British Life Photography Award

What is the British Life Photography Award?

Sponsored by Sony and with a prize fund of well over £10,000 – including £6,000 worth of gear for the overall grand prize winner – the British Life Photography Award is a new photography competition which will give you the chance to get out there and capture the urban jungle, with the best entries appearing in galleries around the UK and in a book published by (you’ve guessed it) ilex.

Why is ilex involved with the British Life Photography Award?

As a publisher with a strong interest in photography, we leapt at the chance to partner with the British Life Photography Award team. With a history of producing books like The New Street Photographer’s Manifesto how could we not? In fact since we have a few months before the closing date, it might be worth browsing through that book, or perhaps one by Michael Freeman, for a few tips before going shooting. If you really want to make an impression, try the Fashion category; star fashion Photography author Lara Jade will be one of the judges.

How do I enter?

You have until September 20th to get your picture in, and you can enter in one of ten categories:
[toggles accordion=”false”] [toggle title=”Rural Life Photography” color=”Accent-Color” id=”b1″] All aspects of rural life including; agriculture, farming and fishing, capturing the relationship between people the land and coast. Life within villages and small communities including; local trade, country fairs, crafts, events, traditions, customs, culture, sport and leisure. [/toggle] [toggle title=”Street Life Photography” color=”Accent-Color” id=”b2″] Candid images of everyday life on the street, such as a crowded market, a city park or lively café culture. People from all walks of life, within a multicultural and cosmopolitan society. [/toggle] [toggle title=”Urban Life Photography” color=”Accent-Color” id=”b3″] Illustrating the urban landscape, cities and towns at work. Architecture and the built environment as an integral part of urban society, conveying mood, atmosphere and history. Including events, festivals, the conflict of the old and new, customs and culture. [/toggle] [toggle title=”Work in the Community” color=”Accent-Color” id=”b4″] The British people at work including; industry and trade, communications, the arts, science and technology, health, education, care, transport and leisure, documenting the essence of working life, its diversity and contribution to life, and its relevance within in the community. [/toggle] [toggle title=”Brits on Holiday” color=”Accent-Color” id=”b5″] Day tripping, weekend breaks and activity pursuits have all joined more traditional bucket and spade, camping and hotel breaks as forms of holiday. This category aims to capture the diverse range of holidays and culture. [/toggle] [toggle title=”Portraiture” color=”Accent-Color” id=”b6″] The face of Britain. Portraits of any age capturing character, spirit and soul. [/toggle] [toggle title=”British Fashion and Popular Culture” color=”Accent-Color” id=”b7″] Capture the mood of 2014, its obsessions and trends, its values and beliefs. Images that reveal how popular culture has permeated our everyday life. Studio or location images that thrill or shock by highlighting the striking, avant-garde or innovative nature of British fashion. [/toggle] [toggle title=”British Weather” color=”Accent-Color” id=”b8″] A national obsession. Blest with four seasons, British weather moulds our landscape, coast, the environment and communities. Images from parched landscapes to flooded meadows, windswept moors to spring sunlight. [/toggle] [toggle title=”Historic Britain” color=”Accent-Color” id=”b9″] Share your images of the past. This category is for images of any eligible subject taken before 1 January 1990. Subjects in all categories are eligible, but must still fulfil all general criteria for the competition, for example they must be taken in the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands.
As with all other categories entries must be submitted as scans or digital images. We cannot accept prints or negatives. [/toggle] [toggle title=”Documentary Series & Photojournalist Award” color=”Accent-Color” id=”b10″] This can be a sequence of images of any subject or topic conveying British life in a portfolio of up to six images, using innovation in storytelling.
If you are entering the documentary and photojournalist category you must include a reference title and number with each image, so it is clear that they form a set. For example, if the title of the portfolio is “Arts Festival” your captions would be “Arts Festival 1: description”; “Arts Festival 2: description” etc. [/toggle] [toggle title=”Young British Life Photographer” color=”Accent-Color” id=”b11″] There is a separate award for the Young British Life Photographer. Young people can enter images that fit into any of the categories.
Those under 19 years old on 20th September 2014 are eligible to enter the Young British Life Photographer category.
Photographers who are eligible for the Young British Life Photographer category are not eligible for the adult categories. You can make an account for your child and enter on their behalf, just make sure you say in the caption that they are the photographer, and give their age. Note that to make any new account you must use an email address that has not already been registered. [/toggle] [/toggles]
[tabbed_section] [tab title=”Opening Date” id=”t1″] 1st July 2014 [/tab] [tab title=”Closing Date” id=”t2″] 20th September 2014 [/tab] [tab title=”Notification” id=”t3″] Winners will be notified before the end of November 2014 [/tab] [tab title=”Book Launch & Gallery Opening” id=”t4″] March 1st 2015 (pre-orders will be available via Amazon and leading bookstores and advertised on this website), [/tab] [/tabbed_section]

Visit the competition’s site for precise rules on how to enter the British Life Photography Award competition.
Best of Luck.