Now in its fourth year, the Digital Camera Young Photographer of the Year competition is the leading UK contest for photographers aged 17 and under and is dedicated to encouraging and revealing new photographic talent. Organised by the popular Digital Camera magazine and backed by the Royal Photographic Society, it takes place alongside the main Digital Camera Photographer of the Year – the world’s largest online photography contest.
With low-cost, durable digital cameras increasingly used in the classroom, competition organisers are actively encouraging schools to get involved in 2010, by offering a series of ready-to-use lesson plans. The templates are linked to the national curriculum and cover Key Stages 1-4 for children aged 5 to 16 years old. The website also offers a wealth of hints and tips for creating great images, alongside supporting resources, including a list of useful photography websites and winning images from previous Digital Camera Young Photographer of the Year contests.
Submissions for the contest are accepted from Monday, 19th April until Tuesday, 14th September across three age-groups; under 10s, 11-15 years and 15-17 years. The winning image in each category will receive a cash prize of up to £250 each.
During the summer holidays, Future will be reaching out to younger photographers with family photographic workshops. For the first-time, the Digital Camera Young Photographer of the Year is supported by The Photographers’ Gallery – the largest public gallery in London dedicated to photography. The Photographers’ Gallery will host an event led by experts from Future’s digital photography magazines and websites, with activities for 7 to 11 year olds, teaching camera techniques and photo composition.
Matt Pierce, Group Publisher of Future’s Digital Creative portfolio, said: “With digital cameras increasingly part of the modern classroom, we wanted to create a series of activities and lessons that allow children to learn more about photography and the art of taking a great image. Alongside our main competition, the Digital Camera Young Photographer of the Year is dedicated to nurturing and revealing new photographic talent.
“We look forward to working with teachers across the country, and hope to inspire children and their families to embrace photography.”
For more information, please visit or the main Digital Camera Photographer of the Year website.
