REVEALED: the delicious. photography competition 2015 finalists and winner

In February we launched a competition to find the next top food photographer. The prize for the winner? A state-of-the-art Nikon digital SLR camera and precision lens – and their very own photoshoot in delicious. magazine.

After sifting through hundreds of entries, we can now reveal the winner – as well as the other brilliant entrants who made it to the shortlist.

The brief was to capture three food photographs: a still life of ingredients, a close-up of a sweet dish and a close-up of a savoury dish.

The entries were whittled down to six, and judged by a panel consisting of delicious. magazine editor Karen Barnes, food editor Rebecca Smith and acting art director Mark Taylor, along with food photographer Gareth Morgans (whose work appears regularly in the magazine) and Nikon training school manager Neil Freeman, who mediated on the technical aspects.

The judges were looking for someone who could create and frame a food photograph that would make readers want to eat the dish right off the page. They paid attention to set-up, lighting, framing and pin-sharp focus – plus that indefinable quality that makes a food shot great.

There was an awareness that some entrants, such as photographer’s assistants, might be known to the panel, so the judging was done blind – no names, no details.

When it came to choosing, the overall winner was clear. Alex Luck’s series of nectarine photographs (below) were technically accomplished and let-me-eat-it-now beautiful.