Removing the last flowers from the tulips to get a better bulb

FIRST PRIZE 2010

Cor Pennekamp, The Netherlands
Category: Internal
Image name: “Removing the last flowers from the tulips to get a better bulb”

When Cor Pennekamp set out to take this shot, he was determined to create a prize-winning image. He has entered the Syngenta Photo Prize in previous years, but this was by far his most successful attempt!

A Processing Employee at Syngenta Enkhuizen, Cor usually takes photographs every weekend – mostly of landscapes and birds. He broke away from his usual subject matter on this occasion, and perhaps winning First Prize will encourage him to explore further. 

Cor Pennekamp, The Netherlands
How did you come to take this image and what were your thoughts at the time?

"I was walking in a field in the Netherlands, looking for an interesting picture for the Syngenta Photo Prize. I found this unusual situation where people were so close to their work. The challenge for me was to capture the people in sharp focus with the surroundings slightly blurred: the people and the tractor – that was the picture. At the time, I thought, because the situation was unusual and interesting, it could be a winner."