international photography awards 2020

I am delighted to have won second prize in the International Photography Awards 2020, Architecture/Historic, with this: ‘The Painted Hall, Greenwich’ (2019).

James Thornhill’s epic 1707 commission was to decorate the hall of the Old Royal Naval College with a series of paintings that depict the triumph of the protestant monarchs William & Mary, Anne and George I. The result is a baroque masterpiece of dazzling trompe l’eoil paintings.

When I shot this early last year it had just been restored and a very subtle lighting scheme designed by Sutton Vane Associates added to make it easier to pick out detail in the ceiling. Since Thornhill did not have the benefit of uplighting I asked for this to be turned off. I was solemnly warned by the museum’s director that “most photographers find they need it on”.

I’m pleased I insisted.