Stunning photos revealed in competition

View the shortlist for “Best Single Image” by clicking here. 

NINE stunning images have been shortlisted for the “Best Single Image” prize in the annual Bilfinger GVA Manchester School of Art photography competition.

Now members of the public are invited to vote online for their favourite images, via a specially-created website. 

Based upon the theme ‘Unseen: Re-discovering Manchester’, the competition has opened two categories for the first time, Best Portfolio and Best Single Image, with the brief to focus on properties in the city of Manchester and its suburbs that demonstrate the array of architectural structures, cityscapes and hidden building gems.

Students Benoit Sharp, Charlotte Brodie, Elliott Gill, Ian Walker, Lauren Coleman, Liam Bonham, Penny Mercer, Sam Coop and Philippa Ramsden are in the running to win the “Best Single Image” prize, while Charlotte Brodie, Federico Gioco, Lauren Coleman, Penny Mercer, Philippa Ramsden, Rachael Burns, Sam Coop, Sorrel Higgins and Stan Platford are nominated for the “Best Portfolio” prize.

Invaluable opportunity

Gavin Parry, Senior Lecturer in Photography at Manchester School of Art, said: “With prize money of £1500, and work displayed to a key professional audience, our relationship with Bilfinger GVA is quickly establishing itself as an invaluable opportunity for our students. This year, the response from them has been fantastic. We had a high number of high quality submissions, and have shortlisted 13 photography students whose work is now being displayed in Bilfinger GVA offices.

“Developing the right type of professional relationships between the Department and businesses can really help our students to embed a professional ethos into everything they do. Working to external briefs that both acknowledge and challenge the skills that our students have is an invaluable part of their learning experience.

“It is clear from the positive response to this brief that this has really helped our students to develop greater confidence and understanding about how to apply their skills to professional contexts. We very much look forward to developing the GVA Bilfinger 2015-16 project with the confidence that this partnership will go from strength to strength.”

“Outstanding” shortlist

Mark Rawstron, Regional Senior Director for Bilfinger GVA, said: “This is the second year GVA have sponsored this competition and we look forward to this ongoing collaboration with Manchester Met in general and BA(Hons) Photography in particular. I have been very keen for business to engage with the academic sector and to help provide some insights to students as to what might be expected of them post university, including working to a client brief, delivery and timescales. Meeting these requirements and maintaining creativity is part of the balance, and, for this year’s submissions, the feedback from our clients to the competition and the work shortlisted has been outstanding.”

The winners of the competition will be announced at a glittering awards ceremony held at the National Football Museum on October 15.