The March Photography Competition Winner is…

The third PhotoVoice photography competition, in partnership with Professional Photography magazine was inspired by an image from PhotoVoice project ‘MAMPU‘. Photographers were asked to submit up to six images inspired by the theme ‘Discovery’. Photographer and Photo-facilitator, Meredith Hutchison selected Geraint Rowland as the winner.

How did you get started in Photography?

I bought a digital SLR camera around 8 years ago and decided to enroll on a photography course instead of tackling the user guide. I completed two courses, ‘Introduction’ and ‘Advanced’ at the Chapter Arts Centre in Cardiff. Since then, I have been doing a lot of travelling and documenting my travels through photography.

How would you describe your work and your practice?

I consider myself a travel and street photographer. I like catching candid moments in everyday life around the world. I am also a lover of nature and enjoy taking photos of landscapes and the ocean. I like to show the beauty that exists throughout the world.

Tell us a bit more about your winning image and the series that it is from

I took this image during the yearly pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady Guadalupe in Mexico City. Millions of Mexicans make the pilgrimage each year on or before the 12th of December.

The pilgrimage is very much a family affair, the Mexicans often referring to the Lady of Guadalupe as Mamá or Mother.

I took this photo around a week before the 12th when there was already a lot of activity at the holy site. I was lucky to capture this candid and touching moment between mother and child during the celebrations. The photo was captured on a Canon 5D2 with a 85mm lens, I converted it to black and white, which gave the image more emotion.

What do you think the future for your photography will be?

I think both social media and advances in technology mean that photography is increasing in popularity all the time. The vast amount of information online means that the still image continues to play a vital role in catching peoples attention and telling a story. Hopefully this will mean an increasing need for photos and photographers in general. In the future I would love to work with some international charities, where my photography will have a direct impact on the world for the better. I also want to continue travelling the world and documenting it’s beauty along the way, and if I can find some work which allows me to do this all the better.

Are there any other up and coming photographers that you think people should know about?

Yes, Linda Wisdom is a street photographer based in London. Her black and white imagery is beautiful and she always seems to be in the right place and at the right time to capture the perfect moment. She runs Street Photography Tours in London. Another is Aliette Bretel, a Peruvian photographer who now lives in Cambridge, she has a very unique and timeless selection of images.

How did you hear about PhotoVoice and how do you think your work relates our vision and mission?

I found out about PhotoVoice on Facebook, I was very interested in their commitment to supporting underrepresented communities through participatory photography. I believe that my photography contributes to positive social change by inspiring and informing others about people and places they may not know about.

The photo and interview were published in the August/September edition of the Professional Photography Magazine.

Find out more about Geraint Rowland’s work here or visit his Facebook page here