History Hit Announces Winners of Historic Photographer of the Year Competition 2023

Photo by Josh Drury, Overall Winner 2023

History Hit, the podcast, SVOD and content platform founded by historian Dan Snow and acquired by award-winning digital content studio and media network Little Dot Studios, has announced the winners of the 2023 Historic Photographer of the Year photography competition.

The competition calls on photographers to explore and capture the very best historic sites that the world has to offer, with the judges looking at originality, composition and technical proficiency alongside the story behind the submission and its historical impact. After a three week judging period, the judges, including History Hit’s Dan Snow MBE; director of regions at Historic England, Claudia Kenyatta; Andrew Hepburn, deputy picture editor for The Times; Philip Mulbray, editor of focus at Picfair; and Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist Marissa Roth, reviewed over 1000 entries and have selected their three category winners. 

Winning the Historic England category this year is Scott Macintyre, from Dorchester in Dorset, with their image of Dartmoor’s Windy Post Cross. Judge Claudia Kenyatta commented, “Wayside crosses are one of the distinctive features of Dartmoor, and this beautiful and atmospheric image captures brilliantly the way in which this ancient monument has become such an intrinsic part of Dartmoor’s historic landscape.” Whilst Judge Dan Snow said, “There is nowhere quite like Dartmoor. There is an energy here, a dialogue between landscape, sky and fragmentary history that is difficult to appreciate without visiting. This picture captures the essence of the place. Darkness, light, wild and human jockeying for position.”

Photo by Scott Macintyre, winner of the Historic England category

George Anthony Fisk, from Whitstable in Kent, takes first in the World History category with their image of Auschwitz - Birkenau. Judge Dan Snow commented, “A bold decision to turn the camera around. There are so many powerful images of the gates of Auschwitz, this one looks back in the direction from which the victims came. The tracks once lead to innumerable happy homes, families and communities. Now gone. Disappeared like the track over the horizon. A clever shot that makes us think differently about a hauntingly familiar site.”

Photo by George Anthony Fisk, winner of the World History category

Finally, the 2023 overall winner is Josh Drury, from Bath, with their photograph of Callanish Standing Stones on The Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. Judge Philip Mowbray described it as: “It is a gorgeous scene; the sunrise is perfectly placed to give this image a mythical, otherworldly element synonymous with the stones. Stunning.” Judge Melissa Roth, added: “This image is evocative on many levels, as an ode to ancient human history, as a symbol of hope and renewal.”

34 talented amateur photographers made the 2023 shortlist, which can be viewed on the Historic Photographer website. Entries ranged from mist shrouded scenes of Britain’s ancient structures, to brutal reminders of modern conflict in historic sites around the world. While some photographs celebrated the marriage of the natural and the man-made, as seen in the frost-covered silhouette of Silbury Hill in Avebury, others brought histories of industrialisation and community into the present, such as the smouldering shell of The Crooked House pub in South Staffordshire, which captured the world’s interest in August of this year.

Dan Snow, creative director at History Hit, said, "Judging this year's captivating entries was a true honour. Once again, all the entries displayed a remarkable blend of patience, technical mastery, and historical appreciation. The creativity and talent displayed were unparalleled, spanning diverse disciplines from landscapes to urban and aerial photography. Witnessing the fusion of past and present through these lens masterpieces has been inspiring."

Claudia Kenyatta, director of regions at Historic England and Historic photographer of the Year judge, said, “It’s been wonderful to see such creative, diverse and inspirational entries this year, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed viewing all the incredible photography that’s been submitted. From famous castles to railways, lighthouses, and historic landscapes, it’s been an honour to judge this reflective and thought-provoking collection of images, championing both everyday heritage as well as famous landmarks, both in England and across the globe.”