Photography competition puts new Sixth Form into sharp focus

28 September

A photography competition which was launched to document the construction of the new Newcastle Sixth Form College building has unveiled the extraordinary talents of two North East students.

Developers BAM Construction, which is handling the project, invited photography students from the School of Creative Industries to provide an artistic interpretation of the 11,000 sq metre development at Rye Hill and were so impressed with the results that the winning entries will now be used in future publicity material.

The judges were most impressed by the efforts of Reece Hodgson, 17, who won first prize for his atmospheric shot of the building’s exterior façade, and also came second for his equally moody picture of an interior corridor.

Reece, who lives in Consett, is currently working towards an Extended Diploma in Art and Design (Photography) at Newcastle College and has ambitions of becoming a motor industry photographer.

Reece, who was presented with a £150 prize for coming first and second, said: “The competition provided a great brief to work on as it allowed me to pull of some really dramatic shots. To come first and second was a great achievement for me.”

Third place went to Laura Hetherington, 17 and from North Shields, who is also studying the Extended Diploma. Her picture of workmen chatting on site captured the human side of the project and featured a low angle which stood out to the judges.

The Extended Diploma in Art and Design (Photography) boasts a strong industry focus and includes a wide range of study topics such as studio techniques, location photography and darkroom practices.

Jason Kelly, BAM Project Manager for the North East, was blown away by the standard of the entries. He said: “We were delighted to be involved in a competition that encourages creativity among students at Newcastle College.

“Newcastle Sixth Form College is a very prestigious project for BAM, and these pictures illustrate the many facets of its interior and exterior design. We were

astounded by the quality of the pictures we received, particularly those by Reece, which were technically outstanding.”

The new building is due for completion in February next year and will become the first dedicated Sixth Form College in the city, providing a world class learning environment for GCSE and A Level students.

The building will include specialised facilities in classrooms, as well as performance studios and laboratories. At the heart of the building there will be an open-plan, light and airy social space with a bistro serving drinks and snacks.