Open Call for Thames Lens Photography Competition (UK)

Thames Lens has encouraged non-professional photographers to get out and explore the River Thames through a creative lens.

Categories

• They have five distinct categories, each of which speak to different facets of the river that all offer different potential:
  • Working River: London is home to the UK’s largest port, helping to make the Thames the busiest river in England for transporting freight, and for passengers, both seeing the sights and commuting to work. These industries are vital for London’s economy and form an important part of the Thames’ rich river tapestry.
  • River City: The stunning landscapes of the Thames is a sight to behold – with completely different dramatic views offered as the river winds its way from West to East.
  • River of Life: The River Thames is home to hundreds of species of fish and having been considered biologically dead is now seeing a resurgence of animal and plant activity. Seals, birds, and more love to call the Thames their home.
  • River People: One of the factors that makes the Thames so vibrant is how people interact with it on different levels. From calling it home, to using it for water sports, and even working on it – people bring the river to life: the perfect subject for a photo.
  • Illuminated River: Illuminated River is the longest public art commission in the world, spanning nine bridges from London to Lambeth, that has transformed the Thames at night. This year’s theme is centred around ‘People and Places’. Share your favourite views of the artwork including people, the bridges, and moments where the public have paused to soak up the atmosphere, light and colours along the Thames.
  • Student: Their new student prize, asks people in higher education to respond to one of the competitions five categories.
  • Under 25’s: Their under 25’s prize, encourages young people to get down to the River Thames and capture photos which represent one of the competitions five categories.

Funding Information

• Prizes include a year’s membership to the Photographer Gallery, £250 gift voucher of the winner’s choosing, dinner for two courtesy of LIMIN, River Roamer tickets each courtesy of Uber Boat by Thames Clippers,  and much more.

Eligibility Criteria

• Entrants under the age of 16 must obtain permission from a parent or guardian.
• Photos can be black and white or colour and must include the Thames in some way.
• Images must be high resolution, at least 1MB and 1500 pixels wide.

Application Requirements

• Photographs must be original and taken by you.
• It is the photographer’s responsibility to obtain any appropriate permissions.
• Please do not submit portrait photographs of children unless you have expressly gained the permission of their parent or guardian.
• Entrants may enter no more than a total of 5 photographs across all categories.
• The competition is only open to non-professional photographers (defined as someone who does not derive more than 10% of their income from photography).
• The competition is not open to employees of Thames Festival Trust or of any of the organisations providing prizes.
• All commercial rights to the images remain with the photographers with the exception that The Thames Festival Trust and the Port of London Authority has the right to use entries in any future publicity material (print or electronic) without payment – subject to crediting the original photographer. This includes the right to grant use of the image to third parties solely for the purpose of promoting the Trust’s work.
• The competition will be judged by a panel of Thames Festival Trust, Port of London Authority staff and Illuminated River Foundation.
• Winners will be notified by email. The judging panel’s decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into surrounding this. Prizes are non-negotiable and non-transferable.

For more information, visit Thames Festival Trust.