LEIGHTON BUZZARD PHOTOGRAPHER TAKES RUNNERS UP PLACE IN NATIONAL COMPETITION

Monday 24 Oct 2011

LEIGHTON BUZZARD PHOTOGRAPHER TAKES RUNNERS UP PLACE IN NATIONAL COMPETITION

Region & Route:: | North West & Central

A stunning photograph of a Pendalino passing through Leighton Buzzard station has been selected as a runner-up in a national photography competition. Leighton Buzzard snapper Dale Rockell had his image shortlisted out of around 500 entries for the Network rail ‘Lines in the Landscape’ special award in the Take a View Landscape Photographer of the Year 2011.

Charlie Waite, renowned landscape photographer and competition organiser who selected the shortlist, 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."

David Higgins, Network Rail chief executive, 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."

Dale Rockell explains how he took the photograph: "There's something magical about a train speeding through a station and the Pendalino's passing through Leighton Buzzard looked amazing. I really enjoy being able to capture high resolution images such as this. I have only had my DSLR for a year, moving on from a compact, and such is my interest in creating images that I use every possible opportunity to get out with my camera and have joined a photographic interest club."

For the first time, the nine runners up from the ‘Lines in the Landscape’ category will feature in the awards book, Landscape Photographer of the Year Collection 5, by AA Publishing. Images from across the British Isles including North Wales, London, the Scottish Highlands and the West Midlands illustrate the very best of the rail network and the landscape around it.

More than 100 of the very best images from this year’s competition will be showcased at a free exhibition at The National Theatre on the Southbank in London from 5 December 2011.

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.

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.

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 8th January for NT event.

Venue: Lyttelton Foyer, National Theatre, South Bank, London SE1 9PX
020 7452 3400

PRIVATE VIEW (by invitation): Tuesday, 6th 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

Contact information

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03457 11 41 41

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Journalists
Network Rail press office - South East route
020 3357 7969
southeastroutecomms@networkrail.co.uk

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