The winning images in a global online photo competition have been announced by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Wales Cymru.
The competition aims to promote civil engineering through exceptional or unusual images of engineering projects. Usually the competition is based on engineers, school children and members of the public in Wales being asked to go out and take pictures of examples of civil engineering around them. However, during this year’s pandemic crisis ICE Wales Cymru asked entrants to submit images of any examples of civil engineering in Wales or overseas that they had already taken.
The Winner of the Welsh Engineer Abroad category is Martin Hayes with his image ‘High Island Reservoir’, Hong Kong.
The resulting exhibition of photos of engineering feats around the world and across the UK was held online for the first time, due to continuing Coronavirus restrictions, in place of the usual live exhibition that has taken place annually in Cardiff since the competition’s inception in 2014.
As well as receiving prizes, the category winners and highly commended recipients will also see their images used by ICE Wales Cymru to promote civil engineering.
The Winner of the Welsh Engineer Abroad category is Martin Hayes with his image ‘High Island Reservoir’ taken when Martin worked in Hong Kong. The judges were all impressed with the composition, definition and colour of the image.
The Heritage Winner is Matthew Hartley with his ‘Dawlish Perfect Morning’.
Martin said:
“I was on a short term assignment for Arup’s Hong Kong office for 3 months when I took the photo of High Island Reservoir Sea Defence showing the Tetrapods. I took the photo on a DJI mavic drone.”
Welsh Engineer Abroad Highly Commended is Jack James with his image of ‘Old and New Hohenzollerbrucke and Kӧlner Dom’ in Cologne. The judges liked the way Jack captured the atmosphere of old and new, as well as the composition and colour.
The Heritage Winner is Matthew Hartley with his ‘Dawlish Perfect Morning’ image, taken with a DSLR Canon EOS 70D. The picture shows the strengthening and future proofing of the important infrastructure link of heritage construction – the Plymouth to Exeter line, which was badly damaged in storms in 2014.
The Public Vote Winner 2020 was ‘First Spot’ by Lai Wing Cheong
Professional photographer and judge Mark Lewis said:
“The judging panel was unanimous choosing Matthew’s image as the winner of the Heritage category for its excellent composition and use of colour.”
The classic Iron Bridge in Shropshire was the subject of Neil Reynolds’ Highly Commended image in the Heritage category, taken during Neil’s fundraising Land’s End to John O’Groats bike ride for Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff.
The Public Vote Winner 2020 was ‘First Spot’ by Lai Wing Cheong taken in Manila with Fujifilm X-H1/19.0/1/320s/ISO400. Lai Wing Cheong also took joint second place with the image ‘‘We Build the Future’ of the Hong Kong Zhuhai Macau Bridge, tied with ‘Studying Engineering Abroad’ an image of the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge taken by Jack James.
Keith Jones, Director ICE Wales Cymru, said:
“Prior to the Coronavirus pandemic we have always exhibited at established galleries in Cardiff so this year was a little different having to adapt to the situation and holding our first digital exhibition and extending the parameters beyond Wales. We were particularly pleased to receive images, for the first time, from civil engineers who are working or who have worked across the world. The exhibition illustrates the wide variety and different aspects of the global civil engineering industry.
“We are so grateful to one of our Members and Vice Chair, Peter Burns of Arup, who has continued to co-ordinate this competition annually as well as the professional photographer judge Mark Lewis.”
The annual “This is civil engineering in Wales” photographic exhibition is still available to view at www.ice.org.uk/about-ice/near-you/uk/wales/awards#walesphotocomp.
Full list of the 2020 Winners:
- Welsh Engineer Abroad Winner: Martin Hayes ‘High Island Reservoir’, Hong Kong
- Welsh Engineer Abroad Highly Commended: Jack James ‘Old and New Hohenzollerbrucke and Kӧlner Dom’, Cologne
- Heritage Winner: Matthew Hartley ‘Dawlish Perfect Morning’, Dawlish. DSLR Canon eos 70D
- Heritage Highly Commended: Neil Reynolds ‘Iron Bridge’, Shropshire
- Public Vote Winner: Lai Wing Cheong ‘First Spot, Manila. Fujifilm X-H1/19.0/1/320s/ISO400
- Public Vote Joint 2nd place: Jack James ‘Studying Engineering Abroad’ Sydney Harbour Bridge, Australia
- Public Vote Joint 2nd place: Lai Wing Cheong ‘We Build the Future’, Hong Kong Zhuhai Macau Bridge. Fujifilm X-T1/f8.0/1/120s/ISO400
- Commended: Colin Jones ‘Clifton Suspension Bridge’, Bristol
- Commended: John Mather ‘Technicolour Transit’, north Wales
- Commended: Lorraine Evans ‘Paused in Time’, Cathedral Apse Coventry. Huawei P9
- Commended: Nick Ashby ‘Ironbridge Power Station’, Shropshire
- Commended: Robert Knapman ‘Britannia Bridge Exam’, north Wales. Nikon D7000
