FIRST PRIZE (wins a free week at Vigne Bassa )

“Gudiolo Tower - more magical by night” by Chris Fincham. In the view of the judges, Bob Monroe and Alison Leeming of Summer’s Leases and Enzo Righeschi and Rita Soldini (photographers), this speaks of warm Italian evenings, is nicely composed and - hardest of all - has a perfect balance of light and shade. Frequently the pictures that look the simplest to set up are the hardest. Well done, Chris!

RUNNERS UP (each receive a gift pack containing two bottles of organically-grown, cold-pressed extra virgin Tuscan olive oil)

“Landscape with Clouds” by Ivan Stamenov. Ivan stayed at San Gregorio north of Perugia. A wonderfully evocative picture with a good range of shades and colours. Nice interesting sky and the right amount of foreground.

“The start of a perfect day in Umbria. Sunrise in Montone, September 2007” by Mike Williamson, who stayed at Montone Due in Umbria. A well-composed picture, the first of a series of three (the evening picture came a narrow second to this one). The bright but low sun just round the corner hints at a splendid day to come.

“Montichiello” by Peter Cook, who was at La Cascina just outside Montepulciano. A simple picture with a pleasant symmetry, light to the left, shade to the right. The gate at the end closes the scene nicely.

“The huge loggia and delightful garden” at Alla Collina near Todi by Justin Kitch. This shows the importance of composition: the colours are fine, the picture’s interesting but sadly there's a bit too much foreground and - cardinal sin - the roof has been cropped! This could have been a winner with less foreground.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS (no prize but very good pictures all the same)

 

“Watching the harvest of the grapes in Tuscany” by Pat Fay. Pat stayed at Podere La Rota in Tuscany. Would have been improved with more vineyards on the horizon, which always form a nice stripy effect from a distance.

“A peek at Piazza del Campo in Siena” by Toni Korossec. Has a pleasant 1950s postcard feel to it. Well centred on the arch and the elbow adds foreground interest without interfering with the composition of the piazza.

“San Gregorio’s garden” by Margaret Martin, who was also at San Gregorio. Evidently San Gregorio inspires photographers: as well as the runner-up this year, last year’s winner stayed there! Nice range of bright colours, would benefit from less foreground and a bit more sky.

“Interior - Palazzo Vecchio - 2” by Anne Pringle Davies & David Huxham who stayed at the Sant’Ambrogio Apartment in Florence. Nicely conveys the atmosphere though perhaps a bit underexposed due to the glare from the window at the centre of the picture.