Awards snapped up by North East photographers

Nov 19 2009 The Journal

TWO photographers from the region have snapped up prestigious awards in a national competition.

Christopher McIlreavy and Roger Clegg, both from Northumberland, have received recognition in the Landscape Photographer of the Year Award 2009, a contest entered by thousands.

Christopher, of Prudhoe, picked up two prizes, including overall winner in the National Parks Authority sponsored category, in the 60th anniversary year of the parks. He beat eight other recipients of individual park authorities’ awards for the best photo taken within their boundaries.

Christopher was in the running for that accolade having collecting the Lake District park authority’s award.

Roger, from Hexham, won Northumberland National Park Authority’s prize.

Both men will pick up their awards at the National Theatre in London on December 10.

Their photographs will appear in a book featuring 170 award-wining and commended pictures and will be included in an exhibition at the theatre from December 5 to January 24. Christopher, 58, of Castlefields, won the awards for his image of the summit ridge of Blencathra at sunset, taken on Christmas Day last year.

He said: “I am very pleased and very flattered. It is the first time I have entered that competition. Obviously I am very pleased because there a lot of very very good photographers go in to this competition so it is quite pleasing to have won.”