Depicting everything from crumbling ruins lit up by the moonlight to medieval castles cloaked in fog, these spellbinding images show off the beauty of some of the world’s most historic places. They were unveiled as part of the Historic Photographer of the Year Awards 2021, which attracted both amateur and professional submissions from all over the world. Here, we’ve included the shortlisted entries and three winners.

Shot by Mehmet Masum Suer at the top of Mount Nemrut, near Turkey’s Adiyaman province, this wintry photograph shows a giant head sculpture dating back to the 1st century BC. It’s one of many similar statues that were built by King Antiochus I Theos in the ancient kingdom of Commagene.

The unusual octagon-shaped Coquille River Lighthouse has stood watch over Bandon for more than 100 years. First illuminated in 1896, it operated for just over four decades before being decommissioned in 1939 and gradually falling into a state of decay. Thankfully, in the 1970s it was restored to its former beauty – captured beautifully here by Elizabeth Hak. 

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Stretching between the Solway Firth and Wallsend in northern England, Hadrian’s Wall is considered a feat of Roman engineering. The stone structure was painstakingly built over the course of six years, beginning in AD 122, and has numerous forts and observation towers along its 73-mile (117km) length. And it’s never looked more beautiful than in Kayleigh Blair’s ethereal photograph, cast in a golden glow by early-morning sunlight.

The pleasingly-symmetrical pillars of the Temple of Hera II date back to around 600 BC – the time of the first Greek settlement in Italy. Photographed here by Alfredo Corrao, it was one of three temples built at the Greek colony of Paestum.

Photographer Graham Harries waited until after sunset to take this breathtaking shot, in which a remarkably clear Milky Way hovers above abandoned tower blocks at Pripyat. When the No. 4 reactor exploded at Chernobyl in 1986, Pripyat, the closest town, was decimated by the blast. Harries said that the torches of his companions “made it look like the lights were coming back on in Chernobyl”.

The names of almost 55,000 British and Commonwealth soldiers who died in the battlefields of Ypres Salient are engraved on this powerful memorial. Designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield, the structure was built in 1927 at the site of Menin Gate, through which thousands of troops passed before going into battle. In a poignant moment, a woman with a poppy umbrella stepped in front of the camera just as photographer Graham Harries was taking in the scene.

Electrified by magenta, gold and lilac hues at sunrise, Bamburgh Castle has towered over the Northumberland coast for 1,400 years. Shot by Scott Antcliffe, a fortress has stood on this spot since around the 6th century BC, although the current ruins date back to Norman times.

Black-and-white photography adds a touch of drama to this shot by Edward McCavana. It shows the imposing Aurora Cruiser, a Russian naval ship dating to 1900, which fired a shot that signalled the beginning of the October Revolution in 1917. Today, the cruiser has been repurposed as a museum. 

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Occupying a stately perch above its namesake village, it’s easy to see why Corfe Castle is a magnet for photographers, history buffs and nature-lovers alike. Cameraman Sam Binding sacrificed a few hours of sleep to take this stunning photograph, in which early-morning light is broken into shards by the 11th-century fortress.

One of the few buildings that survived the atomic bomb blast in 1945, in which around 140,000 people died, Hiroshima’s Atomic Bomb Dome has since become a symbol of peace. The ruined structure, shot here by Wayne Budge, was located just 525 feet (160m) away from the site of the blast, but is thought to have remained intact because the explosion happened overhead. 

The second of four photographs by Sam Binding to be shortlisted in the awards, this gorgeous shot of Somerset’s Burrow Mump beneath a starry sky encapsulates the magic of the medieval ruins. Binding recalls, “this particular night was super clear (and quiet) and perfect for astrophotography. You can see Jupiter shining through the archway to the side.”

In this enchanting image by Jean-Claude Thelen, an arc of stars forms a halo around the former granite quarry of Foggintor in Devon. During its heyday between the late 1800s and early 1900s, the hilltop site was one of Dartmoor’s three great granite quarries, but it’s since been reclaimed by the natural world. Just to the left, you can see the bright red lights of the Princetown TV transmitter – a captivating contrast between old and new.

