Hard work recorded — and rewarded
A MERSEYSIDE freelance has taken top prize in a photo competition organised by local unions as part of Liverpool’s year as European Capital of Culture. The NUJ’s Merseyside branch contributed £200 in prize money to the competition — “Liverpool Working Lives” — organised by the North West TUC to highlight working life in the city.
The winner, Simon Kirwan, has spent much of 2008 photographing events at the city’s new BT Convention Centre which with the adjoining Echo Arena has brought back to life an area of empty dockland.
“I’ve photographed virtually all of the events hosted at the two venues and documented the completion of the building and the people who work there since the opening in January,” he says, “so it is very gratifying to win the Working Lives photography competition with an image taken here, as this place has rather taken over my life this year!”
His winning picture shows chefs preparing meals for another awards dinner at the centre.
The NUJ had a hand in setting the competition conditions, when North of England organiser Chris Morley intervened the get the copyright terms improved. “They had just lifted the terms from another competition,” he said, “but when we raised it with them they were happy to change them.”
The panel of judges included Eddie Barford, deputy picture editor at the Liverpool Daily Post and Echo. His colleague and fellow union member staff photographer Colin Lane was runner-up to Simon Kirwan, who is pictured (left) with Alan Manning, TUC North West Regional Secretary and Mark McGowan, who won first prize in the amateur section. The photo was taken by Eddie Barford.
BETTER TERMS IN BELGIUM
THE NUJ has won improved terms in another photo competition run by a fellow union. The Belgian union federation ABVV was promoting a competition for photos of people at work and it asked the South East Region of the British TUC (SERTUC) for support in publicising it.
Photographers thought the terms granted the organisers reuse rights without payment that were too broad and after the NUJ took up the case SERTUC withdrew its support. The ABVV then agreed to amend the terms.
NUJ Freelance Organiser John Toner said: “We’re pleased to achieve something for photographers with the support of colleagues in SERTUC”.