Wildlife on our doorsteps Focus of the competition was wildlife on our doorsteps – photos that really tell a story about wildlife in the district. It ran for three months during lockdown with public votes collected during May. The competition was part of the first Epping Forest District Council Festival of Culture which provided a platform for diverse, community led cultural activities across the district. During the four months of the festival there were 82,564 engagements with the programme, 40 covid-secure events working with 26 partner organisations across the district. Winners are invited to a private view of the Natural History Museums Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition coming to the district for the first time in 2022. Their images will also be displayed at Epping Forest District Museum in 2022. In addition the under 10 winner received free workshops in this year’s EFDC summer programme while the other winners received drawing packs.
Two votes – by the public, and expert photographers – decided winners in the three categories. In the under 10 category Harriet Papps was a unanimous choice with her image of Grass Snake. Judges said: The grass snake was a hard image to capture. Well seen, good focus on eyes and body of snake.
Photo Source:
Another unanimous decision in the 11-18 years category was Tallulah Dean’s Red Fox. The image received the highest score of 180 votes from the public. Judges commented:
Grass snake by
Patience gives you this interesting photograph.
Harriet Papps
The final category 19+ delivered a split vote with the public choosing Red Dog Fox by Jimmy Waters and the judges Frogs in The Lake in the Lower Forest by Keith Dark. Judges said that all the frog entries were good shots, but chose the winner because it had a feeling of aliens and a surreal painting in some way. The composition was good with lots to look at and keep your interest. Also the colours being of a range of dark and browns and blacks work well. Professional photographer John Price and Alan Martin from Loughton Camera Club gave the judges votes.
Photo: Frogs in the Lake in the Lower Forest by Keith Dark
Photo Source: Red Dog Fox by Jimmy Waters
Red Fox by Tallulah Dean Page 24
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Email: june@northwealdvillagelife.co.uk
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