Mark Waidson Wins the Graham Trevor Trophy with Misty Lake Vyrnwy
- Droitwich Camera Club
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Some photographs make you pause mid-scroll. Mark Waidson's "Misty Lake Vyrnwy" is one of those images. On Monday 12th January 2026, it was announced as the winner of this season's Graham Trevor Trophy at Droitwich Camera Club — and it's easy to see why.
The Winning Image
"Misty Lake Vyrnwy" captures a lone tree on a small island at Lake Vyrnwy in Wales, surrounded by soft morning mist and perfectly still water. The hills on either side frame the scene, while a warm, golden sunrise breaks through the cloud behind the tree. Below, the reflection is almost a mirror image — tree, island, sky, mist — all doubled in the calm surface of the lake.
What makes this image so striking is its sense of stillness. Everything feels held in place: the mist hovering just above the water, the soft warmth of the light, the quiet symmetry of the reflection. It's the kind of photograph that rewards a second look, and then a third. There's a patience to it — the patience of a photographer who arrived early, read the conditions, and waited for the moment when everything came together.
Congratulations to Mark on a thoroughly deserved win.
You can see more of Mark's landscape and nature photography on his website (www.markwaidson.co.uk), on Instagram account (@markwaidsonuk), and on Flickr.
The Runners-Up
The standard across the competition was high, and two images stood out alongside Mark's winning entry.
Audrey's image takes us to the remote coastline of Dail Beag on the Isle of Lewis. A receding wave swirls around a rock in the foreground, its movement captured with a longer exposure that turns the water into smooth, flowing trails across the sand. The rugged headlands on either side provide strong framing, and the moody sky above completes a composition full of energy and atmosphere. It's a photograph that conveys both the power and the rhythm of the sea.
Dave's photograph of Castlerigg Stone Circle in the Lake District brings together ancient stones and a dramatic Cumbrian landscape under brooding skies. The lichen-covered boulders in the foreground are rich in texture and detail, while beyond them the green fells roll away into the distance with patches of light breaking through the clouds. It's a strong image that balances the intimacy of the foreground with the scale of the landscape behind.
About the Graham Trevor Trophy
The Graham Trevor Trophy is an internal competition at Droitwich Camera Club dedicated to British landscape photography. It's one of the highlights of the club's season programme, giving members a reason to get out with their cameras, explore the British landscape, and present their best work.
A themed competition like this does more than produce strong entries. It gives members a focus — a prompt to plan a trip, revisit a favourite location in new conditions, or finally process that carefully composed image from a recent outing. This year's entries showed real variety, from misty Welsh lakes to Scottish coastlines and Cumbrian stone circles. That range is part of what makes landscape photography — and this competition — so rewarding.
What Can We Learn from These Images?
Whether you're a seasoned landscape photographer or just getting started, these three images offer some useful reminders.
Timing and patience matter. Mark's winning shot relied on being at Lake Vyrnwy at the right moment — early enough for the mist, calm enough for the reflection, and with just the right quality of light. Great landscape photographs rarely happen by accident. They come from planning, returning to locations, and being ready when conditions align.
Foreground interest adds depth. Both Audrey's swirling wave and Dave's textured stones draw the viewer into the scene and create a sense of three-dimensional space. A strong foreground element can turn a pleasant view into a compelling photograph.
Weather is your friend. None of these winning images were taken under clear blue skies. Mist, cloud, and moody light all contributed to the atmosphere and mood. If you're tempted to stay indoors when the weather turns, these photographs are a good reminder that dramatic conditions often produce the most interesting results.
Composition shapes the story. Each photographer made deliberate choices about what to include and where to place it. Mark's centred tree and its reflection create a calm symmetry. Audrey's low viewpoint emphasises the movement of the water. Dave's foreground stones lead the eye through to the hills beyond. These are considered compositions, not snapshots.
What's Next at Droitwich Camera Club?
The 2025–2026 season isn't finished yet! Here's what's still to come:
Monday 23rd March — Creative Editing Members Night
Monday 30th March — The Wychavon Trophy
Monday 6th April — Easter Break (no meeting)
Monday 13th April — Internal Print & Digital Image of the Year Competition
Monday 20th April — AGM
If you're curious about photography and looking for a friendly, welcoming community, Droitwich Camera Club meets on Monday evenings (8–10pm, September to April) at Droitwich Methodist Church, Worcester Road, Droitwich Spa, WR9 8AN. We welcome photographers of all levels — whether you shoot with a DSLR, a mirrorless camera, a drone, or your phone.
Find out more and see what's coming up on our website's [Home Page].
Closing
Congratulations once again to Mark Waidson for a beautiful and deserving winning image. And well done to Audrey Couchman and Dave Hull for their excellent runners-up entries. The quality of all entries to this year's Graham Trevor Trophy was of an exceptionally high standard and is something the whole club can be proud of.
If you've been thinking about entering a club competition, let these images inspire you. You don't need to travel to the ends of the earth — just pay attention to the light, the weather, and the landscape around you. Your next great photograph might be closer than you think.
Thank you for reading, and thank you to everyone at Droitwich Camera Club who keeps this welcoming community of photographers thriving.
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