A PICTURE capturing the shifting seasons from summer to autumn in the East Hampshire countryside has won first place in the South Downs National Park photo competition for 2017-18.

Rowlands Castle photographer Ron De’Ath took the judges’ vote in the contest, which this year had the theme ‘Growing Places’, with his picture taken from Butser Hill.

A moody crowd of cattle won second place for Dominic Vacher in ‘Staredown’, captured on Tegdown Hill near Brighton. Three of the cattle are Sussex Red, a traditional local rare breed, which have been grazed in this part of the national park since the Bronze Age.

A subtle and challenging image ‘Rolling Down’ won third place for Simon Verrall. It was taken on Barlavington Down in West Sussex, and told an important story about how farmers manage the pressures on their land.

The top three images have joined three other highly commended entries to go forward for the people’s choice vote. The public have until noon on Monday to register a vote for their favourite image and the one with the most votes will win the photographer £100 and the People’s Choice award.

The competition judges were Steve Watkins, editor of Outdoor Photography magazine; photographer and gallery owner Finn Hopson; Rachael Talibart, winner of the Sunday Times Magazine’s Landscape Photographer of the Year prize in 2016; Nick Heasman, countryside and policy manager for the South Downs National Park Authority; and Doug Jones, South Downs National Park Authority member.

On the winning entry selected by the judges, Mr Watkins said: “Ron has subverted what could easily have been a conventional harvest shot – making the unusual choice to frame the picture vertically and leave out the sky entirely.”

Third-placed photographer Mr Verrall said: “The South Downs is an ever-changing environment and I wish I had more time to photograph it.

“My photo isn’t a classic postcard view but a snapshot of day-to-day farming life. It is a reminder that, for many, the park is a place of work.”

To take part in the public vote go to: www.southdowns.gov.uk/vote-favourite-photo/