Photographer Tim Plowden Receives 1st Prize in the British Deer Society’s Open Photographic Competition

by Tim Plowden, 19 July 2013

Photographer Tim Plowden today received 1st prize in the British Deer Society’s open photographic competition for his image of Roe deer taken near Dereham in mid-Norfolk. The prize for the nationwide competition was awarded by Swarovski at the CLA (Country Land & Business Association) Game Fair, Ragley Hall, Warwickshire on 19 July.

The Photography Competition

The competition’s subject was “Deer in the Environment” and was open to anyone to enter. The panel of judges selected images based upon technical skill, diversity, originality and creativity of composition. The winning pictures, runners up and a selection of best entries are included in a touring exhibition.

The judges commented that, the mood and impression that the photograph conveyed captured their imagination.
All the judges said they, could hang the picture on a wall and not tire of looking at it.
The print was said to be, first class and kept drawing the eye to it.

The British Deer Society

The British Deer Society is the premier organisation promoting deer welfare and best management principles in deer management. It undertakes and funds research projects ensuring that deer, their issues and their threats are scientifically explored and understood and thus deliver workable solutions.

The British Deer Society strives to ensure that there is a sustainable healthy population of deer in the UK that can exist in harmony with the environment and the people that live there, look after it, or visit it.

The Deer of Dereham

It is believed that Dereham’s name derives from a deer park that existed in the area. Saint Withburga, the youngest daughter of Anna, King of the East Angles, founded a convent there in the seventh century after seeing a vision of the Virgin Mary.

A traditional story relates that while she was building the convent she had nothing but dry bread to give to the workmen. She prayed to the Virgin Mary and was told to send her maids to a local well each morning. There they found two wild does which provided milk for the workers.

The local lord of the manor did not take kindly to Withburga or her miracles and decided to hunt the does down with dogs and prevent them from coming to be milked. His cruelty was met with divine retribution when he was thrown from his horse. This story is commemorated in the town sign in the centre of Dereham.

Tim Plowden

These charming creatures had captured my imagination and led to a year where I spent with studious curiosity unraveling the life of these secretive mammals.