Green Templeton Photography Competition 2021
This competition has now closed. Thanks for entering!
Cameras at the ready! We’ve got all the details for the Green Templeton College Photography Competition 2021!
Theme
This year’s theme is ‘Celebrating the New Normal’.
It’s been a strange and unprecedented year for all of us with the COVID-19 pandemic impacting almost every aspect of our normal lives. While acknowledging the difficult times many of us have faced, the judges want to use the opportunity of this year’s competition to find the most striking and original image celebrating the ‘new normal’.
Who can enter
This competition is open to all members of the Green Templeton community including students, Fellows, Common Room Members, Research Associates, Associate Members, alumni and staff.
What’s the prize?
The winning entry will receive a £150 cash prize.
Competition rules
- Individuals may submit up to three original photographs (no filters applied).
- Selfies, landscapes, portraits etc. all welcome!
- Photographs must have been taken during this academic year.
- You must have the consent of any individuals pictured in your photographs.
- All entries must be the entrant’s original work and not infringe rights of other parties.
How to enter
The competition opens on Monday 19 April at 00:01 and closes on Sunday 23 May at 23:59.
Please submit your entry to communications@gtc.ox.ac.uk together with brief details of when and where the photograph(s) was taken.
The winner will be announced as part of Green Templeton’s Giving Day 2021, which takes place from Tuesday 1 to Wednesday 2 June 2021.
Judging panel
The judging panel will consist of:
- Sir Michael Dixon, Principal
- Dr Charles Roehr, Research Fellow
- Weimin He, Artist-in-Residence
- Bhagya Sivaraman, Alumna (MSc Evidence-Based Social Intervention and Policy)
- Acheampong Atta-Boateng, Student, (DPhil Geography and the Environment)
The judges will select a winning photograph which, in their opinion, best illustrates the theme of the competition. They will consider factors including composition, technical ability, originality and relevance to the theme.
Consent and reproduction
Responsibility for ensuring consent of any subjects of the picture lies with the photographer. By submitting photographs, individuals agree to Green Templeton reproducing the photographs across college platforms including but not limited to social media, the college website and printed materials, without a fee. A credit will be given wherever possible.
Previous entries
The Green Templeton College Photography Competition has been running since 2009, thanks to the generous support of the late neurologist Dr Elman Poole, who held a long interest in photography.
Here’s a selection of previous winners from across the years.
2020: Selfie-Isolation. Winner: Lore Purroy Sanchez. ‘These paper boats were on the bridge in the direction to Port Meadow during the pandemic.’
2019: College Members at Work. Winner: Pedro Stoeckli Pires. ‘During [this recital by Musician-in-Residence Maki Sekiya] she would play complex harmonies in such a fast manner it sounded like two people were playing at once. When I took this picture it seemed to represent that feeling well, as if there were two Maki playing together in that room.’
2018: Personalities of Green Templeton. Winner: Maria Spiga
2017: Moments I Shall Treasure. Winner: Eva Kohler. ‘The photo captures the idea of living on the Green Templeton campus – life is strongly characterised by studying but when doing so, there are always the short moments in between in which you can lift your eyes away from your reading list books and take a look at the beautiful Radcliffe Observatory.’
2016: Green Templeton Looking Out. Winner: Bhagva Sivaraman. ‘I took this photograph in December 2015, standing near the designated smoking area close to the Mathematical Institute, opposite the Observatory. The reflection inside the watery eye on a cold, cold sunny morning exposes the elegance and royalty of the Observatory, conveying Green Templeton College looking out.’
2015: The Changing Face of Green Templeton. Winner: Faraz Shibli. ‘I was working late in the library one night when the first snow of winter started to fall. I rushed outside with my South African friend, Roné, who had never before seen snow, and watched the blossom tree catching snowflakes in the McAlpine Quad. Not only did it represent the Changing Face of Green Templeton College in terms of the changing of the seasons, but also the transformation of a less often photographed part of the college’s lovely grounds.’
2012: Events at Green Templeton College. Winner: Charlotte Koldeweij
2011: A Day in the Life. Winner: Rasmus Hagen
Please direct any questions to communications@gtc.ox.ac.uk.
Earlier this summer, we were delighted to welcome audiences to our inaugural Garden Play, with a series of sold-out performances of Shakespeare`s `As You Like It` set in our beautiful college grounds.
Our gardens became the Forest of Arden as students, staff, alumni and the wider Oxford community came together to enjoy open-air theatre in a truly unique setting. Even better, the production has received fantastic reviews from Oxford`s student press.
A huge thank you to everyone who performed in and supported this wonderful initiative.
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They celebrate the beauty of the college gardens and the simple joy of taking a closer look!
Thank you Izzie for sharing your perspective with us 🌸
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These annual awards celebrate the exceptional contributions our students make to the Green Templeton College community.
Read all about the winners in our bio! ✨
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Along the way, we uncovered some fascinating details—and a few cheeky surprises—carved into parts of the stonework. ✨
These hidden marks offer a glimpse into the stories, craftsmanship, and personalities that have become part of the building’s rich history. Stay tuned as we continue to share more behind-the-scenes moments from this remarkable conservation project.
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