Local church's photographic competition attracts international entries as it grows in prestige

The 2009 Sharow Photographic Competition has been won by a Hungarian photographer, Zoltan Balogh from Budapest.  He came first in a highly competitive competition which attracted 650 entries winning the £350 award for Best Photograph with ‘Transylvanian Gypsies’  (pictured above).

This year, the prestigious competition, now in its fourth year and run by St John’s Church in Sharow, near Ripon, attracted 650 entries, and £1805 prize money was awarded in total. The Dean of Ripon, the Very Revd Keith Jukes, a keen photographer himself, presented the prizes with Nicola David of Sharow (pictured above) who won the overall runner-up prize with “The 4.30pm from Kings Cross.” (below).  

An exhibition of all the entries was held at St John’s church, with money raised from the competition going towards both the church and Martin House Children’s Hospice in Boston Spa.  

The judges were Nigel Whitfield, Madeline Brabbs and Whitfield Benson. There were 200 prints in the Open category and 450 digital entries in the other 5 categories. Other local prizewinners were: ‘HG postcode’ print by Barry Woods, Ripon £50; 3 prizes for Andrew Gibson, Rawdon, Leeds; Club entry best ‘Portfolio of 10’ won by Masham Photographic Club £350; School entry prizes were awarded to Alice Rose (as winner) and Daniel Shipman, both students from Ecclesfield School, Sheffield – Ecclesfield School took the £100 prize from which the students came.

Other prizewinners were: Chris Mole, Danehill, Sussex; David Cantrille, Dorchester; Ron Jones, Malvern; Gary Jarvis, Harpenden; Marguerite Fewkes, Guernsey; Gerald Chamberlin, Carlisle; Jan Stolz, Germany.

The Sharow Competition has received plaudits from nationally known photographers – Derry Brabbs, a past judge, said, “The Sharow Competition has quickly blossomed into a ‘tour de force’ and the standard of entries is very high. It has obviously now staked its place in the nation's photographic competition calendar and I hope will go from strength to strength, especially given the fact that you are able to not only provide generous prize money, but also make substantial donations to charity.”

 More details can be found on the competition website, www.sharowphotocomp.co.uk