From buying a new camera to transforming grief through the art of photography. What did Liverpool City Region Photo Awards mean for the finalists?

The Liverpool City Region Photo Awards exhibition is over, but the ripples are still going: one finalist was able to buy a new camera to experiment with style and create a new project, another makes plans for new exhibitions, and for another, photography helped overcome a loss. We asked the finalists why they participated, what it meant for them to be exhibited, and what their hopes for the future are. 

Ella McConville (Celebration category)

“These photographs capture the spirit of Anfield on the day Liverpool defeated Tottenham 5-1 in the Premier League earlier this year. It was a day I will never forget and what a pleasure to be amongst the heartbeat of a community that lives and breathes the game.”

I have around a decade of photography experience but only went into the professional industry 4-5 years ago. I’d say I’m a confident photographer that enjoys going out of their comfort zone but I also understand that there is still so much more to learn. 

I wanted to participate in the open call because I’m always trying to believe in myself and promised to push my work out there as much as possible. Also to be able to win an award for your work has to be one of the best feelings in the world, nevermind have your work up in one of the most amazing galleries in the city of Liverpool.

Being a finalist means everything to me. It’s helped me to realise that you must always believe in yourself because anything is possible. I felt honoured to be amongst so many other creatives and I’m so proud of how far I come. Although I came second place, I already felt like I had won by being selected as a finalist.

This has opened many new opportunities for me. I have gained a lot of exposure especially through my social media channels. This has led to people messaging me regarding jobs and has helped me a lot with general interaction regarding my work. 

“It has helped me to develop my social skills as it was important for me to be able to talk about my work and discuss the process of how I took my photographs. Also it has given me a lot of confidence to enter more competitions”

I have always dreamt of having my work up in a photography gallery so to have this experience in person was unbelievable and a true milestone in my career. It has helped me to develop my social skills as it was important for me to be able to talk about my work and discuss the process of how I took my photographs. Also it has given me a lot of confidence to enter more competitions as you never know what could happen. I’d like to work on more personal projects to ensure I keep my creativity flowing and actually do the things I love!

John McDonald (Welcome to Bootle, 1988. Connecting category)

“Photographs taken in 1988 around Queens Road Bootle, when community centre was being developed and built.My dad used to have a pint in the Lighthouse pub. My mum would go shopping in the Strand shopping center. As a child in the school summer holidays I would play football in the street every day.”

I studied for City and Guilds at Liverpool College (whilst unemployed) and later for a BA at Polytechnic of Central London (part time, whilst employed in Liverpool, when you could travel to London on a day return for £13.50).

Open call provides an opportunity for exhibition of work in a photo-gallery space dedicated to independent /creative / artistic production (i.e. not for profit or commercial  use). There is a shortage of such spaces. Mainstream image production is dominated by  vested interests. Open Eye Gallery open call  offers a significantly different viewpoint.

What does it mean to be a finalist? You have to take a lot of pictures to get a good one. You have to take a lot more pictures to get a set or a series or a sequence that works.  It’s good to have recognition of work done.

The open call was followed by new opportunities: interest from Williamson Art Gallery, a plan to show pictures on digital screen in Lock and Quay community pub in Bootle, a plan to exhibit work as full size exhibition in Safe Production premises in Bootle and maybe further venues, and a plan to produce book via British Culture Archive in 2026.

I have some 250+ now archival images to identify more people in photos and gain involvement of local people, even though it is some 35 years later.

Paul Henry (The Light Beyond our Lights. Futures category)

“In our towns and cities, the night sky can feel drained of its majesty. That which should be visible as an immense starscape is reduced to meagre dots of light scattered sparsely across the sky. Science has shown this lack of true darkness impacts upon both nature and human health.

The Light Beyond Our Lights presents the Milky Way, aurora, noctilucent clouds and other night sky phenomena that can be hidden to us by artificial light pollution and encourages to keep our nights dark.”

I’ve had an interest in photography for many years, but remain an amateur who prefers to shoot landscapes and landscape astrophotography. In 2019 I bought a camera and, almost by accident, took my first landscape astrophotography shot at Keswick looking out across Derwentwater. The intention was to photograph a boathouse by night, but I was fascinated by how many stars the camera could pick out. The same evening, I took an image which contained a small ‘smudge’ in the night sky, which is actually one of our nearest galactic neighbours, the Andromeda spiral galaxy. I’d always wanted to take a Milky Way shot, but this evening showed this could be achieved with ordinary camera equipment.

