‘Lamproderma on Didymium, ancient woodland, Buckinghamshire, UK’ by Barry Webb FRPS, finalist, The World of Fungi, IGPOTY 18
From perfumed hillsides in Jaipur to the ancient woodlands of Buckinghamshire, nature is displayed in all its glory in the 18th International Garden Photographer of the Year (IGPOTY).
Among the winners and finalists honoured by the latest edition of the annual competition are ten members of the RPS. Some have been recognised in more than one category.
Awarded first place are images by Justin Minns FRPS (Plants and Planet), Honey J Walker ARPS (Abstract Views) and Barry Webb FRPS (The World of Fungi). Also recognised in the competition are Diana Chan FRPS, Brian Cooke ARPS, Marlene Finlayson FRPS, Mark Hetherington ARPS, Gigi Williams FRPS ASIS and Robin Williams FRPS ASIS.
Angela Morgan ARPS is a finalist in the Portfolios category, run in association with the RPS.
Discover a curated selection of higher-placed awarded images from the competition at the International Garden Photographer of the Year exhibition, at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London, until 16 March, before touring.
Meantime, immerse yourself in some of the world’s top garden photography – all by RPS members.
‘Gardens of Jaipur, Rajasthan, India’ by Honey J Walker ARPS, first place, Abstract Views, IGPOTY 18
“An in-camera, multiple exposure image of the perfumed hillside gardens of Jaipur, overlaid with colourful saris. The birds and star were added in post-processing to complete the abstract view.”
‘Contrasts, Felixstowe, Suffolk, UK’ by Justin Minns FRPS, first place, Plants and Planet, IGPOTY 18
“The port of Felixstowe, pictured in the background, is Great Britain’s busiest container port, which I framed in the twisted shape of nearby dead trees. This area used to be behind the sea wall and was turned into a salt marsh, killing the trees.”
‘Spirit fading, Maligne Lake, Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada’ by Gigi Williams FRPS ASIS, second place, Plants and Planet, IGPOTY 18
“Spirit Island, Alberta is a spiritual place for the Stoney Nakoda First Nation people who consider mountains the physical representations of ancestors. Since this island is surrounded on three sides by the same mountain range, it makes this a special location.
“How tragic it is to see that half of the majestic trees on the island are dead or dying, having been invaded by the mountain pine beetle. The ‘island’, which is one for only part of the year, is on Maligne Lake in the Jasper National Park, part of the UNESCO Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site.”
‘Dahlia ‘Sir Alf Ramsey’, Celebration Garden, Aylett Nurseries, UK’ by Brian Cooke ARPS, second place, The Beauty of Plants, IGPOTY 18
“Dahlia ‘Sir Alf Ramsey’ is a lovely example of this species with its large decorative double flowers. From a yellow interior a multitude of delicate heart-shaped, stripy pink and white petals emerge. This specimen had been blown by the wind to produce a dishevelled yet attractive look. I added a background texture in Adobe Photoshop which complements the lovely tones of this flower.”
‘Porcelain mushroom from below, ancient woodland, Buckinghamshire, UK’ by Barry Webb FRPS, first place, The World of Fungi, IGPOTY 18
“A group of porcelain mushrooms found quite high up, on a fallen beech tree’s branch, in an ancient woodland. This enabled me to shoot upwards and reveal the gill structures which were enhanced by the light coming through the tree canopy. This image is comprised of 19 images, focus-stacked together.”
‘Ethereal, Ambleside, Lake District National Park, UK’ by Mark Hetherington ARPS, finalist, Trees, Woods and Forests, IGPOTY 18
“This photograph, taken from Black Crag above Ambleside in the Lake District, was an incredible morning with a cloud inversion all around the summit. With the swirling mist coming and going I kept spotting Wray Castle popping in and out of the mist. I put my 300mm lens on [the camera] and waited until the castle was just showing through, then managed to capture this view with some lovely misty layers.”
‘Paterson’s curse, Wilpena Pound, Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park, Australia’ by Robin Williams FRPS ASIS, finalist, Wildflower Landscapes, IGPOTY 18
“Wild swathes of the noxious weed Paterson’s curse (Echium plantagineum) grow at the ancient site of Wilpena Pound, a remnant valley floor from an ancient range of mountains that have been eroding away over millions of years. This image is comprised of a focus shift of three images.”
‘Happy encounter, Hong Kong, China’ by Diana Chan FRPS, finalist, Wildlife in the Garden, IGPOTY 18
“This image captures two damselflies meeting up on the flowerhead covered in dewdrops at a garden in the morning. Multiple images were focus-stacked together, with the addition of the background image of water droplets.”
From the series ‘Delft tile designs’ by Angela Morgan ARPS, Finalist, Portfolios, IGPOTY 18
“Characteristically blue and white, Delft tiles are instantly recognisable. The development of the Dutch Delftware pottery in the mid-1600s was a response to the popularity of Chinese blue and white porcelain. Patterns on early Delft tiles imitated the oriental imports, and often featured stylised representations of flowers and foliage.
“What appealed to me was the sheer delight of the creative process, the manipulation of natural forms to create something joyous and new.
“This portfolio is my interpretation of these early Dutch motifs, constructed entirely from photographs of real flowers, stems and leaves.”
The International Garden Photographer of the Year exhibition is at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London, 15 February-16 March 2025 then touring.
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