In what is truly a unique competition, the winners of the British Photography Awards have been announced. A competition that not only showcases the best British photographic talent, but also raises money for charity.
The British Photography Awards is a fully independent body, run by volunteers and showcasing the finest photographs taken in England, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland.
Their team of judges select the winners over a range of 8 categories that highlight the very best of British photography. However, the photography awards are only half of their story.
Unlike many other projects, they are not solely dedicated to highlighting the photographer's art. Instead, they work with different UK charities to help communities that support the competition itself. These organisations are selected based on both their operational ethics and real-world effectiveness.
In short, their concept is hybrid of open, responsible competition twinned with charity fundraising.
It really is an innovative project.
This year that charities that have benefitted from the awards are 10:10, Born Free, Doctors Without Borders (MSF), Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, Help for Heroes, OYT, Rainforest Concern, Sense, The Wildlife Trusts, Tusk, WCA, and Shelter.
The competition is open to both professional, enthusiast, and amateur photographers of all ages, and taken on any type of camera.
By choosing to enter the British Photography Awards, even if you aren’t successful you can still feel an enormous sense of achievement in that you will be directly contributing to the betterment of these green and pleasant lands, and those further afield.
The way the charity aspect of it works that the entry fee is set at £15, and for this you are able to submit ten photos in any one chosen category. Upon entering, you are then able to select the charity you wish to support of which half of the entry fee (£7.50) will be added to the donations for that organisation.
The remaining £7.50 of the entry fee goes towards facilitating the prizes system, as after all this is also a competition.
To find out more about the prizes, the winning pictures, as well as the runners up, the shortlisted entries, and the charities involved please head on over to the official website here.
The category winners are as follows…
Landscapes: Snow Cornices on Blencathra by Stephan Brzozowski
Portraiture: John Bowen by Eugene Grobler
Street Photography: London Sunset by Colin Page
Pet Photography: Bengal Kitten by Alexandra Robins
Birdlife: Bye Trout Pals by Keith Thornburn
Water Life: Water Vole by Terry Whittaker
Land Animals: The Poppy Picker by Kevin Sawford
Macro: Grasshopper by Lucien Harris
