Brum through our eyes

LoveBrum reveals winners of photography competition.

Green spaces, reflections, taxi ranks and tramlines were just some of the subject matter for the stunning winning entries in LoveBrum’s Brum Through Our Eyes photography competition.

With over sixty submissions, judges said they were impressed by the quality and diversity of images, “showing off the wonderfully unique heart of Birmingham”.

The twelve winning images – including an aerial shot of Birmingham Cathedral, a moody night photograph of a city centre taxi rank, and the University of Birmingham clock tower, Old Joe – will now feature in LoveBrum’s 2021 calendar, which will go on sale later this month to raise funds for the charity’s vital ongoing #OneBrum appeal.

The images were selected by an expert judging panel of four Birmingham professional photographers – Verity Milligan, Kris Askey, Jas Sansi and Tam Bernard.

Verity Milligan commented: “It was lovely to see the sheer diversity of imagery entered into the competition. Sometimes Birmingham can be pigeonholed as a city that lacks beauty, but the photos entered demonstrate that this is far from the reality, showing off the wonderfully unique heart of Birmingham, from the centre to the suburbs, the architecture to the people who make Brum the special place it is.

“It was a difficult task to pick twelve winners, and that just goes to show how much talent we have in the city.”

You can view the winning entries here.

The #OneBrum appeal – which recently hit the £30,000 landmark – has temporarily replaced LoveBrum’s regular monthly rounds of funding, targeting a number of local causes delivering specific COVID-19 related initiatives, as well as helping LoveBrum to continue its own work.

#OneBrum funds are already being distributed to local charities and community projects across Birmingham. Donations have helped to deliver care packages to those most vulnerable still sleeping on the streets; provide advice, support and food parcels to those most impacted by the pandemic; and support children, young people and families who have been affected by loss, bereavement, divorce or separation.

#OneBrum has a simple premise; everyone in Birmingham is being asked to do just two things; donate £1 to support the work happening right now in Birmingham to support local communities, and do one thing locally to help – whether that’s phoning someone in isolation or completing a shopping drop to a vulnerable person.

To get involved with #OneBrum, go to lovebrum.org.uk or follow LoveBrum on social: @lovebrum

Pics – Beth Astington (this page), Martyn Hood (front).