The best landscape photographs of 2018

From striking ice cracks in the Scottish Highlands to a mountain biker at Land’s End

The winning image of Glencoe (Pete Rowbottom)

In a world full of selfies, what makes the ultimate landscape photograph? For the eight judges of this year’s Take A View Landscape Photographer of the Year Awards, the answer was ice.

The awards, now in their 12th year, reward the very best amateur and professional photographers who have managed to capture the UK at its best.

The winner of this year’s top prize of £10,000, Pete Rowbottom, was selected for his snap of Glencoe in the Scottish Highlands. Distinctive cracks in an icy pool beneath a snowcapped peak are what set this picture apart, according to head judge Charlie Waite.

“The numerous strong diagonal lines of the ice fractures in Pete’s image echo the shape of Buachaille Etive Mòr in the background and have peaks of their own,” he said. “You can’t take your eyes away from the relationship between the mountain and the ice; it is visually very strong and has a mathematical precision.

“The cold of the mountain and ice together contrast well with the amber of their surroundings. This is an image where you can hear and feel the landscape, as well as see it, so it is emotionally strong and involves the viewer on multiple levels.”

The Young Landscape Photographer of the Year title went to Josef FitzGerald-Patrick, who also won two other categories with a selection of pictures taken around his home county of Cornwall.

The winning action shot captured an airborne mountain biker in Land’s End, with an ocean backdrop and the sun glowing behind the cyclist’s back wheel.

The judges said of the 2018 awards: “From dramatic storms and raging seas to the quieter joys of misty woodlands and close-ups of nature’s fascinating details, the winning photographs not only display the talent of their creators but also inspire visitors to explore and discover the wonders of Britain’s countryside.”

All the winning entries can be viewed in a free exhibition to be held at the Balcony at London Waterloo, Britain’s busiest station. Open from 19 November 2018 to 3 February 2019, the exhibition is hosted by Network Rail and will then tour selected stations around the UK.

All winning and commended photographs can also be found in the Landscape Photographer of the Year: Collection 12 book from AA Publishing, available now.