3rd April 2018

Virag-Angyalka Kiss and Gemma Espinosa were announced winners at a special ceremony at the Espacio Gallery in London.

The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) asked young people to take a photo that showed the ‘bigger picture’ of society today. Students were asked to consider how things like politics, education, climate change, healthcare, technology, migration and poverty affect them and others. More than 550 images, from 75 schools, across 118 places in the UK, took part. They shared a vast range of inspiring and thought-provoking images, taken with their cameras, smartphones and tablets.

The prizes were divided into five diverse categories: New world order; Age of innovation; Fragile Earth; Being me; and Society in chaos. In addition, the judges were asked to pick their personal favourite, with each winner receiving £50 in vouchers.

Gemma, 17 from Totnes was named as winner for the Judge’s favourite in her category ‘Fragile Earth’. Her image ‘Tagged’ highlights the treatment of animals destined for human consumption. She said, “Animals all over the globe are bred and used for their produce. Cows in particular have their meat, milk, skin and their own young taken away to supply human consumers. Their deaths and exploitation is unnecessary. This image will show people what is staring them in the face – a living creature that feels pain and deserves respect.”

Jacky Clake, Head of Communications at ESRC and judge said, “This image challenges and questions our perception of food production and the use of animals. At first glance the photo portrays the beauty of cows, which made me smile but it also raises the harsh reality that these beautiful animals are farmed for our consumption.”

Virag-Angyalka was awarded runner-up in the ‘Society in chaos’ category for her image, ‘Friday Night on the Town’. She said, “Friday nights are the nights when people let their hair down, but they forget the chaos that they often cause. A discarded cigarette and shoe is a picture that paints a thousand words. A drunken society is a blinded society; it is a society that cannot see what kind of chaos it is in. We need to stay sober to rise to the challenges ahead.”

Matthew Harbour, Vice Principal Curriculum, Performance and Quality at South Devon College said, “We are really proud of Gemma and Virag-Angyalka. It is great to see their creative talent and thought provoking photography recognised on the national stage. Having their work exhibited in the Espacio Gallery, at the heart of London’s East End Art scene and published in Society Now magazine is a great launch to their creative careers. We look forward to seeing them grow from strength to strength.”

All 67 winning and shortlisted images will be displayed at the Espacio Gallery, and the category winners’ photos will also appear in the ESRC’s Society Now magazine.

The finalists’ work was featured in an online article by the BBC, which can be viewed here.

Congratulations to all the finalists!

Well done to the other entries from the students at South Devon College. Their images can be viewed here.

For more information on Art, Design and Photography courses at South Devon College email [email protected] or call 08000 380 123