honorable mention
Doug Stratton united kingdomPhoto © Doug Stratton Stratton
title
Dreamcatcher
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entry description
Taken on a freezing cold morning on the Isle of Skye, with sleet in my face (and on my ND filter), standing calf-deep in the river... some of the worst conditions I've ever shot in, but in a way some of the best. Every time I see this image it gives me a warm feeling of "I was there, and I captured it"... and also the memory that it took my boots four days to dry out. For me, this photo embodies everything about why I do this - the hardships of early mornings and frozen fingers, wet socks and post-hike weariness are all more than offset by the joy of seeing mind-blowing sunrises and stunning landscapes... and then sharing that vision and emotion with others.about the photographer
I have always enjoyed photography as a hobby, and started taking it particularly seriously after I lost my job at the start of the Coronavirus pandemic. I live in an iconic global city, so naturally a large proportion of my work is architecture and cityscapes - and now and then I like to do a bit of street photography too. But my first love is landscapes. Whenever I can, I get out of the city with my camera and head for some mountains. I love the whole ritual: the preparation, the travel, swathing myself in cold-weather gear, hiking to some remote spot and then waiting... for a moment. Waiting and watching the light change on a landscape, with nowhere else to be, just me and my camera. What was once an enjoyable pastime and add-on to my holidays has now become a central part of my life, and a mental health tonic like no other. I found it late it life but I feel privileged to be able to create images that I'm proud of.back to gallery