Entries welcome to The Times Young Photographer of the Year competition
Young UK photographers have until 12 September to enter The Times newspaper’s search for The Times Young Photographer of the Year 2009 with a first prize of a six-month training placement with the world famous newspaper’s picture desk.
The competition, sponsored for the first time by Canon UK, is in its eighth year and aims to find the UK’s best young news photographer. As well as a six-month photojournalist training placement with The Times the winner will also receive a Canon EOS 5D Mark II DSLR, the Canon EF24-70mm f/2.8L USM and EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM zoom lenses, the Canon Speedlite 580EX II flashgun and a year’s membership to the British Press Photographer’s Association.
Entry is open to photographers who are residents of the UK and Republic of Ireland aged between 18 and 26 on 1 August 2009 and entries must consist of three images, one from each of the competition categories - lifestyle, portraiture and reportage.
A shortlist of six photographers will be invited to the newspaper for an interview and whilst there they will be set a brief by the picture editor of The Times, Paul Sanders. Three finalists will be chosen on the strength of their assignment and the candidates will have their work displayed at the Canon Pro Photo Solutions exhibition at the Business Design Centre in Islington, London, on 27 and 28 October 2009. The editor of The Times, James Harding, will reveal the winner at the exhibition.
A nun stands with her heads in her hands in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City, Rome, Italy. Shortly afterwards it was announced that Pope John Paul II had died after a period of worsening health. Clara Moldren, The Times Young Photographer of the Year in 2005, took this picture.
The judging panel will be co-chaired by Paul Sanders and Nick Millen from Canon Professional Imaging. Sanders explained: “The Times Young Photographer of the Year competition has established itself as one of the most important prizes in news photography. All of the previous winners have gone on to work for international wire services or national newspapers. The winner will be mentored on a one-to-one basis by The Times photographers and by me - this level of training clearly gives the successful candidate an advantage in establishing their career as a news photographer”.
Lee Bonniface, Country Director, Canon Consumer Imaging, UK and Ireland said: “I am very pleased that, by supporting The Times Young Photographer of the Year, we are associated with a competition that recognises and rewards a deserving young photographer and assists them in taking the first step in their career. The Times Young Photographer of the Year is the perfect opportunity for Canon to help young, talented photographers reach high standards in photojournalism whilst highlighting the power of image and creativity through photography.”
For further details about the competition and how to enter you can visit the please visit The Times website.
