The 2024 Green Expo Photography Competition winning photographs have been on display in the Cloisters at Chester Cathedral throughout June and July, seen by an estimated 94,000 visitors to the cathedral.
With over 90 entries from across the North West and as far away as London, the judges faced a tough challenge to choose the winning submissions in each category, which were: Progress to Net Zero, Climate Change and The Natural World’s Resilience. Each of the categories were open to Professional Photographers, Over 18s and Under 18s.
The winners in the Professional Categories are:
Progress to Net Zero and The Natural World’s Resilience: Mark Carline a keen chronicler of the North West’s cityscapes and cultural events who has been passionate about photography since his teenage years. Over two decades in the region, he has cultivated a deep connection, capturing the vibrant essence of urban life and the richness of arts and culture here. He has been featured by the BBC, Guardian, Cheshire Live and The Stage. https://www.markcarline.co.uk
Climate Change: Stephanie Taylor a 26 year old graduate of the University of Chester in 2020 with a First Class Degree in Media and Arts studying Digital Photography. She also presents on community radio and sings in Chester’s LGBT Choir, Proud Marys. https://www.stephilouphotography.com
The winners in the Adult Categories are:
Progress to Net Zero: Mandy Millar assists at the Venue, the Lache Community Centre, which offers local residents walks, coffee mornings, gardening groups and trips, amongst many other community support initiatives that help distract its beneficiaries from isolated and sometimes complicated lives. Mandy was accompanied to the presentation of her prize by her friends and Cheshire West Communities Together’s Georgia Gough and Hannah Norris.
Climate Change: Dr Anthony Cliffe is a Senior Academic Skills Advisor and Project Developer at the University of Chester. Anthony is interested in airports, drones and carbon neutrality, having worked on the carbon neutral village project in Ashton Hayes and he has qualifications in GeoScience. He loves the outdoors and his winning photograph was taken with a drone.
The Natural World’s Resilience: Treicy Isamitt Letelier studied architecture in her home country, Chile, relating her work to landscape and construction and how the landscape affects the lives of people. Treicy came to the UK to study Landscape Architecture in Manchester and joined Chester based Land Studio earlier this year. Land Studio works throughout the UK specialising in Landscape Architecture, Ecology, Engineering and Buildings with Nature.
The winners in the Under 18 Categories are:
Progress to Net Zero: Joseph Briggs-Harris, aged 12 goes to Tarporley High School and lives in Bunbury. Joseph loved taking part in the competition and the photo of the tractor in the field was a well-timed coincidence when visiting his granny. He saved up all his pocket Christmas and birthday money for his drone for 3 years and was utterly thrilled to win, bouncing around the kitchen when he heard the news. Having become quite proficient in flying his drone, Joseph would love to become an Air Ambulance pilot.
Climate Change: David Hughes, aged 15 is from Liverpool and photographed Crosby beach with the statues staring out to sea and wind turbines behind Liverpool Docks and the cranes. He said; “It was very cold and windy there so I took this quicky and evened up the horizon later. Every one of us can do more for climate change. Why is wave power not used more, especially in the Northwest? It is staring us in the face.”
The Natural World’s Resilience: Harriet Briggs-Harris, aged 10 goes to Tarporley Primary School and has always had an eye for detail and seeing things in a different and often enchanting way. The tree stump in her winning entry was not just a tree stump and now everyone can see it as an owl. The competition has sparked a love of photography, and she has just been given her first proper camera – which she is looking forward to taking on holiday so her mum isn’t always the one behind the lens. Harriet wants to be a theatre director.
Jane Harrad-Roberts, Project Director of Green Expo UK said; “We have been delighted by the enthusiasm and creativity of the entrants to the competition. Photography has the ability to inspire people through the eyes of others and we are always amazed at the spectacular images we receive.”
“We wanted to see how anyone can capture the way in which businesses, individuals, nature, science and innovation are contributing towards building a greener future and how they can stimulate others to follow suit.”
“The judges were fantastic giving up their valuable time to give us added insight and provide comments. Thank you to professional photographers Ian Cooper and Ian Southerin, multi-media and event producer Mark Earnshaw and from sponsors Cheshire Energy Hub and EET.”