28.07.2020
Photography competition: Record the Thames as it unlocks
 Thames Lens 2019 Overall Winner, Waterman, Susan Matthews |
With the tidal Thames progressively coming back to life after months of lockdown, Thames Festival Trust, in partnership with the Port of London Authority (PLA), is launching its annual photography competition inviting people to capture: the Thames Unlocked.
Thames Lens encourages amateur photographers to seek out the life, industry, culture, sports and more that the Thames is home to – the perfect recipe for a photography competition.
This year’s theme is: Thames Unlocked. The Thames was largely deserted for many weeks, save for essential port operations ensuring supplies of food, fuel and medicine flowed without interruption. Now, the river is slowly starting to come back to life as restrictions ease. As it opens up to more activity, we want participants to explore, discover and share the myriad of perspectives that the Thames offers through photography – be it via safely practiced recreational activities, river transport, community events, or even just your daily stroll.
Inviting people to take part, Alistair Gale from the PLA says:
“This year’s events have put a premium on family time, the outdoors and reconnecting with nature. As we approach the heart of the summer, now is the time to bring those three themes together, on the Thames. We’d love people to share with us their view of our, post lockdown river as they venture along the riverbank, and afloat again, to enjoy the unique vistas of the Thames Unlocked.”
Prizes will include photography courses, exhibition tickets, vouchers and more. Participants can enter via email or via Instagram, and we also have an Under 25 Category. The competition closes to entries on Friday 29 January 2021.
COVID restrictions allowing, there will also be the chance to be displayed in an exclusive exhibition of Thames Lens winners’ and runners ups’ shots, attended by high profile guests from river and arts organisations.
The winners will be chosen by a panel comprised of representatives from Thames Festival Trust, Port of London Authority, and a professional photographer.
Director of Thames Festival Trust, Adrian Evans, concludes:
“There is no better place to pause, breathe and ease the soul than being on or by the Thames. This year’s competition draws on the experience of the last few months and we hope will draw people to the calming waters of the river, both to pause and reflect, while they seek inspiration to capture the river as it unlocks.”
Theme: Thames Unlocked
Categories: Thames Lens & Thames Lens Under 25
Deadline: Friday 29 January 2021
Enter by: submit your photo on the Thames Festival Trust website or submitting via Instagram using #ThamesLens and @ThamesFestivalTrust
More info: https://thamesfestivaltrust.org/artistic-programme/thames-lens/
ENDS
For more details, please contact:
Sophie Groak, Project & Admin Officer, Thames Festival Trust E: [email protected]
Notes to Editors
About the Thames Festival Trust
The Thames Festival Trust is an arts organisation which delivers festivals, stand-alone commissions, river-based events, heritage projects and education programmes. We have a twenty-four year track record of using learning, culture and creativity to amaze, excite and inform. Our work helps bring communities together, originally around the River Thames, and now in cities across the UK and the world.
About the Port of London Authority
The PLA works to ensure navigational safety along the tidal Thames, stretching 95 miles from Teddington to the North Sea. It shares its marine, environmental, planning and other expertise to promote use of the river and safeguard its unique marine environment.
