‘It was one of the

nicest sunrises

I’ve ever seen’

Richard Holmes Runner-up

Lakeland Photography Competition

Headshot of Richard Holmes, The Lakeland Photography Competition 2021 Runner-up

‘It was one of the nicest sunrises I’ve ever seen’: Glencoyne Bay image lands reserve in the 2021 One Lake District photography competition

Rich Holmes’ incredible shot of a September sunrise at Glencoyne Bay scored him the reserve position in the 2021 Lakeland Photography competition. We learn more about his photography journey and how he ended up with his prize-winning image...

After completing a photographic journalism course at university, Staffordshire-based Rich took up photography full time, working as a sports photographer at a local football club.

“Photography has always interested me,” explained Rich. “I first picked up my dad’s camera as a teenager and I would work to pay for new lenses and pieces of kit.

“Alongside my job at the football club I started picking up freelance work, too, and I would try to shoot and edit my own landscapes whenever I got the opportunity.”

Rich now works in the public sector but photography remains one of his most passionate endeavours:

“Landscapes are my favourite images to shoot,” he said. “I’ve always loved the outdoors and being active; that want to get outdoors and explore as well as photograph my surroundings go hand-in-hand to fuel my interest and creativity.”

Rich’s winning shot was taken at sunrise at Glencoyne Bay on a mid-September morning:

“I went up to the Lakes for a photography weekend. It was a Sunday morning and while the forecast looked cloudy, I took a risk [for the light] and headed over to Ullswater Lake before dawn. I sat for a while and eventually the colours started to come through and the sky went red! It was one of the nicest sunrises I’ve ever seen. I framed the photo with the rocks in the water and shot from about 6.15am to 7.30am to maximise the image options I had. There was a group of ducks just to the right hand side so I had to try to keep them out of the frame so the stillness of the water wasn’t disrupted!”

Rich shot his prized image on a Sony A7R3a with a 24-105mm lens.

“After leaving full-time photography I purchased up this camera and lens and it suits me perfectly,” he said. “It’s a small, light camera which is handy for heading out on trips.

“I live close to the Peak District but have always preferred the variety of landscapes in the Lakes. The history of the area is fascinating, too.

“Buttermere is particularly beautiful to shoot. There is a classic shot associated with the view across the lake, the way the valley drops into the lake and the trees reflect in the water. It’s so peaceful.”

For more details and full results from the Lakeland Photography Prize 2021 check out onelakedistrict.co.uk

Alex Robinson

Horse & Hound Magazine

Freelance journalist

Find me on Instagram

Lakeland Photography Competition Runner-up 2021

‘It was one of the

nicest sunrises

I’ve ever seen’