We reveal the winners of our photography competition sponsored by Wilkinson Cameras
This tranquil shot of Lyme Park has won the man behind the lens the 2018 Cheshire Life Photographer of the Year competition. It was taken by Tony Marsh, who has won a Sony A6000 camera worth £499, provided by the competition sponsor, Wilkinson Cameras.
‘I’m made up,’ said Tony, from Warrington. ‘I’ve been striving for this for years.’
Our panel of judges, which includes Cheshire Life editor Louise Allen-Taylor and David Parkinson of Wilkinson Cameras, praised the composition of the picture.
Tony said: ‘When we went there that morning it was raining and there was no reflection on the lake but the sky cleared a bit and the colours were reflected in the lake,’ said Tony. ‘It’s a beautiful lake – I love Lyme Park, it’s one of my favourite places to take pictures.
‘I love nature and beauty. Dunham Massey is another favourite place, I sometimes pop there in the morning and watch the deer. I also love the unspoilt beauty of the River Mersey near where we live.’
Photography has been a great stress reliever for Tony, who retired from local government five years ago. ‘It’s a great way to combat stress. I was working 12 hour shifts towards the end of my time in local government and I don’t think I had a Christmas Day off in 20 years.
‘Then when I retired I was told I had prostate cancer and I was assigned a Macmillan nurse. It was a very difficult time but then doctors told me it was an infection, not cancer. My wife said ‘Life’s too short – go and get the camera you want’.
‘Photography has been a big help to me. I love being out in beautiful places,’ said Tony, who turns 60 next year.
He has been taking pictures since he was young. His winning shot was taken on a 70D; one of two Canon cameras he uses. He added: ‘I keep saying I should learn a bit – I don’t know how to doctor my images on a computer, that all goes over my head – but I think the important thing is having an eye for a picture.’
Andy Light, from Runcorn, won second prize for his moody shot of the Mersey Gateway, winning a £150 Wilkinson voucher. Stephen Bell won third prize, a £75 gift voucher, for his striking shot of a rapeseed field at Great Barrow.
All photographs added to our online gallery will be entered into next year’s competition. Click on the ‘Upload a Photo’ tab. You will be asked to register, which is free and also allows you to comment on articles and photographs on the site and to take advantage of special offers.
The camera champions
Wilkinson Cameras is an award-winning, independent photo retailer with 10 stores throughout the North West as well as an online store at wilkinson.co.uk, where you’ll find a list of shop locations and opening times.