Ever wondered what it’s like inside a mine shaft? Photographer Tom McNally abseiled into the abandoned Brewery Shaft at Cumbria’s Nenthead Mines to find out. One of the earliest shafts in Britain to have been constructed from concrete, the 328-foot (100m) long tunnel was built in 1839 to reach the now-derelict lead mine.

Dusty beams of light make the ornate ceiling at Hereford Cathedral look even more spectacular. Photographed by Jo Borzsony, the site has a history dating back more than 1,300 years, although the earliest parts of the building we can see today date back to the 1100s.

Michael Marsh encapsulates a brooding atmosphere in this dark, cloudy shot, depicting the medieval Reculver Towers looming over Herne Bay. These two imposing structures once stood on top of an Anglo-Saxon monastery, but much of it was destroyed in 1805 and the towers are one of the few parts that remain. 

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Crossing the River Douglas just north of Wigan, the Twenty Bridges Viaduct is brought to life by Paul Harris’ ingenious aerial photography. Harris said: “After getting home and reviewing my original shots, I felt something was missing. So I went back and inserted myself into the photo to provide [a sense of] scale and something to fix your eyes on.”

Also known as Swinside Stone Circle, Sunkenkirk is found on a plateau near Swinside Fell and Thwaites Fell in Cumbria. The site, consisting of 55 rocks in a 90-foot (27m) diameter circle, dates from the Neolithic period, and is beautifully captured here at sunset by Matthew Turner.

The tranquil surroundings of Glenridding, Cumbria, in northern England, form a picturesque backdrop for this historic Ullswater steamer, photographed by Andrew McCaren. Dating to 1935, the MV Western Belle was built to transport passengers between Plymouth and Millbrook, along with other destinations on the River Tamar in southwest England.

The stark skeleton of a former gas tower in Reading looks like a modern art installation here, illuminated by a vibrant sunset. Sadly, however, the tower is being dismantled – much to the dismay of photographer Leslee. “When I first learned it was to be demolished I did everything in my power to save it; managing twice to get the dismantling postponed. I call it Reading's Majestic Crown,” she says.

The combination of murky sea fog, alarmingly red light and swooping birds in the foreground give Andrew McCaren’s photograph of Scarborough Lighthouse a haunting feel. This northern English coastal landmark was established in 1806, although the original tower was destroyed during the First World War and the current version dates to 1931.

This timber-framed beauty is Leicester’s oldest civic building still in operation, dating to 1390. Photographed here by Mary Payne, the landmark has had many different uses of the years, including as a town hall, public library, theatre and entertainment venue.

The first cathedral in England to be built in Gothic style, Wells Cathedral was constructed between 1175 and 1490, replacing an earlier church on the site. It looks majestic in this image by Christopher Robin Marsham, in which a blurred figure just off-centre draws in the eye.

Easily one of the capital’s most memorable landmarks, Tower Bridge is best known for its high-level Victorian walkways. But while most visitors are too busy looking up, photographer Robert James urges us to lower our gaze. “At low tide the River Thames reveals medieval structures [usually] hidden underwater beneath London's iconic Tower Bridge," he says.

Elizabeth Hak’s high-contrast monochrome shot emphasises the looming clouds above Esztergom Basilica. The seat of the Catholic church and the largest church in Hungary, this towering Neoclassical building features a 236-foot (72m) tall central dome, a red-and-white marble chapel and Italian Renaissance sculptures.

Tucked up high in the Caucasus Mountains, the town of Mestia emits a warm glow upon its surrounding slopes. The Georgian settlement, shot by Yevhen Samuchenko, is home to plenty of buildings and artefacts dating to the Middle Ages, including the 12th century Church of Saint George and fragments of 13th century wall paintings in Pusdi Church.

This is one of two of Sam Binding’s photographs of Corfe Castle that were shortlisted in the awards. Unlike the first, in which the castle is the star of the show, here the quaint houses lining the high street create an intriguing contrast with the ruins in the distance.

