Maya L., from Eaton House The Manor Girls’ School, took First Place in the Junior Category of the Dukes Photography Competition, ‘Capture The Extraordinary’. The theme was ‘Family’ and Maya’s work was chosen from a large entry from Dukes schools and colleges.
Her original work captured the quiet peace to be found in family jigsaw-making.
‘The jigsaw pieces tumble out of the box and we are excited, but slightly daunted by the task ahead,’ she writes. ‘We started last night and are continuing over breakfast at the weekend, with milk and croissants and nowhere to be. Someone finds the edges, someone else starts on the flower vase and the room fills with an easy calm. The radio plays in the background whilst we work together side by side- for once not rushing here there and everywhere. This is my favourite type of family time.’
This piece creates such an incredible mood and vibe of family togetherness – it is a worthy winner. The judges – Tim Fish, Scott Giles and Michael Daks – commented: ‘The colours are really good, there is nobody in it but it tells a story. With the radio playing in the background, it shows a scene where technology has been put away and they are really connecting as a family’.
Two runners-up produced incredible work too.
Gabriella Sophia M. took a photo in Arzachena, Sardinia. It features a colourful staircase leading up to a church. Each colour and swirl, pattern and shape contribute to the overall design, that, without even the smallest shape wouldn’t fulfil its beautiful potential. ‘And this is like a family; the love, gratitude and happiness are on their own very small but each so vital in their own way,’ writes Gabriella. ‘The laughter, fun, happiness, love and gratitude of a family is like each vivid colour on the staircase. It’s there to stay and make you smile.’
Vicky B. produced a piece called ‘My 9th birthday’ which she celebrated on a trip to Cornwall with her family. ‘I took a selfie using my mom’s phone and the countdown feature,’ she writes ‘Our 9 months’ old puppy Bella was with us as well and on the top of that hill on Finstral Beach I felt my family was complete! This is what family means to me.’
Congratulations to all the other winners in the Junior category and well done to our brilliant, creative Eaton House The Manor girls!
