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The 2024 competition, generously sponsored by the British Society for Geomorphology, focused on students finding and taking a photo to demonstrate physical geography.
The theme of the competition was ‘The power of physical geography’.
Each photo was accompanied with its precise location and up to 250 words that describe the focus of the physical geography in the example, explaining what it reveals or demonstrates about the power of physical geography.
Interestingly, there were very few entries this year that captured small-scale features or processes to illustrate the power of physical geography and local examples were also fewer this year. Perhaps in the classroom (and in the field) we don’t give enough attention to the micro- as we do to the more obvious macro- in physical geography?
The judging was also quite a challenge this year. This was not down to the quality of the photographs as these varied across both age groups, but the level of the accompanying explanations in the lower age category entries were generally better researched and offered more curiosity. This difference is reflected in the winning entries that were selected.
Our judging comments reflect something of this year’s age-quality differences, and we aim to devise future competition themes that give students opportunity to consider small and large and to take time to ‘think like a physical geographer’ in interpreting what they discover.
In the meantime, we congratulate everyone who entered – they all entered in the good spirit of the competition and we hope you enjoy looking at, and critically reading, the explanations of the winning entries.
11–14 category (years 7–9)
1st prize: Florence Turnbull, Stroud High School
Title: Behind the waterfall!
Location: Kvernufoss, Iceland
Description:
On a trip to Iceland this spring, we went to see the magnificent waterfall Skógafoss, which is a very popular destination for tourists. Afterwards we wandered off the beaten track to find another less well-known waterfall called Kvernufoss.
As we went round the corner through the gorge, along the crystalline stream fed by the Eyjafjallajökull glacier, we saw a cascading waterfall in the distance which looked unremarkable compared to the mighty Skógafoss upstream. But, on closer inspection, the waterfall was more powerful than it seemed!
Kvernufoss is 22 metres high and might not seem as impressive as the rest of Iceland’s waterfalls. However, the waterfall’s steady flow of water has carved the gorge over many years. The picture I took was from behind the waterfall where an erosional cave has been formed by the force of water eroding away the softer rock behind it, which created the hollow from which I took this photo.
Either side of the gorge, the black cliffs are formed from basalt, an igneous rock produced from volcanic activity. The steady stream of glacial melt water slowly, over many centuries, weathered down this rock to form the gorge’s steep jagged sides.
The waterfall was beautiful in many ways, not only from its natural beauty, but also from its hidden history and unassuming strength. So, I think it’s the perfect example of the power of geography, highlighting the role of water in shaping the surface of the Earth.
View judging panel comments
The judges all agreed this is a stunning photograph that draws a ‘wow’! It is well-composed with the contrast of light and dark and the green moss, and in that it was taken from within the cave, looking out.
The waterfall does not have a great height but that is not apparent and the viewer feels within touching distance of the water. This gives the waterfall the impression of being powerful, like a stiletto, and it was a good recognition of its power despite it not being a mighty gush of water.
The description makes an attempt to explain how the power of the water has eroded the cave but could have probed further to answer two questions.
1. Why is the rock ‘softer’ at the base? It is basalt, so expected to be solid and hard, but the foreground of the photo reveals it is ‘rubbly’ texture here, characteristically formed at the base of a basalt lava flow, which the water has exploited.
2. Why is the gorge here? Linking the powerful effects of glacial meltwater over time to the formation of the gorge is useful, but it is erosion, not weathering, that created the steep sides! The raised level of the meltwater river above the waterfall results from uplift of the layers of basalt lava along the coast of Iceland. In response, the water has cut a vertical erosion slot into the basalt, reaching back as far the waterfall.
However, it is clear the power of physical geography has been recognized and captured very powerfully at this spot, making this a very worthy winner!
2nd prize: Taran Chiang, The King’s School, Grantham
Title: Hemlock Stone – The Monument of Erosion
Location: Hemlock Stone, Stapleford Hill, Stapleford, Nottinghamshire, England
Description:
The Hemlock Stone, standing majestically on Stapleford Hill, showcases a captivating illustration of how geomorphic processes transform landscapes.
