[A blog post I wrote for The Equality Trust last week, announcing the results of the photo contest I've been working on. More info here]
We were delighted to receive a great response to our first photo competition, The Spirit Level: images of [in]equality. The 183 entries show above all else the diversity of interpretations of [in]equality and the extent to which inequality affects us all. We are pleased to announce the following winners:
Overall Winner: “Hopes and Dreams” by Rachael Fallis
Rachael included this caption with her entry:
I have a trust of people’s good intentions, and I think circumstances make a thief rather than greed. As the band James put it in one of their songs “If I didn’t see such riches I could live with being poor.”
The Spirit Level authors Kate Pickett and Richard Wilkinson, who were among the competition judges, congratulated Rachael for the way in which her photo addressed the links between inequality, crime and betting on the lottery. The facade of hope offered by the lottery is juxtaposed with the harsh reality of income inequality in the UK, in which vast pay gaps in businesses play an important role. Our professional photographer judges Mark Burton and Jeff Hubbard also praised the photo’s composition and framing.
In addition to the winning image, the judges chose two further photographs for special mention.
“Westminster Bridge” by Patrick Wilken
The judges admired the framing of the scene and the subtlety with which the subject of inequality in the photo had been captured.
“Cup Half Full” by Simon Holliday
The judges felt the juxtaposition in this image – between what life is like for some and what it is like for others – could hardly be more stark, while the photo also calls in question the role of advertising in perpetuating status competition between those of different incomes.
We would like to thank everyone who submitted a photo or helped promote the competition, and especially Mark Burton and Jeff Hubbard for lending their professional expertise. The Equality Trust will be holding another photo competition in 2012, where we will build on the experience of this year’s contest. In the meantime, please add us as a contact on flickr if you have an account, where we will also be adding photos of our local groups’ campaigning activities. Well done to the winners!
