We’ve taken enough blurry food photographs to have ultimate respect for those who can take a beautiful one.
On April 27, the winner of the Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year 2021 was announced by Fred Siriex and streamed live on their YouTube channel.
Since this competition’s launch in 2011, 70,000 images and films have been submitted from over 70 countries.
The pandemic hasn’t slowed down applications, as they had 10,500 entries this year, and presumably none of them were badly lit snaps of what someone had for their tea.
“The range and quality of images this year has been extraordinary,” says Caroline Kenyon, Founder/Director of the Awards.
“They tell moving, beautiful, informative, entertaining food stories of every kind from around the world, a world still gripped by the pandemic, and show us how food is the thread that connects us all."
Judges include famous food photographer, David Loftus, as well as cookbook author and photographer, Nik Sharma.
The overall winner was Taste, by Chinese photographer, Li Huaifeng. It’s a beautiful image of a family preparing food, with light streaming in the windows.
However, two Scottish photographers also made it to the finals.
Lynne Kennedy of the Western Highlands bagged second place in the Champagne Taittinger Wedding Food Photographer, a Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year category, with We Did It!
It’s an image of a couple - Jodie and Boo - who have just eloped to Skye, and it was taken in the Fairy Glen, where they were celebrating their vows by popping open a bottle of Champers.
The second Scottish finalist was Amanda Farnese Heath of East Lothian.
She’s known for her Mad March Hare Wild Dining, and beautifully visual dining events.
Farnese Heath was Highly Commended in the Champagne Taittinger Wedding Food Photographer a Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year category with Wild Wedding For Two.
Intriguingly, there’s only one person in the image.
“I came up with the idea of offering anyone wishing to get married during lockdown a wild tiny wedding with an exquisite banquet in a remote secret location in Scotland.” says Farnese Heath.
“This is one of the images from our first minuscule event.”
Find out more about the competition here.