Over millions of years, relentless natural agents like wind, water, and ice have gradually worn away the softer sandstone surrounding the stone. What remains today is a striking pillar, capped with a resistant and durable stratum impregnated with barium sulfate (barytes).
This resilient upper portion has shielded the masterpiece from the ceaseless impacts of weathering, showcasing the intricate dynamics of erosion. However, the barium sulfate-enriched cap is not merely a protective covering; it is a battleground of elements.
The contrast between the durable top layer and the weathered base serves as a vivid testament to the dynamic ability of geography to reshape even the hardest surfaces. What may seem like a static monument is, in reality, a product of dynamic and powerful natural phenomena. The Hemlock Stone’s geographical history clearly demonstrates how even local landmarks, often overlooked, can unveil the immense forces at work on the Earth’s surface.
Over time, wind, water and ice have sculpted this structure, highlighting the interplay of natural forces. Erosion, as seen here, may not always be quick or visible within a single lifespan, but over centuries, it reveals its persistent capacity to change the world around us.
The Hemlock Stone stands as a testament to the quiet yet unstoppable forces of physical geography, reminding us that even in a modest park in Nottinghamshire, we can still witness the Earth’s narrative written on a stone.
View judging panel comments
This photograph is composed carefully in a way that works well. It focusses on the feature and the angle of the photograph accentuates its morphology, making the feature look imposing and emphasizing its ‘power’.
The good clarity and colour contrasts invite the viewer to look closer and want to know more. The description matches equally in quality, with a good knowledge of the physical geography that has helped to create the feature and with due attention paid to processes and time, and how they play out in a power-related sense.
It would have been useful to mention how the barytes impregnation has helped create resilience in the rock, no doubt due to it sealing the porous nature of the sandstone, so its grains of sand are more strongly cemented together, and the rock is less open to water ingress that causes weathering. Also, given the colour contrasts it would have been useful to know how these played into the ‘power’ story.
This is a genuine attempt to recognize how the power of physical geography can be seen in less ‘glamorous’ features that impels the viewer to go and discover if there are seemingly unassuming but power-revealing features in their local area. Overall, this is a thoughtful composition, in both photo and text, that makes it a deserving winner.
3rd prize: Fliss Cawley, Stroud High School
Title: Ice Ice Baby
Location: Jasper National Park, Canada
Description:
This is a photograph I took when I was on holiday in Canada of the Athabasca Glacier. The Athabasca Glacier comes down between Mt. Andromeda and Mt. Snow Dome. It forms part of the Columbia Icefield.
Glaciers are slow moving rivers of ice. The movement of the glacier has shaped the valley into a U shape, with steep sides and a flat bottom. The dark piles of rock on each side of the glacier are called lateral moraines. The glacier deposits these rocks as it moves and they show where the glacier came up to on the sides of the valley. When I was walking up to the face of the Athabasca Glacier, I saw the rock at the front of the photo. The scratch marks on this rock are called striations and they are created by the glacier.
As it moves downhill it picks up rocks and they scratch along the ground. These marks also show how far the glacier has retreated. The glacier would have covered it in the past, but it is now visible because of global warming. Scientists are studying this and have found that the glacier has receded more than 1.5 km and lost over half of its volume in the past 125 years.
I think the fact that frozen water can change the landscape and mark the ground and the marks still be there hundreds of years later shows the true power of physical geography.
View judging panel comments
The eye is often naturally drawn to the centre of a photograph but this image succeeds in quickly diverting the viewer to the striations in the foreground which then lead the gaze backup to the middle ground and the glacier beyond.
The small patch of blue provides some nice variety of colour. However, a wider framing of the image would have given a stronger overall perspective making the ‘dark piles of rock’ more obvious and the landscape feel less subdued. Nevertheless, the main focus is captured well.
