Chris Gurton

I’m Chris Gurton, a photographer from Sudbury in Suffolk, England, Specializing in agricultural and aerial photography.

I’ve always enjoyed taking photographs. As a child I had a small Kodak pocket film camera that came everywhere with me on holidays and family days out. As I got older, and digital cameras became more accessible, my interest grew into a real passion and eventually a bit of an obsession.

A major influence on my photography was discovering the work of Yann Arthus-Bertrand. His aerial photographs, captured by leaning out of the side of a helicopter with nothing more than a camera in hand, completely fascinated me. His book The Earth From The Air is one I still return to regularly. His work showed me how familiar landscapes can become extraordinary when viewed from above. Thanks to advances in drone technology, I’m now able to explore that same perspective myself, without needing to hire a helicopter.

My winning photograph was taken near the village of Assington in Suffolk during the early spring, as the fields were being prepared for planting a new potato crop.

Agriculture is a huge part of life in Suffolk, and the county is well known for producing both arable and root crops. This Caterpillar Challenger was working alone in a vast field, and I wanted to capture that sense of isolation a feeling that many farmers experience during long days in the field.

At the same time, I wanted to highlight the precision of modern farming through the perfectly straight potato ridges stretching across the landscape. The flock of gulls following the tractor added movement and life to the scene, creating the final element that brought the image together.

The photograph is about much more than a tractor in a field.

I wanted to show the contrast between precision and nature. The perfectly ordered lines created by the tractor represent the accuracy and skill involved in modern farming, while the gulls introduce a sense of movement and unpredictability.

There’s also an emotional side to the image. Although farming is often thought of as busy and industrial, many tasks are carried out alone. I wanted the image to reflect both the scale of the landscape and the quiet solitude that can come with working it.

I hope the photograph encourages people to look at agriculture from a different perspective.

Many people see farming simply as producing food, but from above it becomes an incredible landscape of patterns, textures and precision. I wanted to celebrate the beauty of modern agriculture while also recognising the hard work, dedication and craftsmanship behind it.

If people look at the image and gain a greater appreciation for the farming industry, then I’ve achieved what I hoped.

The biggest challenge was capturing a sense of movement.

I wanted the gulls to blur slightly which helped highlight their movement as they circled the tractor while keeping the tractor itself sharp. To achieve this, I used ND filters to slow the shutter speed and manually tracked the tractor throughout the shot.

Although many modern drones now offer ActiveTrack, I prefer flying manually. It gives me complete control over the composition and allows me to make small adjustments instantly. On breezy days, however, that can be quite demanding, especially when you’re trying to match the tractor’s speed and direction perfectly.

I’ve always enjoyed creating movement within a still image, so slow shutter speeds have become a defining part of my photography.

Whether I’m photographing agriculture or other subjects, I enjoy capturing energy and motion rather than freezing everything completely. Drone photography allows me to follow machinery across an entire landscape and photograph it from perspectives that most people never experience. Combining those aerial viewpoints with movement creates images that feel dynamic while still remaining natural.

Agriculture is at the heart of my photography.

Having friends and family working within the farming industry, I’ve seen first-hand the commitment, skill and challenges involved in producing our food. I feel it’s important to celebrate the people behind British farming, particularly at a time when agriculture is sometimes misunderstood or overlooked.

Through my photography, I hope to encourage a greater appreciation for the farming industry, provoke thoughtful conversations about food production, and showcase the beauty that exists within our working landscapes.

Yann Arthus-Bertrand has undoubtedly had the greatest influence on my photography. His ability to reveal the beauty of our planet from above completely changed the way I looked at landscapes.

More generally, I’m inspired by photographers who create strong compositions through light, timing and simplicity rather than relying on heavy editing. Spending time photographing the changing agricultural landscapes of Suffolk has also shaped my own visual style and encouraged me to look for beauty in places many people simply drive past.

The standard of work submitted by photographers from around the world is exceptionally high, so to have my photograph recognised in this way is something I’m immensely proud of. It gives me confidence that the stories I want to tell through my photography resonate with people beyond the farming community.

More than anything, it motivates me to continue developing my work and to keep pushing myself creatively.

I would encourage anyone who is serious about photography to enter international competitions.

It can feel intimidating to put your work in front of judges, but competitions are an excellent way to challenge yourself and measure your progress. Use them as motivation to build a portfolio you’re genuinely proud of.

Keep learning, keep experimenting and never lose your curiosity. Rejection is part of every photographer’s journey, so don’t let it discourage you. If someone had told me just a few years ago that my photographs would be winning international awards and leading to opportunities like this interview, I wouldn’t have believed them.