The competition, the Corbin Prize, is run by the Norfolk branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE Norfolk) with Norfolk County Council and sponsored by local photographic company Wex Photographic.   It was created to help raise awareness, understanding and appreciation of the Norfolk countryside and is named after one of the founding members of CPRE Norfolk.

The theme for this year’s competition was “Norfolk: A Changing Landscape” and applicants were encouraged to consider the many ways in which landscapes might change, through environmental, technological, seasonal or human factors.   It attracted entries from children across the county, with many of them focusing on Norfolk’s threatened coastline.

In the Junior Category (Yrs 7 to 9), the winning entry was by William Walton of Norwich School, whose picture ‘Old and New’, taken at Caister on Sea, shows a military pillbox disappearing into the sand, whilst in the background modern wind turbines emerge from the sea.  The judges said of this image “It is well-composed image and full of textures and angles with good interface between land & sea.  It conveys well the passage of time.”

Old and New by William Walton

Runner up in the Junior Category was Hakan Tokbay of Dereham Neatherd High School.  His image ‘Life on a Cliff Edge’, showing the devastating effects of coastal erosion, was praised by the judges who said “This is a dramatic image from an unusual perspective.  It was completely on-message and we felt this picture spoke convincingly to the competition theme.”

Life on a Cliff Edge by Hakan Tokbay

Winner of the Senior Category (Yrs 10 to 13) was George Alexander of North Walsham High School with a photo ‘Wet Feet’ inspired by the threat of rising sea levels.  “This particularly striking image prompts an emotional response from the viewer.  The androgynous figure in particular is both mysterious and thought-provoking – it looks as if it has emerged from the sea.” said the judges.

Wet Feet by George Alexander

Runner-up in the Senior Category was Josh Simmons of Gresham’s School whose photo ‘Human Changes’ contrasted the historic Salthouse Church in the foreground and an offshore wind farm in the distance.  The judges thought “This was a lovely image of an iconic Norfolk scene that works well in black and white. The composition of the picture was very much ‘on brief’ emphasising both old and new aspects of Norfolk.”

Human Changes by Josh Simmonds

Both category winners were given Wex Photographic vouchers worth £350 whilst the runners-up in each age group were each given vouchers worth £150. Hattie Mobbs, Assistant Manager of Wex Photographic, sponsors of the comeptition and one of the competition judges said; “Wex Photographic is proud to be involved in inspiring today’s young photographers to take an interest in protecting their countryside by sponsoring the Nicolas Corbin Memorial Prize. Wex Photographic is just as passionate about our home county as we are about photography and combining the two is the perfect partnership.”

Joining Hattie on the judging panel were Rob Lodge, of Norfolk Children Services, James Parry, Chairman of CPRE Norfolk, professional photographer Terry Stanford and Helen Corbin, wife of Nicolas Corbin.

The announcement of winners took place at The Fairhurst Gallery in Bedford Street, Norwich and there will be an exhibition of the 12 winning and shortlisted entries at the gallery until Friday April 12th.   The Fairhurst Gallery is open Mondays-Friday from 10am-5pm.  Postcards of all the shortlisted entries will be on sale at the Gallery, the proceeds of which will support the work and campaigns of CPRE Norfolk.

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Countryside charity CPRE Norfolk has been given a grant to enable three communities to research, publicise and celebrate the footpaths in their parish.  The funding will pay for a range of activities and resources, including training in archive research, and also for a researcher from UEA’s Landscape Group to join community groups in walking their local footpaths, to explain why the footpaths are there and why they might be important.  Participating parishes will also be given financial and practical help to publicise their research, perhaps through a local exhibition or film, or through printed maps and leaflets.

“This project will be both enjoyable and valuable,” explains CPRE Norfolk Branch manager Katy Jones.  “It will draw attention to the condition of our footpaths, and also, by involving whole community groups, will ensure the paths are understood, appreciated and of course – walked more!”

Funding for the project has come from the Heritage Lottery Fund.  If you think your community group would like to take part, and would like to find out more, please contact Katy Jones, Branch Manager at CPRE Norfolk, on 01603 761660, or email katyj@cprenorfolk.org.uk.

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Norfolk Voice December 2012