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Thursday 9 Dec 2021

World-class photography showcased at Network Rail stations

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National

Network Rail is unveiling the nation’s most breath-taking landscapes from this year’s prestigious Landscape Photographer of the Year competition, in a free exhibition that will tour Britain’s biggest and busiest stations.

Visitors to London Bridge station can explore - until 9 January 2022 - a diverse range of stunning compositions from verdant country footpaths, to majestic riverside retreats. Following its residency at London Bridge, the exhibition will visit a number of stations including Leeds, Birmingham New Street, Manchester Piccadilly and Edinburgh Waverley.  

The exhibition includes the 2021 winner of the Network Rail supported ‘Lines in the Landscape’ category, which aims to find the photography that best captures the spirit of today's railway as it relates to the landscape around it. Photographed by Malcolm Blenkey, the winning image is a beautifully composed shot of a steam engine travelling along the Glenfinnan Viaduct in Inverness-shire.    

Commenting on his win, Malcolm said: “I am absolutely delighted to have won this year’s Lines in the Landscape category. As a passionate photographer, it’s an honour to receive this recognition particularly as the standard and talent in the competition is so high. Set in the West Highlands, Glenfinnan Viaduct is a really special location to capture.”

The Landscape Photographer of the Year competition is now in its 14^th year and is open to professionals and amateurs, showcasing exquisite images of landscapes and cityscapes from around the UK. There are four categories, plus a youth competition for under-18s, with winners sharing a prize fund worth £20,000, and a top prize of £10,000.

Awards founder, Charlie Waite, said: “The British landscape, both rural and urban, attracts UK residents and visitors from all over the world and these awards showcase its wonderfully diverse appeal - captured by some of the country’s most talented photographers. It is very probable that every visitor will have brought a crucially important item in their luggage – a camera. In my view, photography has become the people’s new common language. The camera offers an opportunity to embrace an experience in the form of a photograph. It allows everyone to hold on to and fully own precious moments.”

Stuart Kirkwood, group director of property at Network Rail, commented: “We are committed to making our stations exceptional and engaging places that not only appeal to people travelling through these spaces but also attract surrounding communities too. That’s why we are delighted to host this exhibition – celebrating Britain’s magnificent scenery – in some of our biggest stations. We hope our visitors will enjoy and be inspired by the world-class photography on display.”