As the photos started to arrive it was a pleasant realisation that nearly all the favourites were trees known to me and it was heartening that we shared the same aesthetic and love for a tree . Some trees are land marks and remind us where we are, others were because of where and how they had grown and remind us of our sometimes extreme weather and their struggle to survive. Trees that are remote with a backdrop of sea or mountain capture the nature of Mull. The winner of the children’s category is Finn Turnbull. Finn says it’s his favourite because it’s great to climb on. It shows a massive tree, fallen but surrounded by new young trees.
The joint winners in the adult category are Eug Thomasson and Sarah Darling. Their images are very different, Eug’s can be interpreted in many ways but I think it wins on atmosphere. It demonstrates the dramatic environmental change of clear fell. Leaving us with an unfamiliar landscape of total destruction, but some trees escape and reminds us that new growth will happen and there is an opportunity for a better new forest.
Sarah’s is an image of a remarkable event. I have always been fascinated by the miniature gardens of mosses and grasses growing in the rotting tops of fence posts. In this case a tree seed has germinated in the perfect moist conditions and has grown and did well in its confined environment. This Rowan has pushed down its roots through the post eventually splitting it open.
Finn for his prize will have his photo enlarged and printed on a canvas for his bedroom wall.
Eug has won a gift voucher for Lip na Cloiche, and Sarah, a hand turned bowl by Nick Evans.
Thanks very much for all your photographs. Congratulations, everyone is a winner but sadly only three prizes.
Three very different photographs and each so interesting in its own way. Well done, Finn, Eug and Sarah.
I love an atmospheric photo. Can’t resist, but a tree growing through a fence post. Brilliant!