Rest in pieces: car graveyard up for award

Taken at a scrapyard in Fife, Peter Swan's remarkable image, called Car Graveyard, shows crushed vehicles stacked one on top the other before being sold for scrap

It's hardly what many would have regarded as a picturesque setting, but this stunning image of a Scottish scrapyard has made it to the final of a worldwide photography competition.

Peter Swan's Car Graveyard was shot at Inverkeithing Harbour in Fife, and shows hundreds of crushed cars piled up waiting to be sold for scrap.

The image has been named as a finalist in the View of The Western World group of the Environmental Photographer of the Year competition.

One of the fastest growing photographic competitions in the world, with 2,500 pictures entered in 2009 from more than 60 countries, the contest is an international showcase for the very best in environmental photography, honouring amateur and professional photographers who use their ability to raise awareness of environmental and social issues.

Each year the judging panel is made up of some of the most respected photographers and senior environmentalists such as Lord Chris Smith, chairman of the Environment Agency.

Individual pieces are judged on impact, creativity, composition, originality and technical abilities. The award is sponsored by CIWEM (The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management) an independent professional body and registered charity.