Peeking out above winter frost and mist, St Michael’s Tower looks ultra-majestic in this shot by Adam Burton. The former church on Glastonbury Tor was built in the 14th century, although it has been significantly damaged and partially rebuilt several times since then.

Considered the most significant surviving battleship from the Second World War, HMS Belfast is currently docked on the Thames between London and Tower Bridge. It’s captured here by Guy Sargent, who went out before dawn to take the moody-looking shot.

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Located on the enchanting Northumberland coast, between Craster and Embleton, Dunstanburgh Castle is a 14th-century fortress built by Earl Thomas of Lancaster. Photographer James Abbott took this shot at nighttime, with moonlight illuminating the shiny pebbles in the foreground and pinpricks of stars visible in the background.

It’s easy to see why Clevedon was named “Pier of the Year” in 2021. But it’s not just good looks that earned it the accolade. The partially-collapsed structure, dating to 1869, was listed for demolition some 50 years ago, but backlash from the local community saved it. With its vibrant green paintwork, the landmark looks striking against the North Somerset coastline in this shot by Harishkumar Shah.

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Past, present and future are in constant conversation at London’s Battersea Power Station, a 1930s industrial landmark which once produced one-fifth of the capital’s electricity. In recent years, an ambitious redevelopment project has seen it transform into apartments, shops and restaurants. Here, Pete Edmunds shows the building at a pivotal moment in its history.

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015, the Forth Bridge stretches across the Firth of Forth between South and North Queensferry. The cantilevered structure was built between 1883 and 1890, by a team of more than 4,500 people. It’s seen here in all its glory by John Cuthbert.

Towering above the treetops like a true fairy-tale palace, Neuschwanstein is easily one of Bavaria’s most recognisable castles. Constructed in the late-19th century by order of Bavaria’s King Louis II (or Ludwig), who lived in it for brief spells during that time, it was never actually finished and has been largely left empty since then. This image was taken by Michael Welch.

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Intricately patterned, bright-blue tiles at Shah-i-Zinda are captured here on a sunny day by Julian Elliott. The necropolis in northeastern Samarkand, whose name translates to Tomb of the Living King, is thought to contain the grave of Qusam ibn-Abbas, a cousin of the Prophet Mohammed.

The higgledy-piggledy cobbled streets of York’s Shambles are easily among the most famous in England. Dating to the 14th century, they were once home to butchers' shops, but today they’re better known for dinky boutiques and cafés. David Oxtaby shows off the cosy, festive magic they’re best known for in this Christmastime shot. 

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With its memorable spaceship-like shape, sweeping curves and scarlet walkway, Niterói Contemporary Art Museum was the brainchild of esteemed Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer. Although it was built in the 1990s, it has a timeless appeal, perfectly captured here by photographer Alistair.

The second of Yevhen Samuchenko’s photographs to be shortlisted in the awards, in this image an abandoned US plane in Iceland looks almost extraterrestrial. The aircraft crashed on a black sandy beach in Sólheimasandur, southern Iceland, in 1973, but luckily all of its passengers made it out alive.

Also known as the Ship’s Graveyard, Purton Hulks contains the wrecks of historic ships that were beached throughout the early-to mid-20th century. This aerial image of the wrecks of Wastdale H and Arkendale H, which collided in the River Severn in October 1960, won Iain McCallum the “Where History Happened” award. 

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Winning Sam Binding first place in the Historic England category, this image of Clifton Suspension Bridge, stretched out across a seemingly endless foggy abyss, is nothing short of magical. The Bristol landmark was built between 1831 and 1864, and enjoys a prime location over Avon Gorge.

Earning Steve Liddiard the title of overall winner, this stunning shot of Whiteford Lighthouse shows the power of a phenomenal photograph, transforming a rusty old tower into a majestic-looking beacon. The structure, located on Wales’ Gower coast, is the last remaining cast-iron lighthouse in the British Isles and was built in 1865.

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