The prizes in the wedding category go to John Parris (2), David Armour, John Newman and Stuart Wood. In the portrait section the winners are David Calvert (2), Stuart Wood, John Parris and Adam Hirons. They now go forward to the final judging in September 2011.

Photo from the Wedding Category – by David Armour

Open to ALL professional photographers, these consumer awards are a joint initiative between Fujifilm and the MPA and they are designed to help photographers drive business to their studios by offering the subject of the winning image a substantial cash prize. The subject of each of the two overall winning photographs will receive £1,000 and runner-up consumers in each category will be presented with a £50 shopping voucher.

The Awards are also a major fundraiser for the MPA’s adopted charity, the PACE Centre in Aylesbury (www.thepacecentre.org). From each £2 entry £1 is donated straight to PACE.

Says Colin Buck, MPA chief executive: “These Awards not only help photographers promote their businesses, they also raise considerable funds to help PACE continue its amazing work with children with physical disabilities, such as cerebral palsy. We are very grateful to Fujifilm for their support of the Awards.”

The overall winning photographers will receive the title of ‘MPA/Fujifilm Wedding (or Portrait) Photographer of the Year 2011′ a trophy and a publicity package to help them promote their success. Presentations to the winning photographers will take place at the Master Photography Awards Dinner in October 2011.

The second and final submission period is now open, with a closing date of 30 August. The MPA/Fujifilm Wedding and Portrait Awards are open to ALL professional photographers, not just MPA members. Full details and entry forms are available on the website www.thempa.com/mpa-wedding-and-portrait-awards.php

Jennifer entered her favourite photograph of the family’s twins, Darcy and Noah White, into the ‘Cherub of The Year’ Competition, run by the Master Photographers Association (MPA).

The Cherub programme is designed to capture a baby’s first year via three different photoshoots and Jennifer’s photograph was shortlisted from thousands of entries from all over the UK.

The win is even more poignant as the twins’ parents Julie & Phil, also from Halifax, didn’t think they could even have children after several traumatic miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies and IVF.

Mum Julie says: “We used to walk past Kyte’s studio windows to look at the amazing photographs of cute babies. We knew if ever the day came along when we were lucky enough to have children of our own there was only one place to go!

“I cried when I first saw the photographs. Jennifer had captured the twins’ personalities in a magical way. We will have these wonderful memories of their first year forever – they have stopped time for us. To win £10,000 on top of all this is just the icing on the cake!”

This latest accolade for Jennifer comes just 6 months after being voted the ‘Cherubs Photographer of the Year 2010′ at the prestigious Master Photography Awards last October.

Since Jennifer launched Kyte Photography 10 years ago – with business partner Lynne Fletcher – their studio has built a strong reputation for producing contemporary lifestyle portraiture and cutting edge wedding photography. Her background in newspapers and advertising has seen her photograph dozens of well known celebrities from the Beckhams and Kylie Minogue to Paul McCartney.

Says Jennifer: “Kyte is already well known in the region for the quality of our baby photography, but to be recognised at a national level is a great honour. And to win £10,000 for a family who have been through so much is even more rewarding.”

The Cherubs bay photography programme is open to all professional photographers in the UK. For details on how to become involved please email cherubs@wpsmedia.co.uk

18 trophies will be awarded in March 2011, during a ceremony which will gather the 48 finalists (three per subject) of the sixteen categories awarded, plus the photograph of the year and a trophy of honour. For this third edition of the competition, there will be sixteen categories : that is to say four more than in 2010.

The first of the new categories will be reserved for photography students and the theme will be free. The second will reward humanistic photography, a way of honouring our distinguished elders. The third will distinguish the best digital creation, limited only by the imagination of photographers. Finally, a returning category, still life.

Once the winners are known, the winning photographs will be compiled into a traveling exhibition. It will criss-cross France, initially among the sponsors, and then in the biggest French festivals of photographs. “Photographs of the Year” will also be compiled in a book as in previous years. The 48 winning photos plus a portfolio of some pages on the photographer will be honored at this event.

For each category, the winner will receive a statuette worth 150 to 200 € and royalties on books, postcards, posters published by the APPPF, whose terms will be determined by contract with the APPPF, or the equivalent in books and postcards. The winner of the  Photograph of the Year will receive € 10 000 of Nikon equipment. Other sponsors will offer prizes or material benefits.

