Andy Gray's (AKA @andygrayphotographer) capture of a wintry morning in the Peak District, UK, took second prize in the main category of Weather Photographer of the Year. Although it is the first time he has been recognized in this leading international competition, Andy is no stranger to photo awards, having been a finalist or award winner in the likes of International Garden Photographer of the Year, Landscape Photographer of the Year and the Cewe Photo Award. And taking runner-up in WPotY was a first in more ways than one – ‘Hoarfrost Heaven’ was taken on a telephoto lens that Andy had only recently acquired. I got to sit down with the landscape photographer to chat about this incredible image.
“I don’t often shoot with a telephoto lens and had only purchased my Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS | C lens a couple of weeks before this photo was taken,” he tells me. Andy says he was pleased to have captured this photo as he believes instances of hoar frost in the Peak District are becoming rarer.
