Photography students shortlisted in national competition to showcase well-being and mental health during COVID-19

The Show and Tell exhibition invited 10-18 year olds up and down the country to submit a photo that captured ‘How are you Feeling?’. From feeling overwhelmed, bored, fearful and unemployable due to the COVID-19 pandemic, young people reveal the harsh affects lockdown has had on their well-being and mental health through photography.

The competition had over 22,000 submissions, with six A Level Photography students having their work shortlisted. Four students made it to the final online exhibition along with 79 other young people nationally.

Two students received the ‘Judges Choice Award’, second year A Level Photography student Caitlyn Sims’ image,‘Fear, was chosen by world renowned photographer Rankin, who was on the judging panel, and first year A Level Photography student Anna Barber, had her image, ‘Overwhelmed’, judged and chosen by BBC presenter and broadcaster Emerald Rose Lewis. Anna received a recorded video by Emerald Rose Lewis explaining why she related so much to Anna’s image. As well as having their work displayed within the online exhibition, both Caitlyn’s and Anna’s work were then exhibited on hundreds of billboards and bus-stops up and down the country between Monday 15th and Sunday 21 February.

The other two Newcastle College students that were shortlisted in the competition included A Level photography students Isobel Richardson’s image, ‘Out of Place’, and Iz Davis’ image, ‘Inner Conflicts,’ also made it to the online exhibition.

Commenting on her achievement, Anna said: “I’m so happy that my work has been chosen! Any aspiring photographer would love for their work to be displayed on large format advertising spaces, so I feel really grateful and privileged for this opportunity”.

In addition, Caitlyn said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has been tough for everyone and this competition gave young people the opportunity to express their feelings in an art format. To have my work selected out of 22,000 submissions is an amazing feeling and I am immensely proud of myself”.

Their proud lecturer and A Level Photography Subject Leader, Amber Banks-Brumby, said: Everyone at NSCG are unbelievably proud of what our students have achieved during such unnerving times and this has been a massive confidence boost for our young aspiring photographers. All of our students are working really hard at home and our talented students really captured just how young people across the UK are feeling during the COVID-19 pandemic. Congratulations to everyone that participated.”

NSCG offers a range of Creative Arts, Film and Media vocational courses and A Level subjects where students’ artistic talents are developed in our art faculty which contains specialist studios and industry-standard equipment.

For more information on courses available at NSCG, click here, email info@nscg.ac.uk or call 01782 254254. To view the Show and Tell exhibition where the students work is showcased, click here.