Selection of winners of “Photographs of the Year” is made by a jury of experienced professional photographers, festival directors and journalists, only recognized professionals.

The photograph of the year in each category is the work of professional photographers during  the calendar year. The photographs must be taken between January 1 and December 31, 2010. Photographs must be submitted no later than January 15, 2011. All professional photographers are invited to participate in this unique competition in Europe.

For further information or to download the complete contest rules, see: http://www.photographiesdelannee.com

The competition, ‘Capturing the Spirit of Modern Manufacturing’ is being launched with the support of Manufacturing Insight, the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills and The Digital Asset Lab.

It is aimed at professionals and amateurs from within manufacturing companies and elsewhere, as well as young people aged 14-19. It is intended to showcase the excellence of UK industry, through high end visually striking technology, processes and people.

The competition will culminate in awards for the winning entry in each of the three categories of professional, amateur and young people aged 14-19. They will be presented at the prestigious EEF Future Manufacturing Awards in January 2011 and used to promote EEF’s Manufacturing Week in Spring 2011.

Commenting, EEF Chief Executive, Terry Scuoler, said: “For too long there has been a stereotypical image of our sector which is way out of line with reality. Modern manufacturing is a vibrant arena in which to operate with the potential for striking imagery of technology, processes and people. This is the chance for manufacturing companies and their workforce to help do something about this image and change way people think by capturing its spirit.“

Giving his support to the competition, Business Minister, Mark Prisk MP, said: “Many people have an outdated image of manufacturing, which means that too many people don’t realise how modern industry works. This Government is committed to promoting manufacturing so that we can attract the talent which will make us more competitive on the world stage and generate growth.  I fully support this competition which will encourage young people to discover and capture the true innovative spirit of manufacturing in this country.”

Entry is via the EEF website www.eef.org.uk/photo with entries closing at the end of this year.

The winners can be seen at: www.cherubs.uk.com/cheruboftheyear-winners.php

The successful photographers are: Greg Cameron Day (2 awards), Jennifer Robertson, D & M Loney Photography (4), Elmcroft Studios (2), Ian Crowe, Panikos Hajistilly, Melvin Sillcock, Collin Davies (3), Lynne Brereton (2), Tim Spiers, Nigel Milligan and The Astbury Studio. Each of these photographers now move forward to the final judging that takes place in February 2011, which culminates in the ultimate prize: Cherubs Photographer of the Year.

The Awards form part of the Cherubs programme, a major consumer promotion run by the MPA,  that recognises the UK’s very best baby photography. Cherub of the Year is open to members of the public who have their babies photographed by their local MPA Cherubs photographer. Each customer who wins a quarterly prize receives a £25 shopping voucher but more importantly goes forward to the final judging when a massive £10,000 will be presented to the parents of the  ‘Cherub of the Year’!

“Cherubs has been the backbone of many photographers’ businesses for several years and this year we’ve really ‘upped the game’ by offering a huge prize to the winning consumer,” says Colin Buck, MPA chief executive. “Congratulations to all our first quarter’s winners, one of their customers could be walking away with a cool £10,000 in a few months! This is a great incentive and it really seems to have captured the imagination of the general public.”

In addition to entry into the competition, each parent who books a Cherubs sitting receives three complimentary portraits to record their baby’s first year presented in an Art Leather triple Folio.

Cherubs is still open to new participating photographers, for further information go to www.cherubs.uk.com/leads or to find out more about the MPA, visit www.thempa.com

Click to launch the full edition in a new window.

- DK

There is no charge for admission to the exhibition and trade show, which runs through to 4.30pm. There are also four afternoon seminars taking place, between 2.00pm and 4.30pm, which are limited to free admission by MPA members and Affiliates. The tickets have been allocated by pre-registration. To check whether any places remain, call MPA on 01325 356555.

The Hilton hotel is located on the south bank of the Tyne immediately next to the high and low level bridges, with pedestrian access to the heart of Newcastle’s historic old castle district and the many riverbank attractions. It is close to the Sage Centre, galleries, museums, shops, bars and restaurants making the location perfect for a family day out. Family or friends not interested in the photographic show can find plenty to do within minutes of the Hilton, which makes a great base for activities. This is also one of the most photogenic spots at any time of day or night with great city and river views directly from the Hilton’s terraces.

