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Byrne has since said he did not read the rules, admitting that he digitally added clouds and 'cloned out small details' on a black & white image of Lindisfarne Castle in Northumberland, which triumphed over thousands of other entries. howerer, he claims the changes he made were 'not major'. Byrne told Amateur Photographer that he has received many emailed messages of support since being disqualified. I' dont feel I have done anything wrong with the photo - adding clouds and removing small boats from the harbour in the background was a natural thing to do in my eyes', He said. 'I did not remove anything that was fixed down and if you stand in that spot my photo is what you will see'.
Certain image editing, including HDR and the 'joining together of multiple frames', is allowed in all categories. But competition rules state that for 'classic new' - the section in which Byrne's image had been entered-'the integrity of the subject must be maintained and the making of physycal changes to the landscape is not permitted'.
Banned editing procedures include removal og fences, moving trees and stripping in sky from another image. Byrne's winning photo had drawn stinging critism from photographers online. Photographer tim parkin and alex nail were quick to cast doubt over certain elements of Byrne's entry, including the way sunlight falls on the scene. Disqualifying the winner, competition founder charlie waite said on 2 november: 'this is extremly regerttable and it appears there was no deliberate intention to deceive the judges. But the level of manipulation means this photograph gained an unfair advantage in this category and in winning the overall competition'.
Byrne said he has never passed off his photographs as 'record' shots. The changes I made were not major and if you go to the locations you will see everything is there as presented. I did not remove permanent structures etc and the only reason his has come about how and what I do to my images. I am proud of my work and stanby it.
Charlie waite added. ' The integrity of the competition is very important to all involved and it was clear that disqualification was the only course of action open to us. 'We will be reviewing our checking processes to ensure that such issues are picked up earlier in the judging process for 2013 and beyond'.
meanwhile, a photo called 'tenement buildings at port Glasgow, inverclyde' by Simon Butterworth, has been confirmed as the new winner of landscape photographer of the year 2012.
Butterworth's photo was the next highest scoring entry across all four categories.
