Awards nod for images that capture essence of Yorkshire life

PICTURE PERFECT: In one of the images that earned Simon Hulme a nomination, Graham Reed from Pudsey rides his 1866 Penny Farthing through the Cherry Blossom, on the Stray, Harrogate.16th May 2016..Picture by Simon Hulme

And now The Yorkshire Post staff photographers James Hardisty and Simon Hulme have had their work recognised in one of the country’s most prestigious competitions.

The pair, who between them have decades of experience working in Yorkshire, have been shortlisted in the regional photographer of the year category of the UK Picture Editors’ Guild Awards.

Both are previous winners at the awards, but it is the first time The Yorkshire Post have had two photographers nominated in the same category.

Date:27th May 2016. Picture James Hardisty.
Gaping Gill, situated on the SW slopes of Ingleborough at an altitude of 1300ft (400m) above sea level in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales. A natural cave in North Yorkshire and probably the most well known pothole in the United Kingdom. Twice a year between May and August two local caving clubs Bradford Pothole and Craven Pothole arrange the Gaping Gill Winch. This is where cavers can explorer well known tunnels and visitors to the site are lowered in a chair decending 330ft(100m) through BritainÃ¢Â¬"s highest unbroken waterfall as it lands on the floor of Gaping Gill, the largest cavern in Britain, known as the Main Chamber and large enough to fit most of York Minster, two Boeing 747 Jumbo Jets, the volume of 18 Olympic swimming pools or the plan area of ten doubles tennis courts. Pictured Bradford Pothole Club Secretary Ian Cross, aged 58, in the main chamber of Gaping Gill. — Date:27th May 2016. Picture James Hardisty. Gaping Gill, situated on the SW slopes of Ingleborough at an altitude of 1300ft (400m) above sea level in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales. A natural cave in North Yorkshire and probably the most well known pothole in the United Kingdom. Twice a year between May and August two local caving clubs Bradford Pothole and Craven Pothole arrange the Gaping Gill Winch. This is where cavers can explorer well known tunnels and visitors to the site are lowered in a chair decending 330ft(100m) through BritainÃ¢Â¬"s highest unbroken waterfall as it lands on the floor of Gaping Gill, the largest cavern in Britain, known as the Main Chamber and large enough to fit most of York Minster, two Boeing 747 Jumbo Jets, the volume of 18 Olympic swimming pools or the plan area of ten doubles tennis courts. Pictured Bradford Pothole Club Secretary Ian Cross, aged 58, in the main chamber of Gaping Gill.

Gerard Binks, The Yorkshire Post image editor, said: “It’s a fantastic achievement to have two of our staff photographers shortlisted in the same category of the ‘creme de la creme’ of photographc awards. It shows the outstanding quality of images produced by our staff photographers every day.”

The UK Picture Editors’ Guild Awards recognise outstanding photography from the world of news, royalty, sport, business, fashion and entertainment. The annual awards event will take place in London at the Honourable Artillery Company Headquarters on March 27.

Ian Day, assistant editor of The Yorkshire Post, who led the judging panel, described the regional beat as one of “the hardest in the business”.

He said: “These photographers demonstrated their creative talent to bring routine ‘bread and butter’ diary jobs to life and engage with their loyal readers.”

Photo Essay.. The Bramley Mermaid..Yorkshire Aquatic Life, Bramley Baths, Leeds..Lucy Meredith dressed as a mermaid.6th September 2016 ..Picture by Simon Hulme

Describing the 11 categories, he said “In 20 years time, imagine being an A-Level history student and coming face to face with the question - ‘Please explain 2016’. All they will have to do is look back at the excellent, powerful and highly emotive photographs in these awards. As press photographers, you have all collectively answered the question with your skill and talent - for this, you should all be rightly proud.”

Other nominees in the regional category are Charles McQuillan of Getty Images and freelancer John Giles.

Matthew Fearn of the Daily Telegraph said the images ‘were of a higher standard than ever before’. He said: “In an age when picture editors are encouraged to think about engaging, impactful and technically perfect photography, we should all be grateful that these talented and world leading photographers produce such powerful images on a daily basis.”