AFTER months of setting up the perfect shot, the wait is over for scores of photographers from all corners of the county after the judges of VisitWiltshire revealed their shortlist of photographs now in the running to be named the best view of Wiltshire.

The tourism service launched the annual competition once again in May of this year, calling on aspiring and professional photographers alike to submit up to five photographs a month of a scene that they felt best summed up Wiltshire.

Having worked their way through more than 370 submitted images, the VisitWiltshire judges have today announced the nine images that have made the shortlist. Now, these striking images will be whittled down to one overall winner and two runners up, with the assistance of Gary Lawrence, regional editor of Newsquest Oxfordshire and Wiltshire and Salisbury Journal publisher Bill Browne.

Among the top nine images is a colourful scene captured in his hometown by Bradford-on-Avon resident Andy Stevens.

Meanwhile, Wroughton resident Chris Moody took a break from photographing his much-loved dogs to focus on landscapes, which not only led to an exhibition at the village library, but also two spots on the shortlist of this year’s competition. The judges were suitably impressed with his shots of both Hackpen Hill and Silbury Hill.

Peter Daltrey from Devizes also finds himself on the shortlist with his image of Silbury Hill, as well as a second spot with an image of a swan making its way across Devizes Crammer.

A swan proves to be the star of the show for Martin Harris’s shortlisted image of a large bird touching down at Langford Lakes, putting the Melksham resident also in the running for an award.

Warminster resident Krzysztof Dac also finds himself with two spots on the shortlist having submitted two very different views of Cley Hill, while Swindon resident Phil Selby takes the final spot on the list with his autumnal scene.

Now they have a tense wait until the end of the month while the judges agree on which image best sums up everything that Wiltshire has to offer to be named the overall winner, while two other shortlisted entries will take the runner up spots, each receiving a voucher prize.

Speaking ahead of the final judging session, Adver regional editor Gary Lawrence said: “This is a brilliant initiative from VisitWiltshire. We’ve been delighted with the quality of the pictures we’ve been sent over the duration of the competition. I have seen some stunning views of our beautiful county.

“I’ve been impressed with not only the technical quality of the entries but the photographers’ appreciation of what makes a captivating picture.

“I’m sure our readers have enjoyed seeing them just as much as we have.”