International Gardens

From misty mountains in China and crater lake of Oregon to Britain's green and pleasant lands: Dazzling images in International Garden Photographer of the Year competition go on display 

By Tara Brady

A snail in a back garden and a mole bursting out of the earth to exotic landscapes and delicate flowers, these images are all finalists in the International Garden Photographer of the Year.

Organised with the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, the photographers will have their work taken on tour and published in a book.

The overall winner from 18,000 entries was photographer Dennis Frates who captured Crater Lake National Park, in Oregon.

Enchanting: Paul Marcellini captured the wonders of Florida in the Trees, Woods and Forests category with his entry called Cypress Sanctuary

Adam Burton captures A Frosty Morning in New Forest which was a finalist entry in the Breathing Spaces category and Carol Casselden's Orchard Path at Sunrise came third place in the Beautiful Gardens category

Wildlife: Derek Galon's Humming Above My Head came second in the Wildlife in the Garden category. He captured this shot in Vancouver, Canada

 

Spectacular: Bob Keller's Lava Glow, was taken in Oregon, U.S. and was a finalist entry in the Trees, Woods and Forests category

However, Britain was well represented in the categories with pictures from Wales, Scotland, Hampshire, Bristol, Hertfordshire London parks and Cambridgeshire all featuring.

The eight categories were The Beauty of Plants, Wildflower Landscapes, Greening the City, Beautiful Gardens, Wildlife in the Garden, Trees, Woods, Forests, Breathing Spaces and The Bountiful Earth.

Photographers could enter single images or themed portfolios of six.

More than £12,000 worth of cash prizes were up for grabs as well as and medals from the Royal Photographic Society.

Magical: Adam Gibbs mystical Fairy Mist captures British Columbia in Canada. He was a finalist in the Trees, Woods and Forests category

Winner: Dennis Frates beat 18,000 entries to win the overall International Garden Photographer of the Year competition with his photograph entitled Penstemon Sunrise which captures Crater Lake National Park, Oregon

 

Nature: Alan Price won third place with his photo of a mole bursting through earth entitled The Great Escape. He took it in Caernafon, Wales

Country life: Elizabeth Debenham captures the British countryside in Hertfordshire with this photo called Aldbury Nowers which came in second place in the Breathing Spaces category

Romantic: Danny Beath captured the moment a couple walk along a river in Shrewsbury which came third place

Philip Smith, IGPOTY Director said of the overall winner: 'All of the judges thought this was the outstanding image from this year's competition.

'First and foremost, it is technically superb. The composition is wonderfully balanced, with its strong diagonal energy leading the viewer to experience this fantastic vista almost at first hand.

'The light on the rock is what creates the magic.The photographer has waited for exactly the right moment, on the right day and he has made a huge effort to be in the right place.

'The 'wildflower landscapes' category is all about plants in their natural enivronment, and this image is a fantastic example of the sheer tenacity and adaptability of plant life.'

Natural beauty: Sarah-Fiona Helme's Autumn Palette was awarded third place in the Trees, Woods and Forests category. She took this stunning photo in Lanarkshire, Scotland

Delicate: Diane Varner's Submerged in Memories was taken in California and was awarded third place in the portfolios category

Floral: This photo by Debbie Hartley taken in Canberra, Australia, called Dogwood Cover won her first place in the Beautiful Gardens category

Stunning: Rob Hunt's Kite Flying on Clifton Downs in Bristol came in first place in the Beathing Spaces category

Atmospheric: Max Rush captures a couple walking their dogs in Brockwell Park, in London, which was entered in the Breathing Spaces category

'It has been another fascinating competition with a greater range of diverse images than we have seen before and very worthy winners.

'Dennis Frates has been entering IGPOTY since it started and his success this year is reward for his dedication, skill and unique vision.

'It is especially satisfying to see a lot of new names appearing in the awards.'

Garden Photographer of the Year was set up by five members of the Garden Photographers' Association in 2007.

As a response to entries and enquiries from outside Great Britain, it added 'International' to the title in 2008.

Its first exhibition took place at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in May 2008 and quickly established itself as the world's premier garden and plant photography event specialising in garden, plant, flower and botanical photography.

Pretty: Mandy Disher took this photo in Cambridgeshire and was worthy of being a finalist in The Beauty of Plants category

Winter wonderland: David Cobb's Cherry Hill came second in the Trees, Woods and Forests category. He captured a wintery scene in Oregon, U.S.

City living: This photo called Parallels was taken by Valda Bailey in New York City and came third in the Greening in the City category

With tower blocks in the background, it looks like an unlikely site for a Beautiful Garden but this shot taken by Ewa Gryguc, in Warsaw, Poland, came in second place in that category

You can almost feel the cold when looking at Andrzej Bochenski's picture of Lodz in Poland which he entered into the Breathing Spaces category

The competition is open to everyone anywhere in the world. Images do not have to be taken in a specified year and there is no distinction drawn between professional and amateur photographers.

This year's exhibition will be launched at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh on March 22 in a purpose-built outdoor display.

Selections from the exhibition will then travel around the UK, Germany, Portugal and New York, with a centrepiece exhibiton at Bankside Gallery London from July 2. 

The exhibition at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew will be in October.

Autumnal: Anthony Wallis took this photo called Waterlily House Window in the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew

Garden fit for a king: This beautiful photo captures the Sunrise at Ballue in France and was taken by Nic Barlow. It won the Beautiful Gardens category

Exotic: Dennis Frates took this photo called Heliconia Hawaii in Hawaii and was a finalist entry in The Beauty of the Plant category

Urban: Second place winner in the Greening the City category was Valda Bailey who took this photo in New York City entitled Carrot Top

This black and white shot by Paul Debois called Urban Forest 2 won first place in the Greening the City category. It was taken in Elephant and Castle, London and
Gloria King's Sunrise on Misty Mountains in China (right)

What lurks at night: Liam Marsh snapped this snail in Hampshire which won first place in the Wildlife in the Garden category