Earlier this year I did some research into the impact of light pollution on the night sky, human health and wildlife. When the open call was made, it occurred to me that this research could be set alongside my nightscape images and increase public knowledge of the surprising damage light pollution can cause – I had a story to tell. I gathered images showing a variety of night sky phenomena taken under different levels of light pollution with the intention of showing, through photography, that which is masked to the naked eye by light pollution.

“When the open call was made, it occurred to me that this research could be set alongside my nightscape images and increase public knowledge of the surprising damage light pollution can cause – I had a story to tell.”

As an amateur photographer, being a finalist represented something of a ‘money-can’t-buy’ experience. Seeing my images printed and hung in a gallery like Open Eye Gallery has been humbling and a thrill. Although I haven’t previously entered many competitions, this was my first time being shortlisted and exhibiting images. It’s been a delight to do so alongside such a range of other talented photographers. The nature of the Liverpool City Region Photo Awards also meant the competition was local by nature and intended for local photographers. It was interesting to include some images from within the City Region to tell the story of the panel with a local flavour. I enjoyed the presentation evening for the awards and it was striking how, though there were winners, there were no ‘losers’ – just a collection of photographers who were as delighted for everybody else as they were for themselves.

Since submitting for the award, I’ve taken an interest in how far I can push the techniques used in landscape astrophotography – to beat the light pollution and showcase the night sky within brighter environments. For example, I’ve recently taken an image of the Milky Way reaching over the Liverpool City Region and the Northern Lights from Hoylake, Wirral. 

Bjoern Matthies (Futures category)

“This series documents the work of local Kenyan researchers conserving the savannas of the Central Kenyan highlands. The region is a celebrated success story for protecting endangered species like rhinos and Grevy’s zebras. While extremely rare elsewhere, sightings of these species are very common here.

Despite this success, the savannas face threats from human-driven changes, resulting in visible degradation like soil erosion. A team of Kenyan scientists is setting out to monitor the landscape to improve conservation for the entire ecosystem, with many of the research team members hailing from the local communities that are most directly affected by the changing environment.”

My interest in photography was sparked by pure chance, through befriending people who happened to be professional photographers. These friendships motivated me to try this medium as a creative outlet, before I applied it more in my work context. As an ecologist working closely with communities in often remote areas, I use photography for storytelling. Initially, I used it just to show friends and family how I spent the past months whenever I returned from a field trip. Now, my aim is to tell the stories of the communities I work with and the environmental challenges they face.

Having lived in Liverpool for a couple of years now, the open call seemed like a great opportunity to participate in and connect more to the local photography community.

Being a finalist means a lot to me – especially as it gave me the chance to meet a lot of really great photographers at the opening event! Furthermore, receiving a prize for my photography alongside with a lot of positive feedback is a recognition that motivates me to keep going and work on more projects in the future.

“Initially, I used it just to show friends and family how I spent the past months whenever I returned from a field trip. Now, my aim is to tell the stories of the communities I work with and the environmental challenges they face.”

The next step for me would be to get more experience in publishing my work in various formats, such as photobooks or more exhibitions in the future.

Amy Woods (Held. Shared Space(s) category)

“For this project, I spent a day with childhood best friends Madi and Renée, exploring the quiet back-and-forth between their friendship and the environments they moved through, from the intimacy of a bedroom to the energy of the city. 

Bedrooms and friendships both act as protective containers, they’re places to unmask and experiment with who we are. But while bedrooms stay fixed, friendships travel with us.” 

A little over six months ago, I decided to start taking photography a bit more seriously. I was tired of the perpetual creative stuckness I found myself in. Always waiting for the right moment to start. Eagerly anticipating the knock at my door to tell me the time is now, you’re ready (you’ll be shocked to discover, it never came!). 

I want to make films. That’s always been (and still is) my dream. I’ve made indents here and there in achieving that goal, but the impatient part of me needed something I could make now. To scratch the itch which at this point had engulfed me in a feverish embrace. Photography seemed like the answer. Something which would sharpen my cinematic eye and storytelling skills, get me out of my head and into the world with other people (a welcome move after many years of debilitating mental illness and isolation).

