A first year photography student has been named ‘Judge's favourite’, in the ‘There’s no place like home” category, in this year’s Focus on Society photographic competition.  Tegan Johnston-Brunn received her award at a Private View and presentation evening, held at the Espacio Gallery in London, on 8 March.  The winning photographs are currently being exhibited at the Gallery.

Young people aged 14-18, entered the competition from around the UK, responding to the question, “How do you see the world around you?  The competition, which is run by the Economic and Social Research Council, received entries from 160 schools and colleges.

Hanno Niemand, Curriculum Manager Photography, said - We are extremely proud of Tegan for winning a prize in the ESRC 2016 competition.  Right from the beginning of her A-level Photography course, Tegan showed a natural flair in creating images.  As this photograph was taken during her first project, I am really excited to see how Tegan's skill level with grow over the next two years at the College.”

Tegan said of her work, entitled “Not just black and white”, “Taken in the early hours of the morning, I was able to capture this eerie yet peaceful landscape that I feel evokes a range of emotions.  I deliberately made the autumnal colours the focus, as I wanted attention to be drawn to the changing of seasons, captured in a single image.”

Judge, Ollie Smallwood, a London based portrait and documentary photographer, commented “This is a well composed landscape that conveys the peaceful and calming qualities of the natural world.  I enjoy the way that the photographer has contrasted the black and white silhouetted trees in the foreground, with the autumnal leaves in the distance, to depict their vision of the bland city landscape up against the vibrancy of nature.  This appeals to me as I’ve had similar feelings myself.”

Find out more about the competition here.

View the exhibition on Flickr.

Find out more about the Espacio Gallery.