Snap-happy Ian is crowned photography competition winner

Our panel was impressed with the overall standard of entries for our 2017 Views of Rotherham competition, but three pictures in particular came in for special praise.

And two of them showed Rotherham Minster in reflection - the winning entry by Ian Glennon of Rotherham, who captured the towering church in the horn of a brass band player’s tuba, and Luis Arroyo’s stunning streetscape of Bridgegate, as captured in a puddle.

Second-placed Linda Butcher, of Broadlands Crescent, Bramley, also showed us the town centre in a new light, making magic with the angular lines in a monochrome view of the Covered Market.

Ian snapped his clever image in All Saints’ Square at the Armed Forces Day parade in June.

Dad of two Ian, who used a Nikon Coolpix P900, said he had taken his older son to the parade as he liked to support town centre events and admired the Armed Forces.

“I was looking through my camera on ultra-zoom and saw the player lower his instrument,” he said. “I knew as soon as I took the shot that it was a good one and when I had another look when I got home I realised it was really good.

“When I heard about the competition, I immediately thought of that picture.

“It’s awesome to win.”

Ian’s first prize-winning photo (pictured below) will be displayed in Rotherham town centre next year as part of the open-air art gallery curated by Gallery Town Rotherham.

He, Linda and Luis, of Grange View Road, Kimberworth, will also be presented with framed copies of their photographs.

Advertiser editor Andrew Mosley, who judged the competition with chief photographer Dave Poucher and Matthew Ridsdale, representing Gallery Town Rotherham, said: “Every year, the standard of entries improves, which makes it extremely difficult to decide on a top three.

“Almost every entry we received was of excellent quality and it took the judges an absolute age to make a decision. 

“The variety of images and the style of the submissions this year was more wide-ranging than in previous years.

“The judges were extremely impressed and anyone who entered and didn’t win should not be discouraged.

“The top three should be very proud of their work.”