Photographer’s stunning Humber Bridge snap recognised in competition

AS THE mists roll in and the frost clings to the reeds and mud flats, the iconic Humber Bridge looks like it is floating in the sky.

This stunning but ghostly image was taken by Lee Beel from the south bank of the Humber.

Patience proved the key for Lee as he waited for just the right moment when the thick mist wrapped itself round the bridge, just leaving a tantalising portion visible.

Now, the photograph has been displayed at a prestigious national exhibition and published in a glossy new book after being commended in the photography website Take A View.

The image was taken during the bitter winter two years ago.

"I took the photo in the really bad winter of 2010," he said.

"I couldn't get the car out of the drive so I just walked around the water's edge for a few days.

"I was taking pictures of the ponds at the nature reserve and just saw the mists rolling

"It was just a case of finding the right foreground which looked nice.

"The reeds and rivulets were perfect and, thankfully, the tide was out so I could get right down to the shore line."

With the sub-zero temperatures at the time, Lee was glad he did not have to wait too long to take the photograph,

"It was very cold but, luckily, I only had to wait around half an hour for the right conditions," he said.

"It was a case of setting up the tripod waiting for the mists to roll in. Photography is strange. Sometimes you can get the perfect picture in just five minutes, sometimes it can take days to get it right. I have just been in north Wales for six weeks and there was a lot of hanging about."

No major technical wizardry was used to create the effects in the photo and digital enhancement is not allowed in the landscape section of the Take A View competition.

Lee, 39, is amazed to find his work was commended and featured in both the book and exhibition of competition entries.

"I never dreamt my entry would be shortlisted, never mind featuring in the book and exhibition," he said.

"I thought my chances were fairly non-existent.

"There is some very good stuff and many of the country's top landscape photographers enter."

His work was also projected on to the exterior of the National Theatre in London, lighting up the South Bank.

His work has also featured in national newspapers.

Lee, of Barton, worked in the steel industry before setting up his own photography business around ten years ago.

"I worked shifts and took photographs in my spare time," he said.

"I began sending them off to magazines and they started getting used.

"After a while, I decided I wanted to make my living through photography.

"I mainly do PR work for the likes of Mercedes-Benz and Natwest.

The only thing I don't do is weddings, really."

The exhibition is running at the National Theatre in London until January 12, 2013.

The awards book Landscape Photographer Of The Year Collection 6, published by AA Publishing, is available now.