I spent a lot of time building mood boards, researching my favourite photographers and outlining the type of stories I wanted to tell and thinking about the people I wanted to work with.

One thing I knew for certain was that at some point, I simply had to photograph Madi. I met Madi years ago, when I was helping out at a Saturday film club run by a local charity, Clapperboard UK, as a teenager. Her audacious aura is palpable. She is who she is and doesn’t care for anyone’s approval. There’s a quiet angst in her spirit. Something in her eyes that I knew would be magnetic on camera.

My friend Belle sent me a post on Instagram about the open call by Open Eye Gallery. They were looking for local photographers to submit a photo series under one of seven categories. I scrolled down and saw the “Shared Space(s)” category. My head started buzzing with ideas. I messaged Madi straight away.

“I scrolled down and saw the “Shared Space(s)” category. My head started buzzing with ideas.”

A few weeks later, I was in Madi’s house, getting ready for a day out with her and her best friend, Renée. My vision was to capture the gentle back-and-forth between their friendship and the environments which they moved through, from the intimacy of Madi’s bedroom to the energy of the city.

I was in work when the email came through to tell me that not only was I a finalist, but they wanted to use my image as the marketing lead for the exhibition. I had a huge rush of adrenaline and was filled with excitement. As someone new to photography, it felt really reassuring that people with much more experience than myself had resonated with my photos in some way. It’s really inspired me to keep going and to pursue my creative passions. The opening night itself was such a proud moment for me. It was amazing to meet the other finalists and to see their amazing work in the flesh. I came back to the gallery again a few weeks later and it felt completely surreal to see members of the public interacting with my work. 

“With the money from the prize, I’ve been able to buy myself a new camera. This will allow me much more creative freedom and the chance to start experimenting with my style. I have an idea for a photo series I’d like to shoot this year.”

With the money from the prize, I’ve been able to buy myself a new camera (a Sony a7iii) which is amazing, as I’d mainly been borrowing my friend’s camera (thanks Will!). This will allow me much more creative freedom and hopefully the chance to gain technical experience and to start experimenting with my style. I’m super grateful to the Open Eye Gallery for making this possible. I have an idea for a photo series I’d like to shoot this year and I’d really love to make a photobook too. I’m also hoping to assist some photographers to gain more experience. 

Jude McLoughlin (Celebration category)

“This series of photographic images documents scenes from celebrational gatherings led by Squash Liverpool CIC throughout the Eightfold Celtic calendar year. 

In a modern society, often driven by quantitative results, these events are an invaluable and rare opportunity to be able to enter a space of reflection and deep time.”

Mainly a hobby photographer for some years, my journey with photography began in earnest two years after a diagnosis with myalgic encephalomyelitis in 2019, which rendered me unable to continue with my midwifery career in the NHS.

I am an autodidactic photographer, having had no formal training but was fortunate to be engaged by Squash Liverpool to document a variety of events they hold throughout the year. This opportunity allowed me to learn how to develop my place and skills as a photographer and helped me transform my grief from the loss of my midwifery practice through the art of photography.

The open call for the LCRPA arrived just as I was becoming more confident in my ability as a photographer. I found that I had just the right assortment of images for the Celebration theme offering insights into joy and connection within Liverpool City Region. This was my first ever competition submission.

Entering the competition took some courage and encouragement from others. Taking that step felt like a significant confidence-building move so being accepted was an entirely rewarding experience.

“This opportunity allowed me to learn how to develop my place and skills as a photographer and helped me transform my grief from the loss of my midwifery practice through the art of photography.”

I’d like to consider having a website built and perhaps have an exhibition of my own in a smaller independent local gallery so this is something I will be pursuing.

Liverpool City Region Photo Awards was delivered by Open Eye Gallery with the support of Liverpool City Region Combined Authority in 2025. Returning for its second time, the open call received over 2,100 images from local people. Works by the 18 category finalists were exhibited at Open Eye Gallery from 28 November 2025 to 11 January 2026. The exhibition pictured what photography looks like and how it is being used across the region right now.