Farmers Weekly Photo Competition 2022 – the three winning shots

Here are the top three pictures in the 2022 Farmers Weekly Photography Competition. The winner gets £300 and each of the two runners-up take home £100.

See also: View all the entries in the Farmers Weekly 2022 Photography Competition

Winner

© Kirstie Duncan

Kirstie Duncan’s winning shot, which topped the Black-and-white category, was taken near Selkirk in the Scottish borders. 

She was sorting ewes into groups at Wester Deloraine Farm, ready for the tups to go out, when she grabbed this lovely, atmospheric image.

“I mostly like taking pictures of livestock, and of the dogs working the livestock,” says Kirstie.

She feels 2022 was a pretty good year and, even though it was a dry summer, they were lucky and had plenty of grass.

“We’re feeling nervous for the year ahead, though, with the cost of everything rising, as we have just taken on a new sheep contract. So fingers crossed for good lamb prices in 2023!”

Runners-up

© Ryan Bundy

Taking pictures is the “number one pastime” of Ryan Bundy, who spends most weekends in September and October heading to ploughing matches and always keeps a close eye on dealership demos for pictures of new tractors and machinery.

Retired Ryan, who won the Pets category with this image, originally trained as an agricultural engineer, and later became an instructor and teacher at Sparsholt College in Hampshire.

He’d spotted this dog at other ploughing matches and, on this particular day, captured this image of it “comfortable, rolled up into a ball, having a nap next to the steering wheel”.

© Emma Deeley Cook

Emma Deeley Cook, an arable farmer from Oxfordshire, took first place in the Landscapes category with this wintry scene.

“I just love taking pictures and am lucky to have nature outside my back door,” says Emma.

She’s conscious that climate and price volatility could bring challenges in 2023, but says living in such a beautiful spot can be a great antidote to the pressures of farming.

“Whatever is happening around the world, the birds still sing, the hares lollop in the field and the seasons change their colours. I am lucky to be able to stop and witness this daily.”