We’re delighted to announce the winners of our lockdown photography competition! We asked people to use their phones to capture what life looks like on lockdown. Entries poured in from across the Highlands and Islands and we were delighted to have FLOW Photofest on board to judge the competition.
Matt Sillars, Chair of FLOW Photofest, presents the winners below, who will receive Eden Court vouchers and photography sessions in our studios (when we reopen).
“It was a real pleasure to see so many entries to the competition and to gain an insight into the diverse experiences of people and the way they are addressing social distancing. Many of the photographs were extremely positive and uplifting, others were quirky and fun, and many emphasised the isolation felt on daily excursions - so, it was really hard to choose prize-winners. We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who participated and thank the staff at Eden Court for their hard work in helping people through this difficult period with their engagement programme”
The Eden Court Prize:
James MacKenzie for his picture of a beach walk which captures a person striding purposively alone, highlighting the tension between social isolation and the need to be outdoors.
James MacKenzie (from Golspie): The Sea
The Runner-up is by Astra Bryson, showing daffodils in the foreground and oil rigs in the background. Contrasting the joy of nature and springtime with the oil industry, which like most commercial enterprises is experiencing difficulty through lockdown.
Astra Bryson (from Invergordon): Seasons in the Firth
The FLOW Photofest prize:
Helen Anton for her picture of window shopping in Inverness, which showed creativity in its composition and expressed the layering of meaning of lockdown in an unusual manner.
Helen Anton (from Inverness): Window Shopping
FLOW Photofest is a biennial, month-long festival celebrating photography in all its forms across the Highlands & Islands and Moray, collaborating with a network of organisations and venues.
The Festival curates an ongoing exhibition of photography all year round at Eden Court Theatre, showcasing work from Scottish and International Photographers on the FLOW Photofest Wall in the One Touch Theatre corridor. FLOW also promotes photography in the Highlands & Islands and Moray through talks and events in the intervening period between festivals.