Sponsored by Oxbow Books & The Council for British Archaeology
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We were surprised at the popularity of the competition and delighted by the diversity and quality of the entries of our new photography competition. It is with great pleasure that we now announce the winners.
OVERALL WINNER
Sponsored by Andante Travels
Michael Conrick
Castlerigg Stone Circle 07.01.09, Keswick, Cumbria.
Inspired by the oracular writings of archaeologist and rock 'n roll Odinist Julian Cope, I set off in the winter of 2008/9 to steep myself in the atmospheres and poeses of
Michael Conrick
Chosen by Julian Richards , archaeologist, author, broadcaster and presenter of BBC's "Meet the Ancestors" (www.archaemedia.com) Julian said this of his choice:
"I chose this because it is a very striking image, almost monochrome, of the site in the snow. What really makes it are the footprints leading towards the stone circle. It embodies the idea of people going out and exploring – wanting to visit special places like this even in a bleak January after snowfall. It also reminds me that in visiting any such sites, we are following in the footsteps of our ancestors, the people who built them in the first place".
CATEGORY WINNERS
BIG NAMES IN ARCHAEOLOGY
Sponsored and chosen by Oxbow Books, Oxford
Lee Robinson
Buddha head entwined, Ayuthaya
We had been told that cycling around the ruins of Ayuthaya was the best way to see them, unfortunately we had hired the most uncomfortable bicycle I have ever had the misfortune to ride.
None-the-less Ayuthaya is amazing, called the Venice of the east because of the many rivers that flow into it, it is scattered with ruins surrounded by green fields and canals.
Founded in 1350, by King U-Thong of Siam, by the 17 century it became one of the largest cities in the world with over 1 million inhabitants. You can only imagine its original splendor now as in 1767 the Burmese invaded and burnt the city to the ground, what remains now are the ruins of the once stunning palaces, temples and stupas, as well as hundreds of decapitated Buddhas in varying states of decay.
We arrived at Wat Mahathat feeling a little hot and sore. I had come to see the head of the Buddha entangled in the Banyan tree or Strangler Fig. As we approached we were instructed to bend low, this was Buddha and we should show our respect.
Lee Robinson leerobinsonphotography.co.uk
ENDANGERED ARCHAEOLOGY
Sponsored and chosen by Andante Travels in the Ancient World
Uli Kunz
Diver measuring prehistoric human bones, cenote, Yucatan
Uli is sending us his story to go with the photo shortly....
BRITISH ARCHAEOLOGY
Sponsored and chosen by The Council for British Archaeology
Brian Kerr
Rock art at Ketley Crag, Northumberland
"I chose the image of the Ketley Crag carvings because of the unique qualities of the carvings, the site itself and the location within the landscape.
When you sit in the shelter today, you are alone in the vastness of the landscape, absorbing the view, trying to imagine being there thousands of years ago, running your fingers over the carvings, you are only one of a small number of people who have seen the carvings since they were carved all those years ago. A very powerful place, beautiful carvings, a very emotional visit.
The perfect landscape, the perfect light, the perfect time of day, with the extra help from side flash to illuminate the carvings, this has produced this special once-in-a-lifetime photograph."
Brian Kerr
PEOPLE AND ARCHAEOLOGY
Sponsored and chosen by Oxbow Books, Oxford
James Kellie
Lucia Gahlin
, Andante guide, explaining in Saqqara
Context of photo:
Saqqara was the first stop on Andante's 'Land of the Pharaoh's' tour. In the morning we had visited Djoser's step pyramid, the first in Egyptian history. Our heads had to get round the unfamiliar names of third dynasty rulers in the third millennium BC. Our tour guide, Lucia Gahlin
brought to life the evocative and photogenic buildings of the temple complex.
After lunch, we jumped forward 300 years to the sixth dynasty by visiting Teti's tomb; the pyramid no more than a heap of rubble despite its Egyptian title 'The pyramid which is enduring of places'. Underneath this, the actual tomb contained the real treasures, no longer valuables but beautifully moulded texts, extolling the pharaoh and his actions in preparation for the afterlife.
Lucia expounded them to us in the cramped conditions of Teti's burial chamber; her gestures seemed to call out to the gods just as Teti's script had. The photo's 'moment of truth' arrived!
Our first day was a magnificent introduction to the subsequent tour up the Nile and forward historically to more familiar pharaohs and their deeds over the next three thousand years.
For the technically minded:
The photo was taken on a Canon G70, a pocket-sized digital camera. Outside I use a higher grade digital SLR, but the suspicions of the modern temple guardians are aroused by such bulky equipment. Surprisingly there was just enough light to take the shot at 1/30 sec without flash; available light evokes atmosphere as well as minimising disturbance to guardians and visitors. Judicious photo-editing reduced the effects of stretching the camera's sensitivity to ISO 1600.
James Kellie
PRIZES:
All winners have been notified by email. Prizes are as follows:
Overall Winner - Michael Conrick: Canon 500D camera or £500 off the Andante holiday of his choice.
Big Names in Archaeology -Lee Robinson: £100 worth of books from Oxbow Books, specialist archaeological bookseller, Oxford
Endangered Archaeology - Uli Kunz: 100Euro worth of books of choice
Best of British Archaeology - Brian Kerr: membership of the Council for British Archaeology and £100 worth of books published by them
People and Archaeology - James Kellie: £100 worth of books from Oxbow Books, specialist archaeological bookseller, Oxford
ENTRIES ARE NOW INVITED For the
ANDANTE ARCHAEOLOGICAL PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION 2011, closing date May 2011
More information to follow