The explanation is generally sound, although a geographer should never refer to glaciers as ‘frozen water’ or ‘rivers of ice’, which gives the misleading impression glacier ice is formed by freezing water rather than accumulated snow that compacts and is then transformed into ice by compression under its own weight. It is this weight that enables basal rocks to scratch into the surface of underlying rock.
The reference to the glacier’s retreat is interesting but there is not enough explanation of how this is evidence of the powerful physical processes that drive the rate of change in the landscape. More focus on the striations and the polished surface and how these are expressions of powerful physical geography at work may have provided a stronger message.
However, this is an impressive photograph that demonstrates a good eye for the physical features on the land and a valiant attempt to explain the clues to the power of a glacier to shape the landscape. It deserves a place amongst the winners.
14–18 category (years 10–13)
1st prize: Thara Leenahwattana, Shrewsbury International School Bangkok Riverside
Title: Carved by Time
Location: Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters, Eastbourne, UK
Description:
The chalk cliffs of the Seven Sisters are not only a stunning spectacle that left me speechless but also a testimony to the power of physical geography.
Situated on the South coast of England, these cliffs endure repeated bombardment from wind, rain, and wave action. Along the base of the cliff, incoming waves increase pressure in cracks through the process of hydraulic action all while forcing loose rocks to scrape and wear away the cliff face.
Above, the cliff is weakened by freeze-thaw weathering, where water flows into cracks, freezes and as a result, expands and forces the gap to widen. Eventually large pieces of rock will fall away during a rockfall, leaving a near-vertical cliff face and boulders (scree) at the base, which acts as breakwater–a natural line of defence against the sea. This process is continually repeated and is what keeps the cliffs a stunning white colour.
The rate of erosion at Birling Gap is particularly fast as it is made of Coombe rock, a softer material than chalk, creating a slight bay. The rate of erosion is set to increase with global warming, as sea levels rise and weather patterns become more intense and unpredictable.
Humans are not exempt from the impacts of this either; in late 2023, the iconic cafe at Birling Gap was demolished and relocated due to safety concerns as it finds itself mere metres from a fast-eroding cliff edge, putting what is a fascinating yet often overlooked process into the limelight.
View judging panel comments
This is a well-composed photograph, making the best use of the weather conditions to give an atmospheric light to the image. The angle of view helps to show the recessed centre ground that forms Birling Gap, contrasting with the more prominent chalk cliffs in the background.
The image seemingly projects an ominous mood that seems to reflect a conflict between people and the coastal environment. The explanation begins with the physical geography in action here, but is not refined enough to fully highlight the significant things to be observed and how these should be interpreted.
The process of chalk cliff erosion is partially accurate for the base, but the upper parts are ‘cracked’ not from present-day freeze-thaw conditions (rare on England’s south coast). They result from periglacial conditions during the last glacial period. Same process, different time! Present-day wet conditions provide the lubrication along these relict cracks to help topple the upper parts of the cliffs.
The ‘slight bay’ is mentioned as being ‘Combe rock’, and this could have been flagged up in the image as being easily distinguished from the chalk by its yellow-brown colour. What is this ‘softer’ material? This is periglacial rubble filling an ancient river valley that forms the gap. Smaller ‘gaps’ can be seen in the clifftop undulations, and their ‘hanging’ position emphasizes the power of cliff erosion since they were formed.
With a good geographical eye there is a lot to see here. The overall focus on the physical power at work in this scene is appropriate and the ‘neat’ title captures the sense that operates and changes over time. In this photograph the opportunity to capture and interpret the power of physical geography impacting on change to the coastal environment has been seized, which warrants it being awarded the premier prize.
2nd prize: Ben Blackwood, High Storrs School, Sheffield
Title: Weathering Alone
Location: Bynack More, Cairngorms, Scotland
Description:
These are the Barns of Bynack, a huge granite tor on the southern slopes of Bynack More.