We English, the latest work of one previous winner, Simon Roberts, will be exhibited at the Museum in March 2010. We English was produced with the help of a £7,000 award from the scheme.

Applicants must provide a brief written synopsis of their proposal together with their CV, an example of their work, and application form. Applications are invited from all nationalities providing they are resident in the UK at the time of the award and forms can be downloaded from:

http://www.nationalmediamuseum.org.uk/Photography/Photo_Bursary.asp

Projects must be completed within one year of awards being made and successful applicants are expected to work independently, but will receive support and guidance from Museum staff if required. At the completion of the project successful applicants must donate one work from an edition, or a series of works, to the National Media Museum.

The closing date for applications is 25 September 2009.

The sponsors working in partnership with the Museum are
Michael G Wilson (Chairman of the Trustees of the National Media Museum),
Zelda Cheatle (WMG Photography Advisor and Curator),
Simon Crocker (Chairman of The John Kobal Foundation),
Pierre Brahm (Chairman of the BRAHM and Henry & James Property Group),
James Hyman (James Hyman Gallery)

Photographers have until 1st September 2009 to submit their entries. There is an open brief and the awards are open to everyone, worldwide: professionals, enthusiasts, students – everyone. The only stipulation for entries is that submissions must have been originated on Fujifilm Professional film. All images are submitted electronically via the Distinctions website, www.fujifilmdistinctions.co.uk

A shortlist of Merit winners will be chosen by the judging panel of photographic industry experts. Each Merit winner will be presented with a certificate and will then be invited to submit a print for final judging.

There’s a first prize of £1,000 cash on offer to the winner, plus second and third place prizes of £500 and £250 cash respectively to the runners up.

Entry is free and photographers may submit as many images as they wish, for full terms and conditions go to, www.fujifilmdistinctions.co.uk or contact Jerry Deeney at Fujifilm Professional on jdeeney@fuji.co.uk

All entries must be received at MPA – Jubilee House, 1 Chancery Lane, Darlington DL1 5QP – by close of business on Wednesday August 12th. Each entry should consist of an unmounted print (10 x 8 or A4) which either shows the image area only of a final print, to be mounted and sized appropriately on a 20 x 16 mount; or shows a 1/4 size reproduction of the finished 20 x 16 exhibition print. This must be made from the same image file to be used for the final print, on the same materials, with the same finish (but not mounted).

Each print entered has an entry fee of £8.50 including VAT, which should be made payable to MPA and enclosed with the entries. Entry prints will not be returned. Entrants whose work is selected for exhibition will be informed by September 1st, and must provide a finished 20 x 16 mounted exhibition print by September 19th.

A print entry form must be attached to each print.

Click the small image of the entry label above, to open or download a full size 300dpi version for printing.

There are three categories open to all photographers – the Mario Acerboni 3-from-1 wedding award, the David Facey Award (Open Category) for the most original image, and the Fuji Silver Imaging Award for a photograph taken using film and printed using silver-halide based (colour or mono) materials. Intermediate scanning is accepted as long as the original is on film, and the final print is on photographic paper.

To enter the Mario Acerboni 3-from-1 award no fee is required. Three images from one wedding (one before, one during and one after the ceremony) must be presented as a set of 10 x 8 unmounted originals. A separate entry form applies and can be downloaded from the MPA website (download the overall entry form which contains this).

Remaining categories open to MPA members (UK) are:

• Bride&Groom – Cosmopolitan Bride sponsored, B&G only in shot
• Bride’s Choice – You & Your Wedding sponsored, layout of ten 5 x 4″ images to fill a 20 x 16″ board (reduce to 10 x 8 for entry)
• Parent and Child Portrait
• Family Portrait (minimum 2 generations)
• Under 5s
• Pets
• Commercial/Advertising
• Landscapes/Pictorial/Illustrative
• Industrial & Architectural
• Travel
• Press/PR/Stock
• Fashion & Beauty
• Events – Equestrian, Sports and Social
• Two awards are open to Licentiate Members only – the David Mathias Portrait Award, and the Dennis Hylander Wedding Award

The original deadline for entries of July 31st has been extended as a result of requests from members.