April sees the launch of a exciting new photography competition celebrating the beauty of the Cotswolds and giving you the chance to have your image showcased in a six week high profile exhibition at O3 gallery, Oxford Castle.
The competition is the idea of local landscape photographer Sarah Howard, supported
by the Cotswolds Conservation Board and Blueprint Imaging of Witney.
Sarah, who
established Image Seen last year to offer one to one and group photographic
workshops in the area, has lived in the Cotswolds for much of her life
and has a particular affinity with the region. She is especially keen to promote its photographic potential;
"Photography has seen a surge in popularity recently and with spring now here there’s no better time to get out there with your camera, make use of its wonderful creative potential, and engage with our lovely surroundings".
Officially designated as the largest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the country, the Cotswolds is known for being one of the most quintessentially English' and unspoiled regions of the UK. With its gentle hillsides, river valleys and delightful honey coloured villages there is plenty to offer the photographer.
The O3 gallery at Oxford Castle, presents a dynamic programme of exhibitions by regional artists, offering the very best contemporary visual and applied arts. Budding photographers are encouraged to show off their photography skills in one of three categories: ‘My Cotswolds’, ‘A Cotswold View’, and ‘Cotswold Life’ each offering the chance to win a number of great prizes. Sarah is especially keen to encourage creative expression in younger people and to help them connect with their environment so there are also opportunities for under 16's too. As she comments; ‘There is a wealth of talent out there so this is a great opportunity for people to get their work seen in one of Oxfords best galleries.’
The overall winner will take away a 2 night stay (including dinner on one evening) at the historical White Hart Royal Hotel in Moreton-in-Marsh in the beautiful Evenlode Valley, plus a one day one to one photography workshop in the Cotswolds with Sarah. There are plenty of other fantastic prizes to be won too, including a fabulous Ricoh R10 camera for the overall youth winner, a half day Photoshop tuition with digital imaging expert Claire Reika Wright, a Manfrotto 190 XDB tripod and Lowepro mini trekker, courtesy of Morris Photographic plus a one years subscription to Outdoor Photography magazine and over £300 worth of Image Seen gift vouchers. There will also be an opportunity to win a commission for local Cotswolds publication The Four Shires in 2011.
Youth winners (aged 16 and under) judged the best in each category will win a place on a one day photography workshop with Sarah.
Entries will be judged at the end of October by a team of judges including Sarah Howard, renowned landscape photographer Charlie Waite and Steve Watkins, editor of Outdoor Photography magazine and an established photographer and author.
The competition is open until 15th October. Full details can be found at www.imageseen.co.uk
If you need to brush up your photography skills, Sarah is offering a number of group workshops in the Cotswolds over the next few months - see www.imageseen.co.uk for more information.