News Shooting Stars! 12.05.2021

A level Photography students from The College of Richard Collyer recently entered the ‘Your People, Your Place, Your Things’ competition run by London Metropolitan University. This competition was open to students of photography and visual arts subjects aged 16 or over and in full-time further education. Students from schools and colleges from all over the United Kingdom entered the competition, and were asked to submit their favourite portrait, landscape and still life photographs.

Collyer’s Year 2 A Level Photography students Berhan Arslan and Freya Milligan were shortlisted for their work, along with Lauren Booth and Ricardo Lima Castaneda whose photographs were selected in the highly commended category. Year 1 Photography student Josh Lowe, who came to Collyer’s from Durrington High School, produced a surreal landscape double exposure image, which was also highly commended. Both Freya and Lauren were lucky enough to have two of their photographs selected in both the shortlisted and highly commended categories!

Lauren Booth, who joined Collyer’s from Midhurst Rother College, said: “Out of all the people that entered, I was so happy to have my photographs selected. It was so lovely to see my work on the website with all the other entries.

“It’s amazing to have my work highly commended by this great university.”

The competition was judged by a panel including London Met Photography BA (Hons) alumni, photographers and lecturers, and a panel of current Photography BA students. All the judges commented on the quality of images, how hard it was to make decisions and how much they enjoyed seeing the work from the 260 entries they received.

Former Millais student Freya Milligan had two images selected by the judges: “I was absolutely thrilled at being shortlisted as a candidate as the level of work from everyone was at such a high standard.”

Ricardo Lima Castaneda, previously at Ifield Community College, who is going on to study a degree in Photography at Ravensbourne, was delighted: “I have loved studying Photography at Collyer’s over the last two years, my work has developed so much, and the course has given me the skills to take my photography further. Being highly commended is such an honour.”

Berhan’s Arslan’s atmospheric image of the train caught the judges’ eye. Berhan, who attended Hazelwick before coming to Collyer’s, said: “I found the location whilst out on a bike ride and I was inspired to create the final image with this ominous atmosphere.

“I have loved studying Photography at Collyer’s, it has been an inspiring environment to learn in. I have made some great friends and we have enjoyed sharing our work and ideas with each other. Being shortlisted for this competition is a great way to end the year.”

Head of Photography Laura Andrews was delighted: “We are so proud of our students’ hard work and dedication. During the toughest of times, they continue to inspire us with their outstanding creativity. Well done to all of the photography students involved, it is so wonderful for them to be recognised in this way.”

Deputy Principal Steve Martell said: “Our outstanding photography department is quite rightly widely regarded as amongst the best in the country. Laura Andrews, the teaching and technical team, and our gifted student photographers are an absolute credit to the Collyer’s community.”

The students’ work will be printed in the London MET BA (Hons) Photography magazine- ‘Socket’ and shown on the BA (Hons) Photography website.