012. Timed tours will be in the afternoons of the same days. Tickets: £5.00 for talks & £8.00 for tours from the box office. www.charliewaite.com

Book details:
Landscape Photographer of the Year: Collection 5
Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: AA Publishing (31 Oct 2011)
175 images
ISBN-13: 978-0749571405

2011 Results (with image location):
Overall winner – Robert Fulton – Stirlingshire, Scotland
Winner – Classic view – Tim Harvey – Guernsey, Channel Islands
Runner-up – Classic view – Angus Clyne – River Tay, Scotland
Winner – Living the view – Baxter Bradford – Hampshire, England
Runner-up – Living the view – Mark Bradshaw – Diner on A69, England
Winner – Urban view – Howard Kingsnorth – London
Runner-up – Urban view – Tim Morland – London
Winner – Your view – Peter Clark – Cheshire
Runner-up – Your view – Dietmar Herzog – Scottish Highlands
Network Rail ‘Lines in the Landscape’ Award – Shahbaz Majeed – Dundee, Scotland
The Calumet ‘This is Britain’ Award – Simon Atkinson – N Yorks Coast, England
The Sunday Times Magazine’s Choice – Michael Diblicek – Kent, England

Youth class (16 and under)
Overall winner – Oscar Stewart-Packe – London
Winner – Classic view – William Lee – Lincolnshire
Winner – Living the view – Jessica Nineham – Hampshire
Winner – Urban view – Matt Woods – Hampshire
Winner – Your view – William Lee – Lincolnshire

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