Online photography exhibition: On the Water

Welcome to the British Guild of Travel Writers’ fifth online photography exhibition. Much has changed in the world since we invited members to submit their photos for this virtual exhibition.

The rapid global spread of the COVID-19 virus has, of course, resulted in our freedom to travel being curtailed. Often our members are underway in the world researching and photographing for features, guidebooks, online article and blog posts. The lockdown means that isn’t currently the case.

The impact of the coronavirus inevitably means that the travel industry will face challenges ahead. That, though, is for the future. In the meantime we hope you are complying with government guidelines relating to travel and staying safe.

We dedicate this online photography exhibition to health service employees and workers in key industries. Thank you to each and every one of you!

On the Water

Several members submitted scenes photographed at Inle Lake in Myanmar.

Bella photographed fishermen of Inle Lake, Myanmar — *Bella Falk’s photograph of fishermen of Inle Lake, Myanmar*.

Among them were Bella Falk, of the blog Passport and Pixels, and Valery Collins of the Experienced Traveller.

Valery Collins’ photograph of a family heading to the market on Inle Lake.

Dave Saunders, meanwhile, captured an image of a woman making a splash in Jordan.

Dave Saunders photographed by the Dead Sea in Jordan — *Dave Saunders’ photograph of a woman kicking up water by the Dead Sea in Jordan*

Mike Unwin, who specialises in photographing wildlife and wild places, contributed a photograph from Stykkishélmur harbour in western Iceland.

Mike Unwin’s photograph of a drake eider duck swimming through the reflections of fishing boats in Stykkishélmur harbour, Iceland.

Closer to home, William Gray photographed an early morning scene from the Cotswolds.

William Gray’s photograph of dawn mist rising above the River Windrush at Burford in the Cotswolds.

Stuart Forster submitted a colourful image of beach huts at Heart’s Delight-Islington, photographed on a sunny day in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

Stuart Forster‘s photo of colourfully painted huts by the shore of the Atlantic Ocean at Heart’s Delight-Islington in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Duncan J.D. Smith, the author of the Only in Guides guidebook series, also selected an image from North America’s east coast for inclusion in the exhibition.

Duncan J.D. Smith’s photograph of Boston Harbor in the USA.

Finland-based Tim Bird captured a fisherman using an improvised line next to one of the Chinese fishing nets on the backwaters of Kerala, India.

Tim Bird’s photograph of a man fishing in Kerala, India.

Staying in southern India, Karoki Lewis photographed a placid scene from one of the famous houseboats that ply Kerala’s backwaters.

Karoki Lewis’s photograph from a houseboat, converted from a traditional rice barge, on the Kerala backwaters.

James Lowen chose an altogether chillier setting, photographing brash ice off the Antarctic Peninsula’s Brabant Island.

James Lowen’s photograph of brash ice by Brabant Island, off the Antarctic Peninsula.

James Rushforth also featured ice in his submission, a scene from Scoresbysund off eastern Greenland.

James Rushforth’s photograph of a sailing ship in the Scoresbysund, off the east coast of Greenland.

It was also a cold morning when Gary Noakes photographed a beached buoy near the remains of Brighton’s West Pier.

Gary Noakes’ photograph of a bouy at low tide near Brighton’s West Pier.

Several of our members submitted images with a sporty edge. Maritime specialist Frances Howorth was herself on the water to capture the Wallycento ‘Tango’ cutting through the Mediterranean Sea.

Frances Howorth’s photo of Wallycento ‘Tango’ off Monaco.

In what should have been a year seeing Tokyo host the Olympic Games, news specialist Finnbarr Webster pulled a golden image from his library. It shows Britons celebrating victory during the 2012 Games. Here’s to the Tokyo Games being a success when they do eventually take place.

Finnbarr Webster photographed uke Patience and Stuart Bithell celebrating after winning the Men's 470 in the 2012 Olympic Games — *Finnbarr Webster’s image of Olympic sailors Luke Patience and Stuart Bithell celebrating after winning silver in the Men’s 470 at the 2012 Olympic Games.*

Geoff Moore photographed an unusual ‘sea horse’ off the Dorset coastline.

Geoff Moore’s photograph of Katie Beat, a trained horse therapist from Dorchester, swimming with Stewie as the sun dips at Weymouth.

Allan Rogers‘ submission is a yacht sailing home with the sun setting over Fidra Island at the entrance to the Firth of Forth.

Allan Rogers’s photograph of a yacht sailing off Fidra Island at the entrance to the Firth of Forth, Scotland.

Caroline Mills juxtaposed a ferry and a man kneeling on a Stand Up Paddleboard in her composition from the English Channel.

Caroline Mills’ photograph of a scene featuring a P&O ferry at Dover, Kent.

The sea was significantly choppier when Richard Villar photographed the lifeboat at Staithes in North Yorkshire.

Richard Villar’s photograph of the lifeboat at Staithes, North Yorkshire.

It was warmer in Western Australia when Jeremy Hoare silhouetted folk having fun in Busselton.

Jeremy Hoare’s photograph of people enjoying an evening at Busselton in Western Australia.

Lynne Coates silhouetted a kiteboarder against the low sun in Tel Aviv.

Lynne Coates’ photograph of a kiteboarder on the beach at Tel Aviv, Israel.

Bill Birkett supplied a portrait of a handsome looking border terrier at Crummock Water in England’s Lake District National Park.

Bill Birkett’s photograph of a border terrier in the Lake District.

Simon Urwin chose an image featuring an infinity pool above Panama City for his submission.

Simon Urwin’s photograph of Panama City and Panama Bay from a viewing deck with infinity pool.

While staying at Swedish-style log houses in the Cotswolds, Claire Robinson photographed a rowing boot moored on a serene-looking artificial lake.

Claire Robinson photographed a rowing boat by a jetty in the Cotswolds — *Claire Robinson’s photograph of a rowing boat by a wooden jetty in the Cotswolds*.

While being rowed across Lugu Lake, which borders China’s Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, Peter Ellegard took an opportunity to photograph a young woman from the Mosuo minority group. The Mosuo are the last remaining matriarchal society in China and live in villages scattered around the edge of the remote lake.

Peter Ellegard’s photograph of a woman rowing on Lugu Lake in China.

Meanwhile, China specialist Mark Andrews chose to submit an image which he photographed in Cambodia.

Mark Andrews photographed a woman rowing a boat at Chong Kneas, Tonle Sap Lake, Cambodia — *Mark Andrew’s photo of a woman rowing a colourful blue, red, green and yellow boat with a delivery of fruit and vegetables in Chong Kneas, Tonle Sap Lake, Cambodia.*

Prior to the lockdown, Diana Jarvis was revisiting locations around her hometown of Margate in Kent. As she shows, you don’t always have to travel long distances to find phenomenal light and photograph beautiful scenes.

Diana Jarvis’s photograph of a tidal pool at Margate, Kent.

Thanks for viewing this British Guild of Travel Writers online photography exhibition. Here’s to all of us having opportunities to travel again soon. In the meantime, stay safe and healthy.

Pinterest pin for the On the Water online photography exhibition featuring images by members of the British Guild of Travel Writers. This image is from the 2018 Tall Ships Race which started in Sunderland, England. — Use Pinterest? Pin this and return to view the On the Water online photography exhibition featuring images by members of the British Guild of Travel Writers. This image is a scene from the 2018 Tall Ships Race.

By: Stuart Forster Features writer, editor, travel blogger and photographer.