Amateur photographer who only picked up a camera this year beats professionals to win daylight-themed photo competition

What a difference a day makes. As the clocks turn and the days grow longer, these stunning photographs show what we are to expect in the coming months.

The finalists in the Lovers of Light competition set out to capture the role that natural daylight plays in our lives, paying tribute to sunshine and warming rays.

The competition saw both amateurs and professionals photograph cities waking up, sunkissed beaches and glistening frozen lakes in a bid to do daylight justice.



Winning rays: Martin Dawe's photograph called 'Snow Before Melting', taken on a cold January morning, was declared the winner

Morning has broken: One photographer has captured a park waking up on a cold December day

The winning photograph by amateur Martin Dawe sees a single tree reaching for the warmth of the sun in a winter landscape.

'The aspect of daylight, particularly at sunrise and sunset, is something from which I’ve drawn inspiration since I started taking photographs,’ said winner Martin Dawe.
 

‘My interest in photography only began at the beginning of this year, so it was a huge shock when I found out I won the Lovers of Light competition.’

Mr Dawes photograph was picked from nearly 9,000 entries by a panel which included artist Sarah Butterfield, Dr Russel Foster, Oxford University professor and daylight expert, as well as representative from roof window manufacturer VELUX who sponsored the competition.

Spanish dreams: 'Hazy Golden Hour' captures the sunlight's play on the buildings in the Spanish city of Benidorm