Two autumn images recognised in prestigious International Garden Photographer of the Year awards
AN ABERGLASNEY Gardens photographer has been recognised for the tenth year in a row in the prestigious International Garden Photographer of the Year (IGPOTY) competition.
Nigel McCall, who has been documenting the beauty of Aberglasney Gardens for over a decade, received accolades for two of his striking images in this year’s awards.
IGPOTY, launched in 2008, is regarded as one of the world’s most respected competitions celebrating garden, plant, flower and botanical photography, attracting entries from across the globe.
Nigel’s photograph ‘Crimson Cascade’ was awarded Highly Commended. The image was captured last October in the Upper Walled Garden when the Sorbus and Vitis coignetiae were simultaneously displaying their rich autumn colours.
A second image, ‘Autumn Glory’, received a Commended award. Taken on an early November morning in 2016 in the Asiatic Garden, it features a view across the lawn — since removed in 2018 — towards the Japanese Gate at the top of the gardens.
Over the past ten years, Nigel’s work has earned an impressive 21 awards from IGPOTY, including three first-place finishes, one third place, six finalist positions, seven Highly Commended and four Commended awards.
Speaking following the announcement, Nigel said: “I am pleased to have been recognised once again in this year’s International Garden Photographer of the Year awards. I take photos of the Gardens for pleasure rather than rewards but it is always heart-warming when given accolades for the hobby I enjoy doing so much.”
A collection of Nigel’s award-winning photographs, capturing Aberglasney through the seasons, is currently on display in an exhibition at the Mansion. A book of his images, Aberglasney Gardens – a calendar year, is also available to purchase in the gift shop, alongside jigsaws and postcards featuring some of his award-winning work.
Aberglasney Gardens Director Helen Scutt congratulated Nigel on his continued success.
“We are very grateful to him for all the time he puts in to visiting Aberglasney and producing such amazing photographs,” she said. “It’s thanks to Nigel that we’re blessed with a wealth of beautiful images of the gardens throughout the seasons.”
Nigel has been a volunteer and member at Aberglasney since 2014 and has compiled more than 2,600 photographs documenting the changing landscape of the gardens over the years.
