Alder Hey Photographic Project

The international photographer Francesco Mellini took time out to judge the work of the Year 11 students who had worked on the Alder Hey photographic project. The brief the students had, was to produce images that would raise the spirits of children who had spent a period of time in hospital.

Francesco, known for his images around music, pop culture and the arts, was hugely impressed with the work that the students had produced. “The work showed that students were using photography to view the world in a different way and many of the images highlighted a real talent”.

As ever in such events, choosing the winner from such superb photographs, is always a difficult task, but eventually Francesco was able to come to a decision and these are the results.

1st Prize Liam Gillam

The image of the bird against an open sky was both strong and poignant. Liam’s picture epitomised freedom and portrayed the complete opposite of being confined in hospital.

2nd Prize Konrad Bosowski

In this image, Konrad has almost caught the feel of an impressionist painting. The light in the background along the bluebells in spring, would certainly lift someone who has not been very well.

3rd Prize Liam Gillam

The ability to capture something so simple as rain on a leaf and to do so in such a clear and sharp manner, is a real challenge to photographers. This has been done brilliantly and makes you feel good to spend time looking at it.

Special Praise was given to a number of other pictures that, whilst they did meet the brief especially, were clearly technically very effective images.

1st Prize Noof Hassan

Francesco was immediately drawn to this image. The lines, the angles and the framing are of a quality of which many photographers would be proud. The colours are striking and the image shows a strong understanding of photographic art.

2nd Prize. Noof Hassan

Noof caught the balance of colour and shape brilliantly in this image. It is strong and inviting, with lots of texture and depth.

3rd Prize Chelsea Thompson

There were several images of this tree; Chelsea, however, was able to catch the shape and shadows in a very strong frame. It shows a good understanding of how to view an image in its natural setting and to use background to an advantage.

4th Prize Liam Gillam

This strong architectural image shows how a photographer needs to look at objects in a very different way from which they would normally be viewed. Liam did this to great effect in the Palm House.