Summer Photography Competition Winners 2020

To celebrate a slightly different but amazing summer in Hampshire, we ran our popular Summer Photography Competition for the fourth year and asked you to share with us your best summer photos of Hampshire.

We have had an amazing response and after extensive judging we are pleased to annouce and share with you the winner of this year's summer competition and the runners up.

A big thank you to all those who entered!

Winner: Mattea McKinnon - Hurst Spit Lighthouse

"Golden hour glow at Hurst Point Lighthouse in Keyhaven, Hampshire. This lovely landmark was built in 1867 to guide vessels through hazardous waters in the Solent."

Runners Up

Marcin Jedrysiak - Sunrise over Portsmouth

"Sunrise over Portsmouth taken at 6:33am on 10th September 2020 from 80 meters above the ground. Showing Spinnaker Tower and surrounding area."

Find out more about the city of Portsmouth.

Elliot Pordes - New Forest Ponies

"A small herd of New Forest Ponies running towards the pool for a drink and bathe. Their manes were blowing in the wind. A very exciting sight."

Find out more about the New Forest National Park.

Steve Hood - Sunset at Barton on Sea Beach

"This was a beautiful evening a couple of weeks ago, couldn’t resit to pop down to Barton beach and take a shot."

Find out more about Barton on Sea.

Eric Denton - Sinah Lake at Sinah Warren, Hayling Island

"Going into the hotel at Sinah Warren I turned round and noticed the view of the lake between the two trees and thought that it would make a good "framing" photograph."

Find out more about Hayling Island.

Malcolm Eales - HMS Warrior, Portsmouth

"Setting out on one of those glorious summer evenings I hoped the sun would put on a show, we weren’t disappointed whilst standing on the old cobbled slipway with the world’s first iron clad warship in the foreground."

Find out more about the city of Portsmouth.

Marcin Jedrysiak - Sunrise over South Parade Pier, Southsea 

"Sunrise over South Parade Pier taken on 10th September 2020 by drone, beautiful calm morning. it was worth to get up early to get this shoot done!"

Find out more about Southsea.

Lance Bellers - New Forest Ponies

"New Forest ponies in early evening sunshine."

Find out more about the New Forest National Park.

Tom Yelf - Sams Sunflower Fields on Hayling Island

"A beautiful evening and a fantastic show of support for the amazing work of the NHS."

Find out more about Hayling Island.

Lance Bellers - Oyster Catchers on Hayling Island

"Oystercatchers take flight. Scene at the Oyster Beds at the top end of Hayling Island."

Find out more about Hayling Island.

Darrel Wright - Hurst Spit Beach with views to the Isle of Wight

"The Isle of Wight and needles in the distance from Hurst Spit. With it being an unconventional summer it has given us a lot more opportunities to explore locally and this has become one of the family favourite locations, you could almost think it was a tropical island."

Michael Lambert - Selborne Lavender Farm

"Taken at Selborne Lavender Farm, nr Selborne in August 2020."

John Cuthbert - New Forest Pony Sunbathing

"I could not resist capturing an image of this mare relishing the warm summer heat in the New Forest. It makes me smile every time I look at it and reminds me of so many magical moments spent in Hampshire's New Forest."

Find out more about the New Forest National Park.

Lauren Reid - Beacon Hill View

"Stunning view of Highclere Castle aka Downton Abbey from the top of Beacon Hill in Hampshire."

Find out more about Highclere Castle.

Michelle Presley - Selborne Lavender Farm

"Sensory sensations at the Lavender farm, Selbourne."

Nathan Hill - Spinnaker Tower, Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth

"This shot took some planning and a lot of luck! The clouds looked like they would scupper my plans but they cleared just in time allowing me to catch this shot of the full moon rising behind the Spinnaker Tower."

Find out more about the city of Portsmouth.

Antony Lowe - Bursledon Windmill

"Sunset at Bursledon Windmill in Southampton taken into 25th July 2020"

Find out more about Bursledon Windmill.

Alexa Bradley - Canada Common, New Forest National Park

"This photo was taken at Canada Common on Saturday 20th June 2020. It was the weekend we were able to bubble up with my father-in-law following lockdown, and we loved seeing the local animals on our family walk, particularly the baby donkeys."

 Find out more about the New Forest National Park.

Tom Yelf - Hayling Island

"Photo taken at Sams Sunflowers Hayling Island 3rd Aug 2020. A little bit of colour and brightness to end a very different summer!"

Find out more about Hayling Island.

Leanne Dempsey - Itchen Valley

"Photo take in the Itchen Valley"

Ian Holloway - Eling Quay

"Eling Quay, taken on the 11/9/2020, waiting for the golden glow to hit the apartments, everything still and silent, amazing."

Paul Travers - Stag Roe Deer near Longparish, Test Valley

"The photo of the Stag Roe deer was taken in the wild flower field borders to the side of the Test Valley footpath outside of Longparish heading towards the Whitchurch Road. The photo was taken 25th June 2020. The footpath travels through lovely rolling countryside with open fields and woodland flush with wildlife."

Find out more about the Test Valley. 

