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Beginner’s luck for Coast Path competition winner
A spectacular image of Chapman’s Pool in Dorset taken by a keen amateur photographer has beaten hundreds of 
entrants to scoop the South West Coast Path’s annual photographic competition.
The photograph shows the coastal landscape ‘Overlooking Chapman’s Pool’ taken by Brian Howe from Camberley, Surrey and will appear on the front of the South West Coast Path’s 2016 calendar. His photograph beat more than 900 entries in this prestigious annual photography competition.
On taking the winning shot, Brian said:
“This was my first photograph taken on my first ever visit to Dorset at Easter 2014, and it opened my eyes to the beauty of the Jurassic Coast.”
His prize includes a luxury stay at Carbis Bay Hotel in West Cornwall where the surrounding coastline provides endless opportunities to capture stunning coastal scenery on camera. Hotel Managing Director Stephen Baker said:
“We are lucky in Cornwall to be surrounded by some amazing views – including our own coastal backdrop here at beautiful Carbis Bay. The South West Coast Path offers similar sights across the South West, the experience of which can be difficult to capture on film - proving how high the standard of entries to the photo competition really were. We were delighted to be involved.”
Brian added:
“It is at least a 2.5 hour drive to get to the Purbeck Coast, but it is well worth it, even when leaving home at 5.00am to get there in time for sunrise. Since last May have made other visits to Kimmeridge Bay, Portland, Old Harry Rocks and Mupe Bay. Because of its beauty I plan to spend time in 2015 travelling further west along the Coast Path to photograph more of the spectacular scenery”.
The winner was chosen by a panel of judges including award-winning landscape and travel photographer David Noton, who writes regular columns for Practical Photography and Outdoor Photography who said of Brian’s shot:
“A sunny summer’s day on the Jurassic Coast; where would you really rather be? OK, I’m biased I know because this is my home patch, but this picture just makes me want to get my boots on to start a hike along the Coast Path. This is a lovely shot with great clarity, colour and depth.”
The judges had a difficult job coming up with the shortlist, which can be seen on the South West Coast Path Flickr gallery. There were three runners-up that were all worthy of note from our professional judge including a stunning sunset at Porth Nanven by Peter Edwards, an impressive view of the Daymark at Dartmouth and a dramatic image of a stormy sea battering the coast at Porthleven. An additional eight pictures will all complement the winning image in the official 2016 South West Coast Path calendar published by Salmon.
The calendar will go on sale this summer and will be available from the South West Coast Path Association’s website and other regional retail outlets. 25p from each calendar goes towards Coast Path improvements.
All 12 calendar images can be seen here in this Flickr gallery.
The 2015 competition will be launched in Spring 2015. Watch this space!
David Noton has a Jurassic Coast Capture to Print Workshop running next March 26th-29th for those who may like to think ahead to next year’s competition www.davidnoton.com/66/Jurassic_Coast_3Day_Capture_to_Print_Digital_Workflow_Specia/
For top tips for taking photographs on the Coast Path go to www.southwestcoastpath.com/day-walks/photography-walks/
Published on: Jan. 20, 2015
