Christopher Harrison, a photographer from near Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, has captured first place in the nature category at the world's leading international drone photography competition. His winning photograph, titled "The Long Shadow," was taken at Brightwell Barrow near the famous Wittenham Clumps and secured top honors at the prestigious Siena Awards in Italy on September 27.
The award-winning image showcases a breathtaking moment where a small group of trees standing on a raised hill cast their shadows into the early-morning mist. Harrison explained that his photograph highlighted "a perspective that you can only get with the flexibility a drone can give you." The shot required perfect timing and exceptional conditions, with the mist sitting at exactly the right level as the sun rose above the horizon.
Harrison, who began taking photography "more seriously" just a few years ago, described his passion for the craft. "I just love being outside and in nature," he said. "I started taking my camera out with me, started going out at sunrise, which is just the best part of the day for photography because you get interesting conditions." He emphasized that sunrise photography offers the most compelling lighting and atmospheric conditions for capturing stunning natural scenes.
The photographer explained the technical challenges and rare circumstances that made his winning shot possible. It required "that rare blend of the right conditions when the mist can sit at perfectly the right level, where the trees essentially cast a shadow into the mist directly just as the sun comes up above the horizon." Harrison noted that while "the photograph is quite simple when you first look at it," closer examination reveals intricate details in both the trees and the surrounding fields.
Attending the awards ceremony in Siena proved to be an inspiring experience for Harrison. He described it as "a fantastic event, mingling with some of the best photographers across the world." The recognition at this international level represents a significant achievement for the photographer, who maintains photography as a passion alongside his full-time job.
Looking ahead, Harrison plans to continue focusing on local subjects and landscapes. "I just want to keep shooting the local area," he said. "Oxfordshire, even Berkshire, has some amazing locations to shoot, so I plan to continue doing that." He has several exhibitions planned for later in the year in Henley and is excited to see what opportunities the next six months to a year will bring to his photography career.
