The hunt is on for spectacular photos that showcase the beauty of the North East.
And if you've got a good eye for an image it could win you £1,000 and a spot on the wall of the Baltic art gallery.
Best-selling Northumberland crime author LJ Ross has relaunched her Northern Photography Prize competition for a second year.
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The prize, run in association with Living North magazine and sponsored by Dark Skies Publishing, searches for the region’s most stunning landscape and portrait images.
It is free to enter for local amateur photographers of all levels and consists of two categories – the Spirit of the North East (for landscape photography) and the Heart of the North East (for portrait photography).
The winning images for each category will each earn a £1,000 cash prize and will be projected onto the external wall of the Baltic Art Gallery in Gateshead. All shortlisted entries will also will feature in a Living North magazine spread.
It could offer a boost to anyone in the region who fancies themselves as a photographer.
Louise Warburton, winner of the 'Heart of the North East’ prize in 2021, said: “Winning the Northern Photography Prize was a dream come true for me – I never win anything! It has been such an amazing experience and I am so glad I gave it a shot and entered, who knows where it may lead to next.”
Michelle K. Williams, who took home the 'Spirit of the North East’ prize last year, added: “Winning the competition has increased my confidence, and without a doubt it is an important step in my life that brings me closer to me dream of a career in photography.
"I’ve met some fantastic people along the way and I hope that my win is an inspiration to other amateur photographers to enter the 2022 competition.”
For the 2022 edition of the prize, the author will be joined by judges including Newcastle-based professional photographers Jason Friend and Adam Lang; editor of Living North magazine Janet Blair; and The Alnwick Garden’s Daniel Russell.
LJ Ross said: “I launched this prize last year to celebrate the people and places of my beloved homeland and to help support and encourage the arts in the region during an extremely challenging time.
"Hundreds of entries came flooding in and the judging panel was humbled and inspired by such an overwhelming response from budding photographers, and by the high standard of the entries. Bringing the prize back for a second year was a no-brainer for me, and I can’t wait to see what our talented amateur snappers produce.”
Entries close on June 30 2022 and the shortlisted entries will be announced on July 31.
For information on how to enter the prize, as well as eligibility criteria and full terms and conditions, visit: https://www.ljrossauthor.com/philanthropy/northern-photography-prize/
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