Judges
About the Judges
Former Chief Judge and pro garden photographer Andrew Lawson said:
"As an IGPOTY judge you look at several thousand short listed images. All the time you're on the look-out for that special picture - that extra bit different. Certain photographs stand out and you put them on the shortlist for group judging. This is when the judges meet, compare notes and the wrangling begins. Each of us promotes his or her favourites and we are all prepared to be convinced. It is reassuring how this process distils into the final picture choice - the best pictures consistently come out of it."
The judges will comprise of a panel of highly acclaimed industry professionals, including (TBC):
Tony Kirkham
RBG Kew's representative.
With his roots firmly in the world of Trees, Tony is Head of Arboretum and Horticultural Services at The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, where he looks after an amazing 14,000 specimens.
Author and Editor of countless publications on trees, Tony is also the Presenter of the acclaimed BBC series, 'Trees that Made Britain'.
With this wealth of experience, he is ideally placed to be our guest judge for the 'Trees, Woods & Forests' category.
RBG Kew's representative.
With his roots firmly in the world of Trees, Tony is Head of Arboretum and Horticultural Services at The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, where he looks after an amazing 14,000 specimens.
Author and Editor of countless publications on trees, Tony is also the Presenter of the acclaimed BBC series, 'Trees that Made Britain'.
With this wealth of experience, he is ideally placed to be our guest judge for the 'Trees, Woods & Forests' category.
Chris Lacey
The National Trust's representative.
Chris developed a love of photography at college and later studied a Visual Communication degree at Derby University.
With a wealth of both commercial and editorial experience gained whilst working for various photographic agencies across London, Chris began working for the National Trust in 2003.
Then going on to direct National Trust photography for the past 10 years, commissioning some of the country's leading photographers.
Chris also works as a freelance photographer shooting; people, architecture and collections, gardens and landscapes.
The National Trust's representative.
Chris developed a love of photography at college and later studied a Visual Communication degree at Derby University.
With a wealth of both commercial and editorial experience gained whilst working for various photographic agencies across London, Chris began working for the National Trust in 2003.
Then going on to direct National Trust photography for the past 10 years, commissioning some of the country's leading photographers.
Chris also works as a freelance photographer shooting; people, architecture and collections, gardens and landscapes.
Jürgen Becker
Since finishing study at the Academy of Art in Düsseldorf, Jürgen has become one of the most renown garden photographers worldwide. His ambition is to show the fascination of gardens and the beauty of plants, to create unique pictures of magic and beauty.
Awarded the Deutscher Gartenbuchpreis (German Garden Book Prize) 2014 for Best Image Book: 'Black Box Gardening' (Ulmer Verlag).
In 2009, 2011 and 2012 was winner of the Garden Media Guild (GMG) award: Features Photographer of the Year. In addition in 2010, 2012 and 2015 was GMG Photographer of the Year.
Since finishing study at the Academy of Art in Düsseldorf, Jürgen has become one of the most renown garden photographers worldwide. His ambition is to show the fascination of gardens and the beauty of plants, to create unique pictures of magic and beauty.
Awarded the Deutscher Gartenbuchpreis (German Garden Book Prize) 2014 for Best Image Book: 'Black Box Gardening' (Ulmer Verlag).
In 2009, 2011 and 2012 was winner of the Garden Media Guild (GMG) award: Features Photographer of the Year. In addition in 2010, 2012 and 2015 was GMG Photographer of the Year.
Philip Smith
Philip is a professional photographer specialising in plants and gardens, and author of the book 'Better Plant and Garden Photography'.
Founder of International Garden Photographer of the Year and directed the project for seven years until 2014, during which time the project grew from its beginnings at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, to a worldwide success.
Alongside photographic work, now works as a consultant to IGPOTY, focusing on workshops and advisory feedback to entrants.
Philip is a professional photographer specialising in plants and gardens, and author of the book 'Better Plant and Garden Photography'.
Founder of International Garden Photographer of the Year and directed the project for seven years until 2014, during which time the project grew from its beginnings at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, to a worldwide success.
Alongside photographic work, now works as a consultant to IGPOTY, focusing on workshops and advisory feedback to entrants.
Christina Harrison
RBG Kew's representative.
Christina is editor of Kew magazine – the magazine of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. She has worked at Kew for over 11 years – in horticulture, garden interpretation and now as editor, using photography to its full potential to tell stories about Kew, the beauty and importance of plants and the environment. She is also the author of Kew's 'Big Trees'.
Christina has worked with several renowned photographers and selecting that right image that tells a powerful story is an integral part of putting every feature in Kew magazine together.
A keen photographer herself, she delights in the achievements of those who can capture a true magic moment on camera.
