2019 UK-China International Photography Competition

The inaugural 2019 competition theme was, 'What does friendship mean to you?'

Competition winners

Best photo taken in China: Zewei Li

Zewei Li photograph - ‘My grandpa and his mate'. Two men on a bicycle.

‘My grandpa and his mate'
(click on the image to view the full-sized photograph).

"The shy boy sitting behind is my grandpa. Look at their moods. That is friendship."


Best photo taken in the UK: He Fan

He Fan photograph - close up of doctors from the medical school lay down to form a circle of faces

'Life in a foreign country has become wonderful'
(click on the image to view the full-sized photograph).

"In 2018, doctors from the medical school participated in the University of Manchester Colour Run. We don't just talk with each other about scientific research, but also support each other in daily life. Because we have each other's company, doctoral life in a foreign country has become wonderful."


People's choice award: Choen Yin Chan

Choen Yin Chan photograph - ‘Four friends enjoying ice lollies in the park'.

'Four friends enjoying ice lollies in the park'
(click on the image to view the full-sized photograph).

"These four children have been playing together for nearly two years. Their friendship has brought together two Chinese families in the UK who share the experience of raising children in a new country. Although they often fight over toys, their love for each other shows friendship at its most pure."


Competition runners-up

Our three winners had stiff competition! View the 2019 runners-up photograph gallery.

More about the 2019 competition

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Participants

  • Any person resident in the UK or in China could participate in the 2019 competition.
  • One submission per participant.

Winners

  • Top 30 photos selected as finalists were printed and exhibited at The University of Manchester for the People’s Choice Award from 21 May to 4 June 2019.
  • The winners were announced by 5pm GMT on 4 June 2019.
  • An award ceremony was held on Wednesday 5 June 2019.

Prizes

  • Best UK Submission: £1,000 + photo book of the competition
  • Best China Submission: RMB8,888 + photo book of the competition
  • People’s Choice: £500

Criteria

Submissions were independently assessed by the judges below against the following criteria: 

  • Concept: how effective is the submission in capturing the essence of friendship?
  • Creativity: does the submission capture the essence of friendship in a unique and surprising way?
  • Composition: how technically competent is the submission? Have composition, lighting, contrast and mood been considered?

Judging panel

Submissions were judged by the following panel:

  • Zoe Dunbar, Director, Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art
  • Dr Ros Holmes, Presidential Academic Fellow in the History of Chinese Art
  • Prof Andrew Irving, Professor of Social Anthropology 
  • Dr Christopher Payne, Lecturer in Chinese Studies
  • Prof Michael Wood, Historian, Broadcaster, Professor of Public History at The University of Manchester