Richard Hill’s winning photo

A PHOTO of a grinning scaffolder was the winning image in this year’s annual Clerkenwell Photography competition.

Organised by academic Chris Walker together with local community centre The Peel, there were a record 467 photos submitted to the open amateur contest, which is now in its sixth year.

The champion shot – a joyful black and white snap of a smiling man at work, taken in the medieval street of Cloth Fair – was captured by Richard Hill, but there were also other winners across several categories including under 12s and “best series”.

Graham Street Park, by Solomon Price

One of the judges, award-winning photographer Jooney Woodward, said this year’s standard of photography was “exceptional”.

“It revealed Clerkenwell through a rich array of fresh and imaginative perspectives,” she said, adding: “Each image uncovered a different character of the neighbourhood, capturing fleeting moments of joy, beauty and surprise.

“I have a renewed appreciation for Clerkenwell – and the feeling that I’m seeing it with fresh eyes.”

The competition’s founder Mr Walker noted that this year’s contest had more entries from teenagers and over-65s alike.

Clerkenwell photographed by Zheng Xinman

Of the winning, grinning photo, he said: “How could you not love a smile like that?! Shots of people is something we’re really keen to encourage, and this was simply irresistible.”

Felix Speigl-James won in the 12-18 category with his photo of “bench contemplation” at the Barbican, Solomon Price bagged the under-12s victory with his shot of Graham Street Park, Zheng Xinman’s snap of an orange doorway and car won in the 19-34 category, and Viktoria Nartey won in the 35-65 category, also with a photo of Graham Street Park.

Viktoria Nartey’s photo of Graham Street Park

Miles Sampson won the “best series”, with a selection of photos taken of a white rectangle in the underpass of the old Museum of London.

Richard Hill’s smiley scaffolder was the winner in the over-65s category, as well as overall.
Every winner got a £100 prize.

Felix Speigl-James’s shot at the Barbican

Another judge magazine maker Jeremy Leslie, said: “It was really enjoyable discovering the local area through the eyes of these photographers, a real mix of the familiar and surprising. Clerkenwell is beautiful.”

The Clerkenwell Photography exhibition is free and open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday at The Bindery, 51-53 Hatton Garden, EC1N 8HN.