The Centre for British Photography has announced the 6 winners for their open call to young photographers, whose work will be shown in the Centre’s windows and foyer spaces. Genesis is proud to be sponsoring printing costs for this fantastic opportunity.
Congratulations to the winners and their amazing works exploring: ‘What does community mean to you?’
Lucas Cannon, 20
Parkour Community Jam
‘I am lucky to live in one of the best cities in the world for parkour, London. Practicing parkour here over the last 7 years has led me to train with some of the best in the sport, and as I began to develop an interest in photography, I started capturing some of their impressive feats. However, I soon realised that there was something important missing which would tie all my action shots together. The community and culture are vital to the sport of parkour and realising the importance of it, I’ve begun documenting it as best I can so that the world outside of parkour can see how amazing it is too. The community is a safety net, support circle and friendship group. They travel the world with you, motivate you and are there to help if you’re in trouble. Without the community, the sport would struggle to grow.’
Soren Froome-Lewis, 15
Suaveolens (Latin for Sweet-smelling)
‘Community to me means being comfortable with the people who share their lives in the same location as you. Being able to roam the streets with the knowledge that safety is close by. Community allows you to share the delicacies and traditions of a range of countries and religions. The ability to feel part of one is a privilege in itself as passing acquaintances, such as a florist, can end up becoming an integral part of your day to day routine, and without that florist, a never before considered element of your life is lost.’
Zoë Green, 20
A tiny corner of the worldwide Christian Church
‘To me, community is a shared passion for the common good, something that unites rather than divides.
I think that at its best, religion does this by joining people together in worship, uniting them with common beliefs and values that provide a framework for making good choices in life and trying to find ways of helping those who suffer.
Regardless of background, ethnicity or ability, all belong to this ‘family of believers’. This sense of belonging is often vital for those with chaotic lives, where the Church can be a place of sanctuary, peace and stability.
In this image, a handful of people worship in their local Church, while all over the world, there are around 2.6 billion other Christians who will do the same.
It’s amazing to be a part of something that is so close to home and yet links me with so many others across the world.’
Stella Harford, 19
Innocuous
‘To me, ‘community’ is being able to share an integral part of your identity with a group of people, whether that be your religion, your interests, your nationality etc. Even after coming to terms with my Queer identity it took me a while to feel confident enough to be loud about it and find my place in the LGBT community. In a time when, despite recent progress, it is still illegal to be LGBTQ in 64 UN member States and politicians in the UK continue to spew hatred about my community, the word ‘community’ isn’t something that always feels full of joy. However, I am grateful to have found friends with whom, not only can I be loud about my identity, but also casual. This picture, taken at London Pride, is what being a part of the LGBT community is about for me. Free expression, without expectations.’
George Sharp, 15
Collective Joy
‘Community to me means bringing people together to create positive change.
I have been photographing member owned Clapton Community Football club since their creation in 2018. Shortly after formation the club used funds raised through sales of a member designed shirt to purchase the oldest senior football ground in London – The Old Spotted Dog Stadium. The ground had stood empty for several years, the grass was overgrown and the buildings in need of much love. Thousands of hours by member volunteers brought the ground back to life and it has become a place of collective joy.
The Club is now able to support marginalized communities in East London. It provides free football training for vulnerable children and refugees. During Covid it set up a hardship fund which saw donations of over £14000 used to support those most in need.
To me, this is Community bringing about positive change.’
Jake Wall, 17
A Day of Culture
‘One of our core British values is our respect and tolerance towards people we may consider ‘different’. As a result, a responsibility is brought upon communities with membership from different races, cultures, and ethnicities to embrace and celebrate these differences. Communities unite people, and it is this unity that allow us to understand humanity on a broader spectrum, outside of the political and economic divides that still separate us.
At my college, we are all united in our common goal to set our foundations as we progress into adulthood, yet it is important to push that to the side as we appreciate the celebrate how we are all different, and how decades of international history have led to peoples freedom to express their own culture and identities freely, without oppression. Consequently, to me, community means the willingness to accept one another, and the celebrate both our similarities and differences.’
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