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Ryan Murray – Basking Shark Plankton Buffer – Ventry Bay, Co. Kerry, won second place in the Underwater Category in the Love Your Coast photography competition.
CLEAN Coasts has announced the winning photographers of the 14th edition of the Love Your Coast photography competition and a number of images of Kerry feature in the Top 10 lists in each category.
With a prize fund of €6,000, the competition has attracted hundreds of photographers all around Ireland this year, receiving a record number of over 1,300 entries.
While images of Kerry didn’t win the top prizes, a couple featured in the top three in some categories.
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Ryan Murray’s “Basking Shark Plankton Buffet” (above), captured in Ventry Bay, was awarded second place in the Underwater category.
When talking about their image for the Underwater category Ryan Murray said: “In April this year, large numbers of rare basking sharks were feeding in Ventry Bay, Co. Kerry. We were driving past and even from the moving car we could see the huge dorsal fins protruding from the water all throughout the bay.”
Richard O’ Donnell with “Sun Bathing Compass Jellyfish” taken on Valentia Island received the third place prize in the Underwater category.
Richard O’ Donnell – Sun Bathing Compass Jelly Fish – The Birds ,Valentia Island , Co. Kerry.
“I took this image on a dive, I spent about 10 minutes trying to get the best angle and burst of sun light in the background,” said Richard.
“The image was taken in about two metres of water and as you can see the sun was shining. I was very lucky on this day as a few things had aligned for the shot .The shallow Clean waters of Valentia and the presence of the sun directly above created this dramatic image. The irony of this shot is as a child I was absolutely terrified by Jellyfish. But of course, they are now one of my favorite underwater subjects .I think their alien-like appearance is what fascinates people about them.”
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Maja Stankovski – My First Basking Shark – Skellig Michael, Co. Kerry
Finally, Maja Stankovski’s “My First Basking Shark” shot at Skellig Michael was also shortlisted among the top ten in this category. The image was shot during a lucky encounter with a basking shark while on a dive, and it was the first time for Maja seeing one of these wonderful sea creatures.
Karol Waszkiewicz came second in the Wildlife and the Coast category with the image “Godwit Digging Skills”, taken in Blackrock.
Karol Waszkiewicz – Godwit Digging Skills – Blackrock Co. Kerry
Karol Waszkiewicz said: “This picture was taken during winter birdwatching around Black Rock Co. Kerry. This area is very good spot to watch birds like Sanderlings, Oystercatchers, Godwits and many more. I took it from very low perspective lying camera and lens on the sand. Godwits and other birds were feeding intensively around me and got lucky enough to capture moment when one of the birds dug out good size Lugworm.”
Graham Murphy was also shortlisted in the top ten in the Wildlife and the Coast category with the image “Elegant and Beauty” taken in Dingle. The image portrays Fungi the Dolphin just before he went missing.
Graham Murphy – Elegant and Beauty – Dingle, Co. Kerry
With “Cahersiveen in Seine Mood”, Ryan Murray won the third place in the People and the Coast category.
He said: “The Caherisveen rowing regatta is held annually in the summer as part of the South and Mid Kerry rowing race calendar. This image provides a birds eye view of the competitive nature of the race.”
Ryan Murray – Cahersiveen in Seine Mood – Cahersiveen, Co. Kerry.
Moreover, Rob Plant’s “Waiting for the Tide River Scorid” taken in Castlegregory, was shortlisted in the top ten in the Coastal Landscape category, with a shot capturing patterns and colours as the Scorid River enters the sea at low tide, revealing some of the most beautiful coastal vistas by the shift of perspective that a drone offers.
Rob Plant – Waiting for the Tide – River Scorid entering Fermoyle Strand, Castlegregory, Co. Kerry
Finally, Leszek Pawella with “Skellig” was among the top ten images in the Coastal Heritage category.
Leszek Pawella – Skellig – Skellig Michael, Co. Kerry
The unique landscape at Skellig Michael, Co Kerry, is so epic that it was chosen as a location for Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Captured here in a soft light, you can see why people said it added so much character to the blockbuster film.
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