During the last ice age the summits of the Cairngorm mountains in North East Scotland experienced very little erosion from the glaciers which carved away at the slopes and valleys between them. This meant that the granite on top weathered slowly from constant freezing and thawing typical of mountain environments. Here is a harder core of bedrock that has resisted this weathering as the rocks around it were turned to dust and washed away.
This picture demonstrates the power of weathering alone as it has stripped away over eight meters of granite from the slope around to reveal this tor. The Barns now stand isolated, high over the barren mountain plateau in one of Britain’s most remote regions.
These rocks mean a lot to me because I spent a lot of effort trying to get to them. When I found them they were anything but underwhelming.
View judging panel comments
A well-composed photograph with the feature in the centre, where the viewing eye naturally lands, taken from an angle that places the diagonal rent in the rock powerfully in the middle.
The image has captured a glowering sky in the background that emphasizes the solitary nature of this tor and the scale is highlighted effectively by a clever shot of the person who had climbed up it.
The explanation is straightforward and to the point, correctly emphasizing the power of periglacial processes, but could have made greater use of geographical terms, e.g. valley glaciers, nunatak surfaces, regolith.
The scale indicates the stripping of weathered material is more like 18 metres than 8 metres, so the process is apparently even more powerful than stated! And an important question is not tackled – what makes this ‘harder’ kernal of granite more resistant to the powerful weathering processes than the surrounding granite?
Do the steeply dipping angle of joints play a role by exposing less granite to the weathering surface (most granites have vertical and horizontal joints)? And noting the grain size of the rock here would reveal if it is coarser-grained and so less susceptible to weathering processes. Perhaps one or both of these tell us why the tor is left weathering alone?
Overall, this photograph is a good attempt to recognize and convey the power of physical geography power in a landform feature and location where it might be easily dismissed, and as such it deserves its place amongst the winners.
3rd prize: Joseph Brownsmith, Lancaster Royal Grammar School
Title: Glacial Melt in the Zmuttbach Gorge
Location: Taken on a bridge between Furi and Schwarzsee in Zermatt, Switzerland
Description:
The power of physical geography is shown in this photo as the glacial melt from the various glaciers surrounding the Matterhorn and the Central Alps erodes a deep gorge in which the Zmuttbach flows.
This is a particularly impressive feat as the rocks in this gorge are Gneis and Granite, which are rather hard rock types. This gorge shows the power that processes such as Attrition and Abrasion with the high mineral properties of the glacial melt.
Furthermore, as you can see in the bottom of the photo, a very slight meander is starting to develop, showing the true power and force of physical geography, cutting through dense rockover time.
Overall, the Zmuttbach Gorge is a prime example of the power of physical geography, despite being fairly insignificant in its violent surroundings of the central Alps, something that appeals to me, as I believe that even the moist insignificant things in life can play a huge part.
View judging panel comments
A well-framed image with the gorge and stream centred to focus the eye and balanced within a nice range of colour. The image is an interesting display of geology, vegetation and hydrology in a misty atmospheric feel without losing any clarity.
There is clear recognition of this as a location where the power of physical geography is operating, but the explanation doesn’t match up to the power of the photograph. The rocks show a fissile character (unlike a granite or gneiss) that would make it susceptible to weathering and erosion, rather than being ‘hard’.
Attrition and abrasion are undoubtedly key processes, but no evidence to indicate the power of these is highlighted, and sharper observation and comment on the bedload material and form of the gorge would help provide that evidence. What indicates the high mineral properties of the water (look at the colour) and why might these have power?
The incipient meander results from water diverted around very large boulders in the stream bed – what do these boulders indicate about the power of physical geography at this scene? Have they collapsed from the gorge walls or have they been swept downstream by water.
There is ‘imaginary’ physical geography here, but read the evidence more closely to indicate how the vast volumes and power of water must have been in the past to shift massive boulders and carve the steep walls of this gorge?
The photography has captured the power of physical geography but the explanation is short on the focus and detail needed to express and interpret what the image conveys. The panel considered the capture of physical geography in the image was powerful enough to merit this photograph as a prize winner.