Kodak announces national titles for Portrait & Wedding Awards 2004

Four highly skilful UK professional photographers have emerged triumphant following the national judging of the Kodak Portrait & Wedding Awards 2004. Recognised as one of the industry’s top awards, 2004 entries hit record numbers with photographers competing for over £20,000 of prizes with work captured both digitally and with film.

The judging panel comprised three well-known professional photographers – Mark Cleghorn, Trevor Yerbury and Eileen Mason - who jointly selected the winners from a shortlist of the ten best images from each of the four categories against a criterion of visual impact, creativity, composition, print quality and presentation. All the finalists were invited to attend the awards presentation and view the special exhibition of their entries produced by Loxley Colour Laboratories.

Commenting on behalf of the judges, Mark Cleghorn said, “We were looking for that ‘Wow’ factor and we certainly got it in abundance! The overall standard was extremely high and the task of finding just one winner in each category proved a real battle. All forty finalists had produced strong, inspiring images and it was a pleasure for us to comment on such outstanding work.”

The Kodak Wedding Photographer of the Year 04/05 Shane Miller, Shane Miller Photography, Reading. Judges comment: An evocative image, reminiscent of 1920’s-1930’s Parisian street photography.	Kodak Family Photographer of the Year 04/05 Stu Williamson, Stu Williamson Photography, Market Harborough. Judges comment: An exciting and creative composition, a picture within a picture. Fantastic interaction between the children and the symmetry of their noses is beautiful.
Kodak Child Photographer of the Year 04/05 Keith Thompson, Keith Thompson Photography, Lower Earley. Judges comment: A truly beautiful natural study with great use of light and colour.	Kodak Creative Portrait Photographer of the Year 2004/2005 Richard Sydney Johnson, West Park Studios, Leeds Judges comment: The impact of this image is in its pure simplicity and rhythm. Texture has been applied to enhance the shot and the result is both imaginative and creative.

The four Kodak national title winners were each awarded £1,500 worth of Calumet Photographic vouchers and £1,500 worth of retail vouchers for each of their winning customers. In addition they receive £500 cash towards local exhibition or display costs.

Kodak Portrait and Wedding Award winners 2004 with the judging panel. Left to right: Back Row: Trevor Yerbury, Eileen Mason & Mark Cleghorn. Front Row: Shane Miller, Keith Thompson, Stu Williamson & Richard Johnson.