Photography winners

Three budding David Baileys have won a local photography competition for their stunning water-themed images of the city.

Tony Fisher, Mark Martin, Jenni Ord and Geoff Caine

Tony Fisher, Mark Martin, Jenni Ord and Geoff Caine

Geoff Caine and Tony Fisher were presented with canvas prints of their winning artwork at a presentation ceremony at the new Attwood Green Health Centre on Bath Row.

The competition was launched by One Creative Environments Ltd, the design team behind the new centre, who asked the local community to submit water-themed photos from around the city to mirror the design theme of the new building.

Geoff Caine - first prize

Geoff Caine – first prize

Geoff Caine won first prize for his night shot of Victoria Square and Tony Fisher took third place for his shot of a canal-side garden in Birmingham. Asma Masood, who was unable to attend the presentation, won second prize for her urban shot of Water Street.

Speaking of the win, Geoff commented: “I was pleased to receive the award and meet key people in the development of the new centre. The building shows a community spirit through its facilities, decor and pictures, which should help make a visit to the centre a pleasant experience and help patients feel more relaxed.”

The £13million Attwood Green Health Centre replaces the previous Colston Health Centre on Bath Row and serves a patient population of around 16,000.

Services in the centre have undergone a phased opening, with the building expected to be fully operational within the next few months. The development of the new centre complements Birmingham City Council’s ‘Park Central’ initiative to transform Attwood Green and is one of the biggest urban regeneration projects in Europe.

Inspired by the theme of water, the six-storey development includes a water sculpture at the rear of the building and a number of interior design features such as water-droplet shaped light fittings and colourful wall graphics. All three winning photographs will now hang on the wall in the centre’s community room, while a selection of other entries are displayed throughout the centre.

Attwood Green reception

Attwood Green reception

Mark Martin, director at One Creative Environments Ltd and Arts Co-ordinator for Attwood Green Health Centre, said: “Congratulations to all three winners. They have produced some fantastic work and their photos make a great addition to the health centre and help make the community room an uplifting space for patients, staff and visitors.”

Tony Fisher, runner-up in the competition added: “The photographs that have been chosen help to soften and humanise the space and it’s good that many of the images have been produced by people who will be using the building.”

The official presentation was made by Jenni Ord, Chair of the Birmingham and Solihull Cluster. Speaking of the competition, she said: “Involving the local community in the planning and the delivery of this fantastic new medical centre was a key part of the project as the new centre has brought together a number of key primary care services which can be accessed under one roof. The photographs submitted by local residents were of a very high standard and a number of them will be displayed, along with the winning entries, throughout the centre to enhance the space and set a welcoming and relaxed tone for both visitors and staff who work there.”