Winners of 2013 Annual Photography Competition announced

Published

–         The best images of London’s waterways go on display at the National Maritime Museum alongside Ansel Adams:  Photography  from the Mountains to the Sea

–          Foreshore ‘story walk’ and creative clean-up to accompany exhibition

Londoner Agnese Sanvito was announced as the winner of Thames21’s 2013 Annual Photography Competition at the launch of its accompanying exhibition at the National Maritime Museum last night. Second prize winner has been named as Ray Wise and Under 18s winner as David O’Brian, judged by leading landscape photographer Charlie Waite.

Agnese said: “I’m thrilled to hear about winning the Thames21 photography competition and have my work exhibited alongside Ansel Adams. London’s river walks and canals are a great place to walk, relax and a great font of inspiration for my pictures.”

Amateur photographers were called on to take inspiration from renowned photographer and conservationist Ansel Adams to capture the essence of their local waterway in the annual competition. This year, the charity teamed 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 had huge interest in our photography competition this year, receiving over 500 entries from people across the UK and with all the related events booked out. The standard was impressive and it was great to see a wide range of waterway locations featured in people’s work.’

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 London’s rivers were held in the lead up to the exhibition to inspire and assist entrants, and a ‘story walk’ on Saturday 13th April and a Greenwich foreshore clean-up on Monday 15th are planned to help bring the exhibition to life, 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 standard of photography has been impressive and created a unique live snapshot of London’s waterways.”

Short-listed images will be displayed at the National Maritime Museum from today until April 28th accompanying the Ansel Adams exhibition and following this at the Millers House Café in East London. For details of related events see: http://www.thames21.org.uk/events/

All shortlisted images available for downloaded under the Creative Commons licences on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/thames21/sets/72157633166287675/with/8613301976/

Notes to Editors:

  • 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.
  • 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