Prestigious photographic that captures British life heads to Banbury Museum

Fresh from its launch in London, The British Life Photography Awards Exhibition (BLPA) heads to Banbury Museum on Friday.
Canal at Aynho. Picture by Jane Jarvis. NNL-160323-101400001Canal at Aynho. Picture by Jane Jarvis. NNL-160323-101400001
Canal at Aynho. Picture by Jane Jarvis. NNL-160323-101400001

A showcase of contemporary and imaginative images that capture the essence and spirit of British life, it celebrates and showcases the work of both professional and amateur photographers throughout the country.

Dale Johnston, events and exhibitions Manager at Banbury Museum, said: “Easter is a busy time for the museum and we are pleased to be able to offer our visitors this vibrant exhibition, supported by Banbury Camera Club’s ‘Banburyshire Life’ display in Cafe Red.

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“We hope it will inspire visitors to pick up their camera and enter next year’s BLPA competition.”

Covering everything from street life, rural life and portraiture through to the British weather and Brits on holiday, there is also a special award for the best documentary feature and young photographer.

It includes a wide cross section of both photographers and of subjects, and documents real life through original, illuminating and thought provoking imagery.

Sometimes humorous, other times poignant, the photographs are a wonderful celebration of British life and culture.

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Documenting daily life has been an established photographic tradition for more than a century, and just like the great documentary photographers of the past and present, the awards encourage photographers to elevate the commonplace and familiar into something compelling or fascinating through the craft, creativity and discipline of photography – whether a personal vision, an intimate portrait, a visual pun or a sequence of innovative images telling a story.

The images in the exhibition and the accompanying book, available from the Shop @ Banbury Museum, are selected from thousands of submissions by a jury comprising leading industry professionals with wide-ranging experience.

Maggie Gowan, director of BLPA, added: “BLPA are delighted to be hosted by Banbury Museum in such a historically important town with such a beautiful gallery.

My expectations were reinforced when, whilst having a restorative post-unloading coffee in Café Red, I witnessed a magical scene of a man playing his guitar, next to his wood pile, on a passing canal boat – I wished I’d had my camera!”

The exhibition is open Monday – Saturday from 10am-5pm until 9 July.

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