Leslie is in the frame for top award

Students on the photography degree course at Batley School of Art swept the board at this year’s British Institute of Professional Photographers (BIPP) Yorkshire Region Annual Awards – scooping eight merits and one overall winner of the student category.
Martina, a photograph submitted by Leslie ForresterMartina, a photograph submitted by Leslie Forrester
Martina, a photograph submitted by Leslie Forrester

BA (Honours) Photography student Leslie Forrester was crowned overall winner of the Student Photographer of the Year award with his image Martina. Leslie was also awarded a merit in the category, along with his peers Anna Bridson, Christine Eastwood, Sam Johnson, Keith St Ange and Lance Isherwood, who was credited with three merits.

David Black was also celebrating after being awarded a merit in the professional Advertising Photographer of the Year category. David was awarded an Associateship by the BIPP last year, an honour usually reserved for professional photographers. Photography degree graduate Michael Dean also achieved a merit in the Illustrative Photographer of the Year category.

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The competition attracted over 60 entries from students and an appreciative audience of over 40 professional photographers at The Owl, Hambleton, North Yorkshire on Wednesday 17 April to hear judges Karl Bratby, FBIPP of Nottingham and David Taylor, FBIPP of Derbyshire critique all entries and see the winners’ trophies and merit certificates awarded.

Katrina Whitehead is the award leader for photography.

She said: “It is a great achievement to have received more merits compared to last year. The photography standard was extremely high and David Black achieved a merit in the professional category this year.”

Leslie, from Wakefield, said, “I was pleased that firstly one of my prints won a merit award before the surprise of the judges awarding another one of my prints as overall winner of the student category. Seeing my winning image displayed among all the professional winners was extremely satisfying.”

All winning images will be on display in the photography department at the Create, Batley School of Art’s end of year show in June. A selection can also be viewed at Dean Clough Gallery, Halifax from Saturday April 27 , private view at noon,

All of the winning images can be viewed at: www.yrbipp.co.uk/STUDENTMERITS2013.aspx

For more information about photography courses at Batley School of Art, visit www.kirkleescollege.ac.uk.

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