Capture the essence of London’s rivers

Published

Thames21 2013 annual photography competition opens for entries, in association with the
National Maritime Museum

 

  • Judged by leading landscape photographer Charlie Waite
  •  Winners displayed at National Maritime Museum
  •  First prize £250
  •  Wide range of family-friendly related events

Londoners are being called on to take inspiration from renowned photographer and conservationist Ansel Adams to capture the essence of their local waterway. Environmental charity Thames21 is looking for the best images of the capital’s rivers and canals in its annual photography competition. This year, the charity is teaming up with the National Maritime Museum to complement its celebrated exhibition: Ansel Adams Photography: From the Mountains to the Sea, which runs until April 28th.

Thames21 competition coordinator Ben Fenton said: ‘We are thrilled to be working with the National Maritime Museum and to be able to offer entrants the amazing opportunity to have their works displayed alongside Ansel Adams’ timeless pieces. London is lucky to have a fascinating network of rivers and canals and we hope that this great competition will help motivate people to get out there and enjoy them.’

Sara Wajid, Public Programmes Manager – Exhibitions, National Maritime Museum, said: ‘Ansel Adams was famous not only as a photographer, but as an environmentalist and a great supporter of new photography talent. So this collaboration with Thames21 around our Ansel Adams: Photography from the Mountains to the Sea exhibition will use his legacy to sharpen the focus on conserving our rivers.’

A series of fun photography workshops and family activities on our rivers are also planned to help inspire and assist entrants, including a Thames foreshore ‘photo walk’ with a photography coach and free boat trips, through a £3,000 grant from The Crown Estate’s Marine Stewardship fund.

Fiona Wynne, The Crown Estate’s Stewardship Manager said: ‘We are committed to supporting initiatives that help people to better connect with the coastal environment. The photography workshops are a great way to spark interest in issues like marine biodiversity and the conservation of our rivers. The competition will create a unique live snapshot of London’s waterways and we are looking forward to viewing some of photographs that emerge.

Shortlisted images will be displayed at the National Maritime Museum accompanying the Ansel Adams exhibition and following this at the 3 Mills Studios in East London.

Events:
Please note: spaces are limited, registration essential via ben.fenton@thames21.org.uk

–          Greenwich foreshore clean-up, followed by discounted admission to Ansel Adams exhibition; Saturday, 2 March, 10am – 12pm

–          Free narrowboat trips with presentation on Ansel Adams and the Sierra Club by the National Maritime Museum, Sunday March 16th – trip 1: 10:30am, trip 2: 12:00pm, trip 3: 1:30pm

–          Secrets of the Thames photo walk: Thames foreshore, Sunday March 17th 10am – 12:30pm

Competition Details:
1st prize: £250 cash and a copy of exhibition book: ‘Ansel Adams: At the Water’s Edge’
2nd prize: £100 cash and studio photography tuition session from Aperture Photography

Under 18s prize: Ansel Adams-themed goodie bag, courtesy of National Maritime Museum

Closing date 26th March 2013

Entries should be sent to Ben Fenton ben.fenton@thames21.org.uk
shortlisted entries will be featured in an exhibition at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich in April 2013

See full details here

Media enquiries, images and interviews: please contact Emily Braham on 020 7213 0166 or 07827 352675 or emily.braham@thames21.org.uk  

For competition or event enquiries, please contact Ben Fenton ben.fenton@thames21.org.uk/ 07920 230 970

Notes to Editors:

  • Thames21 is an environmental charity (registered number 1103997) working to bring London’s waterways to life.  London’s rivers and canals are precious natural resources providing green spaces for urban communities and habitats for wildlife. www.thames21.org.uk
  • Follow Thames21’s updates on Twitter – #SnapLondon’sRivers www.twitter.com/thames21 and Facebook www.facebook.com/thames21
  • The National Maritime Museum holds the world’s largest maritime collection, housed in historic buildings forming part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site. The National Maritime Museum is part of Royal Museums Greenwich which also incorporates the Royal Observatory Greenwich, the 17th-century Queen’s House and Cutty Sark. Royal Museums Greenwich works to illustrate for everyone the importance of the sea, ships, time and the stars and their relationship with people. This unique collection of attractions welcomes over 1.5 million British and international visitors a year and is also a major centre of education and research. For more information visit www.rmg.co.uk
    • The Crown Estate manages a highly diverse property business valued at more than £8 billion.
    • We pay our surplus revenue (profit) to the Treasury for the benefit of the nation every year: in 2011/12 this was £240 million. Over the past ten years The Crown Estate has paid nearly £2 billion to the Treasury.
    • Our objectives, which are laid down by Parliament under the Crown Estate Act 1961, include enhancing the value of the estate and the revenue it produces.
    • The responsibilities of The Crown Estate are to maintain and enhance the value of the estate and its income over the long term and to do this having regard to good management.   In summary, The Crown Estate is a successful business organisation guided by our core values – commercialism, integrity and stewardship.
    • The Crown Estate manages a diverse property portfolio which includes office, retail and industrial premises; housing; farmland; forestry and minerals; parkland; and around half the foreshore and almost all the seabed around the UK.
    • Established in 1999, the Marine Stewardship Programme supports community initiatives that further good management of the marine estate, and scientific research projects that underpin our knowledge of the activities we manage. To be eligible for funding all projects must comply with the Crown Estate Act 1961.
    • The 2012 Annual Review of The Crown Estate’s Marine Stewardship Programme is available at http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/marine/marine-stewardship-fund/
    • Established in 1999, The Crown Estate’s Marine Stewardship Fund supports community initiatives that further good management of the marine estate, and scientific research projects that underpin our knowledge of the activities we manage. To be eligible for funding all projects must comply with the Crown Estate Act 1961.
    • http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/home.htm