RHS Photographic Competition 2007
Sarah Gallifent has taken top honours in the RHS Photographic Competition 2007, sponsored by Medici, and was named RHS Photographer of the Year, winning joint first prize in the Close Up Category. The Devon-based photographer's striking image of Phormium 'Alison Blackman', was selected from over 3,800 entries, from across the UK and around the world.
It took the panel of judges two days to decide on the 19 winning photographs in the six competition categories. Chris Young, one of the competition judges and deputy editor of The Garden, had this to say about the entires this year:
"The over-riding observation for me this year was that ‘amateur’ photography is no longer a term I fully recognise. The overall quality of the images - in terms of composition, clarity and technical ability - was as good, and in many cases a lot better, than some of the professionals I have encountered in the past. I can honestly say that in each category, the final five or so images were all as good as each other: getting to first, second and third was a challenge. But, it was a great position to be in, and hugely exciting for the ongoing development and status of garden photography.”
The winners
RHS Photographer of the Year
Sarah Gallifent (Bideford, Devon)
Plant Portrait of the Year
First: Jacky Parker (Iver, Bucks)
Second: Kevin Howchin (Malmesbury, Wilts)
Third: Carl Franklin (Marden, Kent)
Highly Commended: Roger Swingler
Commended: Diane Morrison, Gillian Plummer
Close Up Photograph of the Year
Joint First: Sarah Gallifent (Bideford, Devon)
Joint First: Richard Davies
(Ipswich, Suffolk)
Third: Carl Franklin (Marden, Kent)
Highly Commended: Benno White
Commended: Jacky Parker, Justina Burnett
Tree or Shrub Photograph of the Year
First: Peter Searight (Haslemere, Surrey)
Second: Anna Stowe (Swindon, Wilts)
Third: Dianna Jazwinski (Poole, Dorset)
Highly Commended: Tina Herzig
Commended: Anna Stowe, Nigel Chapman
Garden View Photograph of the Year
First: James Duffy (Leatherhead, Surrey)
Second: Justina Burnett (London)
Third: Martin Phipps (Blandford Forum, Dorset)
Highly Commended: Alison Walker-Smith
Commended: Alison Walker-Smith, Brian Alexander
Wildlife in the Garden Photograph of the Year
First: David Maitland (Calne, Wilts)
Second: Jacky Parker (Iver, Bucks)
Third: Mary Sutton (Hereford, Herefordshire)
Highly Commended: Andy Phillipson
Commended: Jacky Parker, Jenny McGowan
People in the Garden Photograph of the Year
First: Edwina Dickinson (Barnstaple, Devon)
Second: R. Firth (Cardiff)
Third: C. Gage (South Nutfield, Surrey)
Highly Commended: Andy Phillipson
Commended: Phillipa Gibson
As sponsors of the competition, The Medici Society provides the winners prizes and will also feature a selection of the winning images in the 'Chelsea Inspirations' greetings card range.
The proceeds from licensed products such as these help to fund the many activities undertaken by the RHS to promote horticulture and help gardeners.
Exhibition
The RHS Photographic Competition Exhibition, displaying all the winning images, will take place at the Medici Gallery in London from Tuesday 22 January to Saturday 26 January 2008.
Where: The heart of the capital’s art district at the Medici Gallery, 5 Cork Street,
London W1S 3LQ
When: Tuesday 22 January - Saturday 26 January 2008.
Tuesday to Friday from 10.00 – 18.00
Saturday from 11.00 – 16.00
Entry is free to all.
Judges
- Chris Young: Deputy Editor of The Garden, and has an strong interest in gardening, design and the cultural significance of gardens.
- Tim Sandall: professional photographer specialising in horticulture.
- Rob Whitworth: professional garden photographer.
Competition prizes
- Top prize of £1,000 is awarded to the RHS Photographer of the Year.
- First prize winners in each category are awarded £350 each.
- Second prize winners in each category are awarded £200 each.
- Third prize winners in each category are awarded £100 each.
The RHS Photographic Competition is supported by Medici, the fine art publisher