Supported by HISTORY®, The Royal Photographic Society and All About History
The first Historic Photographer of the Year awards showcase the world’s very best historic places and cultural sites from across the globe, capturing everything from the most famous national treasures to the obscure and forgotten hidden gems.
In its first year the competition has attracted a swathe of astonishing entries from amateurs and professionals who have climbed, hiked and trekked their way to snap stunning historic places from every corner of the globe, from iconic landmarks to far-flung forgotten ruins.
The overall winning image was shot by Matt Emmett from Reading and taken at RAF Nocton Hall, an abandoned former military hospital. He takes home the £2,500 prize. The winning public vote photograph was a shot of Jedburgh Abbey taken on a school trip, and was won by Manchester’s Jenna Johnston who walks away with £250.
The Awards offer a window to the history which exists all around us; to hardcore history enthusiasts or those that simply wish to capture wonderful imagery of incredible places from our past. Truly great images of historical sites can change the way people look at the world, whether it’s a picturesque English castle or a ruined Roman villa, they can challenge opinion and stimulate debate.
Commenting, judge Dan Snow said:
“Historical photography is about seeking out a great subject, getting up ridiculously early, climbing high and waiting. Real history doesn’t always have to be a museum or gallery. It can be a proper adventure out to the middle of nowhere, where you stumble across decaying remnants of the past. The best history photography often captures sites which may be entirely lost to our grandchildren.”
Entries have been judged on originality, composition and technical proficiency alongside the story behind the image and its historical impact.
Judging all entries is a panel of experts including broadcaster and historian Dan Snow, VP Programming and Head of HISTORY Dan Korn, All About History Magazine Editor-in-Chief James Hoare and David Gilbert, Chair of Creative United.
On the winning image, James Hoare said:
“I love Matt’s image, it’s simple, effective and hyperlocal, and it makes some important points. Conserve-as-found is increasingly a part of the heritage landscape and Matt captures not some frozen image of calcified past, but an image of an ongoing history, one that didn’t end when the doors slammed shut and the air crew mustered out. This is a history that’s very much alive and shifting like dappled sunlight through the vines, reminding us not just of the changing value of what we have, but the changing value of our role in remembering it. Matt firmly establishes history as being forever in the corner of our eye wherever we roam.”
Dan Korn from HISTORY said:
“It was a pleasure to have an opportunity to judge such a wonderful array of high quality entrants, with images touching on so many critical periods of British history. Such was the quality on display, it was difficult to select a clear winner. All deserve hearty congratulations for their talents and creativity.”
The Historic Photographer of the Year Awards is a joint venture between two cultural brands, Trip Historic, the leading online travel guide to the world’s historic sites, and History Hit which brings unique content and insight from some of the UK’s best known historians and academics. Official partners include television channel, HISTORY® and The Royal Photographic Society, the UK’s oldest and largest photography membership organisation.
For further details visit the official Historic Photographer of the Year Awards website.