OLD NEW EDINBURGH Photography Competition | Results
The winners of the ‘Old New Edinburgh/New Old Edinburgh’ photography competition were announced at a virtual awards ceremony on December 3rd. The event was chaired by EAA Council member Alex Liddell, alongside the competition judges Alastair Cook, Nicholas Hotham, Tyler Lott and Nicky Thomson.
The competition challenged entrants to capture a photograph which touched on the influence of change within Edinburgh and its surroundings, and presented a new perspective on the architecture of the EAA Chapter Area. From over 100 entries the judges each selected a shortlist of ten entries, and eventually whittled these down to five award winning images.
SHORTLISTED ENTRIES
Photographer, from top left: Chris Humphreys, Dara Parsons, Jonathan Buitendag, Keith Hunter, Jonathan Buitendag, Kenneth Gray, Paula Szturc, Peter B Lewis, Keith Hunter, Savan
COMMENDED ENTRY
An interior room, without furniture, a moment before change
David Blaikie
Judge Alastair Cook praised the image for conveying a warmth in a time when, with current restrictions, many are suffering from a lack of warmth. The judges enjoyed the colour and brightness of the room, the ripple of reflected light through the crown glass. The promise of something new, a turning point.
COMMENDED ENTRY
Quartermile development, looking skyward between old and new buildings
Eric Hertz
Judge Nicky Thomson explained that, while there were several entries that chose Quartermile as a subject, many of these views were familiar whilst this entry found a new angle on the subject. By framing the view in this unusual way the relation of old and new became abstracted. The judges liked the image composition and thought the view skywards led to consideration of the vertical space between the buildings and reflection on issues around scale of old and new.
THIRD PLACE
Sugarhouse Close looking towards Salisbury Crags
Kenneth Gray
Judge Tyler Lott descibed this image as a good example of sympathetic architectural intervention within the internationally celebrated world heritage site. It is a well balanced composition that captures much of the colouring that is seen throughout our beautiful city. The image celebrates our heritage while symbolising progress, a delicate balance of new and old. The judges enjoyed the layers of the built environment, from the foreground modern intervention, to the traditional structure in the midground, culminating in the ancient Crags in the background: a modest yet powerful progression of Edinburgh’s built environment.
SECOND PLACE
Fluted columns of an underpass at the Bonaly Burn on the city bypass
Nick O’Neill
Judge Nick Hotham explained that he was looking for images that reappraised Edinburgh’s architectural heritage by avoiding cliché: the normal views and famous vistas that become over familiar. Technically, the image is a beautifully framed, carefully formal composition, with dramatic use of light and shade. The iconography of the image has particular significance for Edinburgh: with reference to Greek revival, the fluted Doric columns are holding up modern Edinburgh.
It could be taken as a metaphor of how the Scottish Enlightenment and achievements of rational thought, the philosophers and scientists support the structure of modern society. In our ‘post truth’ age it is good to remember that there are solid foundations to Edinburgh’s architecture and intellectual life and rules to which we are bound as a society. The image is an unusual and creative take on an unknown corner of Edinburgh which speaks to our traditions and where we have come from.
FIRST PLACE
View between the entrance tower and the main building of the Museum of Scotland
Eric Hertz
Introducing the first placed entry Nicky Thomson explained that, while the Museum of Scotland is an established landmark familiar to residents and visitors, the image found a fresh view on the familiar. The modern architecture of the foreground frames a typical Edinburgh Victorian tenement behind. The image is beautifully composed, with the sculptural forms of the museum focussing the eye beyond to the tenement chimney framed by the windows of the link bridge, where the shape of the chimneys repeat the wedge form of the rooflight above. The image contrasts old and new architecture of the city, through strong use of light and shade, texture and material, which make this image a worthy winner.
Congratulations to all the winners and to everybody who entered a photograph for the competition. Keep an eye on our website and social media or sign up for our mailing list to find out first about future competitions!