BLACK 5 AND YELLOW GORSE AT ERBUSAIG by JOHN COOPER-SMITH

I looked at all the varied vegetable images and chose this one of John Cooper-Smith’s because it captures something of Scotland as well as having brilliantly coloured gorse as the vegetable. We’ve just come back from across the border and the gorse was a brilliant yellow everywhere – very cheering. For me, there is quite a vibrancy about this image.
The structure of the photo is also interesting with a layer of cloud and misty hills which give a sense of distance, the near promontory which adds a sense of wildness as it doesn’t look as if there is any cultivation, the steam train, centre stage in splendidly shiny black with red coaches, steaming over the bridge definitely on a mission and then down to the houses which bring a sense of civilisation. Behind the train, the gorse almost looks like a continuation of the carriages. The divergent roads contrast with the rail track which allows the train to travel straight to its destination whereas the roads disappear to goodness knows where.

Gill Pinkerton