Steve Hood - Sunrise at Hurst Spit Lighthouse

"Waited for the sun to rise so it was inline with the reflector window of the lighthouse, took a bit of shuffling along the pebbles with my tripod and camera but got it in the end before it went too high. Its amazing how fast the sun moves when your trying to photograph it."

Anita Gellatly - St Hubert's Church, Idsworth in the South Downs National Park

"I had to pass by here on several mornings. This proved so rewarding as the light at that time was clear and bright at about 8am. I had to stop and check out this beautiful church lit up by the morning sun."

Find out more about the South Downs National Park.

Nathan Hill - Sunset Over Langston Harbour

"I love Langston Harbour as there are a huge number of subjects to capture, particularly at sunset or sunrise. I went out to capture the mill but this drone shot turned out to be my favourite from this trip."

Alex Holden - Butser Hill in the South Downs National Park

"Butser hill. 21/7/2020. I was heading there for what was turning out to be an amazing sunset... Short version... it wasn't! However the light about 30 minutes before was popping and creating this amazing golden light across the hill. I quickly found a framing I liked through the bushes on the path and there we go... one of my favorites."

Find out more about the South Downs National Park.

Amy Rushton - Kayaking at Stokes Bay

"Taken on 22nd July 2020 at Stokes Bay when we hired kayaks from Stoked Watersports."

Find out more about Stoked Watersports.

Jennifer Linton - Marwell Zoo

"Grevy's Zebra, Marwell Zoo, 12th March 2020. A day trip round Marwell Zoo gave me the chance to study the mesmerising stripes of these beautiful animals which make a perfect frame for their intelligent eyes. The individual patterns are one of the amazing products of nature."

Find out more about Marwell Zoo.

Paul Watt - Hayling Island Beach Huts

"Taken on 08/05/2020 roughly at 5:30am. I love how quiet and peaceful Hampshire's beaches are at dawn, when I feel stressed out I try to get to the shore."

Find out more about Hayling Island.

Anna Le Jeune - Caesar's Camp

"Feeling like you're on top of the world. What a view. A wonderfully clear day to see the London skyline in the distance and everything in between."

Tom Yelf - Butser Hill in the South Downs National Park

"Photo taken at Butser Hill, late June 2020. A beautiful evening watching the sun go down with my wife and daughter, appreciating how lucky we are to live near such stunning countryside."

Find out more about the South Downs National Park.

Louise Flanagan - Sailing into Lymington

"Taken 20th August 2020 on the way back to Lymington by boat following  an evening trip to Yarmouth."

Find out more about Lymington.

Hannah Lees - Stone Throwing at Stokes Bay

"Taken at Stokes Bay on the 10th August 2020. I have just moved back to Hampshire after living away for 10years. The beach has always been my happy place."

Jeanna Lee - Lymington

"A very empty Lymington. Taken not long after the country opened up again, this quaint little town was sitting pretty ready to welcome visitors again. Patriotism and pastels."

Find out more about Lymington.

Louis Stacey - Sunrise Over Portsmouth

"Gosport, looking toward Portsmouth. I came to photograph a sunrise using my drone, it started out blue but all of a sudden this amazing colour appeared - lasting only a few minutes before turning blue again."

Find out more about the city of Portsmouth.

Ellis Haigh - Chichester Harbour Seal

"This photo was taken in Chichester Harbour on 16 August 2020. This shot is of a Harbour Seal in it's natural environment."

Linda Selby - Royal Victoria Country Park

"The Chapel at Royal Victoria Country Park Captured in May"

Find out more about Royal Victoria Country Park.

Gemma Chambers - Field of Poppies near Basingstoke

"Although most of the poppies were red, the occasional pink one could be spotted and added another depth of colour and a special feel to this breathtaking view."

Sophie Morrell - Lee-on-Solent

"Infinity Horizon Vol 4 are apart of the “Infinity Horizons” series, of which is a personal response to the Pandemic. My aim here was to appreciate for myself the surroundings in which we are all blessed to witness, despite possible on-going struggles." 

Ross Tomkins - Titchfield Canal Walk

"A young deer watching the breath- taking sky as the colours almost turn neon."

Julian Gazzard - Sunrise Over Langstone Harbour

"Summer sunrise over Langstone Harbour with the Mill and Royal Oak taken on 10 Aug 2020."

Mattea McKinnon - Milford on Sea Beach huts

"Sunset sunshine reflecting off the beach-huts at Hordle Cliff (Milford on Sea), Hampshire."

Find out more about Milford on Sea.

Anita Parry - Watersports at Hayling Island Beach

"Taken on Sat 13th June 2020. I was born by the sea, but now live in Fleet, Hampshire. This summer we decided to visit many different seaside places and beaches we’ve never visited. We went to Hayling Island on a warm sunny day and loved the sea and the sky filled with kites, surfers and kite surfers."

Find out more about Hayling Island.

Gopakumar Kanakkaparambil - Farley Mount Sunset

"This picture was taken in this summer during my first visit to the Farley Mount."

Find out more about Farley Mount.

Viv Stewart - New Forest Ponies drinking at Minstead

"New Forest ponies enjoying a drink and a cool down in a dew pond at Minstead." 

Find out more about the New Forest National Park.

Planning a visit to Hampshire?

Browse accommodation

Discover things to do and top attractions

Explore places to visit