Historic Photographer of the Year 2020 Award Winners Announced

The winners of the Historic photographer of the year Awards 2020 were given by Triphistory. Celebrate the places and cultural sites around the world that offer a window to the history that exists all around us. This year, restricted by COVID-19, photographers were called on to scour their photographic archive to share their imagery of those places that dominate our past. The overall winner was awarded to Michael Marsh for his transfixing capture of the Grade II-listed Brighton Palace Pier. 

Winner - Where History Happened

Before the civil war in Syria at the ancient city of Apamea. I’d dragged my family out of bed early, when it was cold and dark, to ensure we were at the Great Colonnade early enough to catch sunrise and the golden hour. I’d got my timings wrong and we were an hour early so sat around wondering where the sun had gone and waiting for dawn. It was worth the wait. I felt privileged at the time to have the opportunity to visit Apamea, but even more so since the civil war damaged some of these most impressive monuments’

Winner - Historic England:

St Michael’s church on Burrow Mump, surrounded by a blanket of mist. It’s really awesome. I can say that this is a creation of nature on the continent. Burrowbridge, Somerset, England. It’s special in December month.

Shortlisted Photos:

The Wreck SS Denham:
‘On my photographic journey I love to visit various places across the north-west of England. On this occasion this was the remains and site of a Second World War vessel called the SS Denham.

Callanish Standing Stones:
Callanish on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland at sunrise a few days before the winter solstice.

Citadel of Alessandria, Italy:
This was taken in the basement of the abandoned Citadel of Alessandria. Years ago, the river in the city flooded the basement of the complex. The floor as you see it in this photo is a remainder of that. It is dried mud. The Citadel of Alessandria was built by Carlo Emanuele III, the King of Sardinia, in 1732 and terminated by Napoleon in 1808. With its 74 hectares it represents one of the greatest examples of an
18th-century fortification with bastions in Europe and one of the few that exist today.

The Maunsell Forts, Thames Estuary, Kent:
Shot taken from a helicopter of Red Sands Maunsell forts. The Maunsell naval forts were built in the Thames estuary and operated by the Royal Navy to deter and report German air raids during the Second World War.

Gaudi’s chimney, Barcelona:
Gaudi’s chimney, Casa Milà (La Pedrera), Barcelona. The building was commissioned in 1906, designed by architect Antoni Gaudí and was built between 1906 and 1912. It was designated a historic and artistic monument on 24 July 1969.

Taj Mahal, Agra:
The Taj Mahal is very delicate. It is in memory of a lover. It is now a popular tourist destination. It’s like saying stay away from the crowd.

Welsh Farmhouse:
A deserted farmhouse in Wales. The ceilings are caving in but the room is filled with a family’s history.

St Basil’s Cathedral, Red Square, Moscow:
Cathedral of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, on the Moat – an Orthodox church on Red Square in Moscow, a monument of Russian architecture. The construction of the cathedral was carried out from 1555 to 1561. The cathedral unites 11 churches, some of which are consecrated in honour of the saints, whose days of memory fell on the decisive battles for Kazan. The photo shows cadets of one of the Moscow military universities participating in the reconstruction of the parade on 7 November 1941.

Hadleigh Castle ruins:
‘This was once an important economic and defensive castle built during the reign of Henry III. It shines, once more, under the bright stars of the night sky as a drone passes by’.

Badbury Rings:

Badbury Rings is one of several large hill forts constructed in the first century BC by the Durotriges tribe. No one knows for sure why these Iron Age traders felt the need to erect such formidable defences; it may have been a response to the political instability resulting from the northward advance of Roman influence through Gaul (France). The Romans’ insatiable demand for slaves could have placed the Britons at risk from raids, and these great ramparts and ditches would have deterred attacks by tribes from the east. Whatever inspired their creation, the concentric rings stand as a dramatic reminder of the wealth and power the Durotriges derived from trade with the Armoricans of Brittany, based around the harbours at nearby Hengitsbury Head. Shot at dawn using a drone, this image reveals the site in the context of its landscape. Visible on the horizon is Poole Harbour, which was a major centre for ceramics in the decades before the Roman invasion of AD43, in the wake of which Badbury was deserted’. 

Historic photographer awards chimney by juliet evans Historic photographer awards church of the good shepherd by elana pakhalyuk Historic photographer awards hadleigh castle by diana buzoianu Historic photographer awards citadel of alessandria roman robroek Historic photographer awards ladybower plugs by jo emery Historic photographer awards maunsell forts by michael marsh Historic photographer awards michael church by adam burton