RBG Kew's representative.
Christina is editor of Kew magazine – the magazine of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. She has worked at Kew for over 11 years – in horticulture, garden interpretation and now as editor, using photography to its full potential to tell stories about Kew, the beauty and importance of plants and the environment. She is also the author of Kew's 'Big Trees'.
Christina has worked with several renowned photographers and selecting that right image that tells a powerful story is an integral part of putting every feature in Kew magazine together.
A keen photographer herself, she delights in the achievements of those who can capture a true magic moment on camera.
Andrea has an international reputation photographing landscape architecture, gardens and plants. The latter being the subject of her critically acclaimed book 'Plantworlds' (2005).
In 2008 she was voted ‘Garden Photographer of the Year’ and awarded 'Book Photographer of the Year 2014' for illustrating 'The Splendour of the Tree' written by Noel Kingsbury.
She was elected as a Fellow of the RSA, given a solo exhibition in 2000 and has since had several successful exhibitions in the UK and USA.
Chris Beardshaw
Plantsman, presenter, designer, educator, author, speaker and philanthropist.
Since childhood Chris has immersed himself in a love of plants which has led to a lifelong career dedicated to horticulture.
Fresh, dynamic, passionate and hugely creative, Chris is one of the leading lights in the world of gardening.
Chris runs a highly successful private design and consultancy practice and has been awarded 30 medals, inc:
* 9 RHS Gold Medals & The People's Choice Award at Chelsea Show Garden a record 3 times.
* 5 times winner of RHS Best in Show Award.
Benedict is a photographer and award-winning journalist, he is currently the editor of Digital Camera magazine, the UK's best-selling photography magazine (known as Digital Camera World overseas).
Benedict has been writing and presenting photography how-to articles and videos for the last decade for titles such as; Amateur Photographer, PhotoPlus, NPhoto, Practical Photoshop and Professional Photography.
Benedict has also had a vibrant and varied career as a professional photographer from a fine art degree in photography and exhibiting prints to working as a cruise ship photographer, running photography workshops and shooting commercial assignments in Miami.
Clare Foggett
Clare is editor of the Chelsea Magazine Company’s 'The English Garden' and was previously editor of 'Garden News'.
With 11 years experience in gardening magazines, she started her career working for the Royal Horticultural Society’s members’ magazine 'The Garden'
Clare is a keen gardener and trained in horticulture at Pershore College. She has a passion for plants and beautiful gardens and is also Chairman of the Garden Media Guild.
Susan Brown FRPS
The Royal Photographic Society's representative.
Sue is an experienced photographer who specialises in Landscape/Seascape photography and exhibits widely in galleries both in the UK and overseas. She is a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society and sits on the Fine Art Associate and Fellowship adjudicating panels, so she has a special interest in portfolios or bodies of work. She also sits on the Distinctions Advisory Board.
Sue has been a Selector for several International Photographic Exhibitions and also sits on the selection committee for the Devon Guild of Craftsmen.
The Royal Photographic Society's representative.
Sue is an experienced photographer who specialises in Landscape/Seascape photography and exhibits widely in galleries both in the UK and overseas. She is a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society and sits on the Fine Art Associate and Fellowship adjudicating panels, so she has a special interest in portfolios or bodies of work. She also sits on the Distinctions Advisory Board.
Sue has been a Selector for several International Photographic Exhibitions and also sits on the selection committee for the Devon Guild of Craftsmen.
Udo Bernhart
Udo Bernhart was born in 1956 in Bolzano, South Tyrol. He has captured photography for around 140 books and guides and has won an ENIT award for the best Italian travel book in 2003 and 2014.
Udo Bernhart was born in 1956 in Bolzano, South Tyrol. He has captured photography for around 140 books and guides and has won an ENIT award for the best Italian travel book in 2003 and 2014.
Udo also works with various international companies including airlines and tourism organisations. In 1996 he won the award for best solo exhibition from the German Federation of Photography.
Tyrone McGlinchey
Tyrone has been Managing Director of one of the World's longest established horticultural image libraries, Mirror Plate Media for over a decade. He is a professional garden photographer (PGPA) with over 20 years of experience in the printing industry.
Recently he was elected Vice Chairman of the Garden Media Guild and is a fellow of the Linnean Society of London for the continued contribution to horticultural nomenclature via digital photographic asset management.
Tyrone has been Managing Director of one of the World's longest established horticultural image libraries, Mirror Plate Media for over a decade. He is a professional garden photographer (PGPA) with over 20 years of experience in the printing industry.
Recently he was elected Vice Chairman of the Garden Media Guild and is a fellow of the Linnean Society of London for the continued contribution to horticultural nomenclature via digital photographic asset management.