A British photographer has captured international recognition for his stunning drone photograph that perfectly captured trees casting shadows into early-morning mist. Christopher Harrison, who lives near Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire, won first prize in the nature category at the prestigious Siena Awards in Italy, one of the world's leading international drone photography competitions, on September 27.
The award-winning photograph, titled "The Long Shadow," was taken at Brightwell Barrow near the famous Wittenham Clumps, a distinctive landmark where a small group of trees stands prominently on a raised hill. Harrison emphasized that his winning image showcased "a perspective that you can only get with the flexibility a drone can give you," highlighting the unique advantages that drone technology brings to modern photography.
Harrison, who has been taking photography "more seriously" for just a few years, explained his passion for the craft stems from his love of nature. "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." His dedication to capturing the perfect moment during the golden hours of dawn has clearly paid off with this international recognition.
The photographer described the perfect storm of conditions that made his winning shot possible, explaining 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." He noted that while "the photograph is quite simple when you first look at it," closer inspection reveals intricate details. "When you look a bit closer, you can see the detail in the trees, you can see the details in the fields around the trees," Harrison explained.
The awards ceremony in Siena proved to be a memorable experience for the winning photographer. Harrison described the event as "a fantastic event, mingling with some of the best photographers across the world," giving him the opportunity to connect with fellow artists and gain recognition on an international stage.
Looking ahead, Harrison, who maintains photography as a passion alongside his full-time job, plans to continue focusing on his local area. "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 exciting projects on the horizon, including "a couple of exhibitions coming up later in the year locally in Henley," and looks forward to seeing "what the next six months to a year brings" for his photography career.
