The 15th exhibition of the International Garden Photographer of the Year (IGPOTY) competition opens here in the Botanic Garden on 15 March.
This year it will have a special addition – the winning images from the inaugural competition for visitors’ photographs of the Garden will also be displayed in the exhibition.
CUBG Director, Professor Beverley Glover will be congratulating the winners and handing them their prizes at the exhibition opening on Thursday 15 March. She says:
“We’re thrilled with the results from the special International Garden Photographer of the Year (IGPOTY) ‘The Spirit and Beauty of Cambridge University Botanic Garden’ competition. I’d like to thank everyone who entered the competition and congratulate the winners!
As a plant scientist, I’m inspired and intrigued by plants and opening up this competition to our visitors has provided a wonderful opportunity to see the Garden through their eyes – or lenses!”
As a plant scientist, I’m inspired and intrigued by plants and opening up this competition to our visitors has provided a wonderful opportunity to see the Garden through their eyes – or lenses!
‘The Spirit and Beauty of Cambridge University Botanic Garden’ winners
Over 400 photographs of the Garden were entered into the competition and were judged by a small panel comprised of IGPOTY and CUBG staff, including Professor Glover.
The three winning images will be featured in the exhibition, alongside a selection of higher-placed winning photographs from across the competition’s main categories, such as; ‘Beautiful Gardens’, ‘The Beauty of Plants’, ‘Wildlife in the Garden’ and newest addition — ‘The World of Fungi’.
1st: 'Autumn's Colours', Diana Harrison
First place is awarded to Diana Harrison, for her ‘Autumn’s Colours’ photograph. Diana explains: “In the background, autumn colour is on display on the swamp cypress trees – Taxodium distichum by the lake in the Garden, and in the foreground are the vibrant red berries of Cotoneaster.”
2nd: 'Crisp Mornings', José Teles
Second place is awarded to José Teles for his ‘Crisp Mornings’ photograph. José says: “On an early morning in February, I visited the Garden as soon as the gates opened, allowing me to explore (for a while) by myself. It was a crisp winter morning, with fresh snow blanketing the central lawn and providing the perfect pairing to the soft morning light that day. The way the light reflected from the Glasshouses and framed the vegetation gave the scene a magical and peaceful aura, that I tried to capture with this photo.”
3rd: ‘Bended Boughs’, Allan Hale
Third place is awarded to Allan Hale for ‘Bended Boughs’. Allan explains: “I liked the way that the boughs of this old tree, made a frame within a frame and the verdant vegetation had a gentle glow.”
Beverley continues: “The winning set of images capture the Garden across the seasons, showing it as a wonderful place to visit all year round. It’s also lovely to see that specific plants in our collection have been captured, as well as landscapes. Together, they successfully showcase the peace, tranquillity, drama, diversity and colour the Garden provides. We hope that they will inspire people to come and enjoy the Garden and our collection of plants throughout the year, as well as this beautiful exhibition which will be on display in the Garden from March.”
James McGlinchey, Exhibitions Manager, IGPOTY says:
“It is always nice when we launch a new special award for venues, but at Cambridge University Botanic Garden – it was long overdue. We are delighted that this exhibition finally reveals the beauty and diversity of the Garden (throughout the seasons), and showcases it to the world.”
We hope our visitors will enjoy exploring the selection of winning images, which will be shown outdoors and in large format near our Grass Maze.
Exhibition dates: 15 March to 6 May 2022. The exhibition is free – normal Garden admission applies.
The Spirit and Beauty of Cambridge University Botanic Garden competition - finalists and highly commended winners:
