By Charles Randall
13 November 2012
The MCC have launched their annual Photograph of the Year competition, won in 2011 by a picture of beach cricket in Chennai.
The search for the iconic cricket photograph of 2012 is underway, with photographers from across the world -- whether professional or amateur -- invited to submit cricket-themed snapshots taken during 2012. MCC and Wisden Cricketers' Alamanack, in association with the Canon dealers Park Cameras, have joined forces for a third consecutive year to back this worthwhile competition.
Last year hundreds of entries were received from across the world. The judges were given a headache sorting out the best from such high quality, and it was Shanth Kumar, a Times of India photographer, who emerged as the winner with an evocative image of children playing cricket on Marina Beach in former Madras as a storm gathered behind them.
The 11 short-listed entries for 2011 covered different aspects of the game. From the professional arena, where Andrew Boyers perfectly photographed Ravi Bopara desperately diving to make his ground during the England v India ODI at Lord’s, to amateur photographer Helen Keech’s intriguing photo on the Millfield School playing fields.
This competition is an inspired project by the MCC, advancing the well-being of cricket with such a rich collection of images. The best entries probably require a mix of skill and a little luck, just as players need on the pitch.
The 2012 the winning pictures will be selected by a panel of independent expert judges appointed by Wisden and MCC, and once again headed by Chris Smith, the former chief sports photographer for The Sunday Times. Joining him on the panel for the first time will be Essex cricketer and keen amateur photographer Graham Napier.
From the short list a winner and two runners-up will be announced. The top three photographs will feature in the 2013 Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, and all of the short-listed entries will be exhibited at Lord’s throughout next year. Editor of the almanack Lawrence Booth said: "If last year's batch of entries – the best of which can now be admired on a wall at the back of the Lord's Pavilion – is anything to go by, we're in for another treat. The Wisden–MCC Photograph of the Year competition has become one of the must-wins for cricket photographers all over the world."
All the short-listed images from last year’s competition and details for 2012, including a full outline of rules and specifications, can be viewed: www.lords.org/photooftheyear
How to enter
Each entrant may submit up to three different photographs taken between 1 January and 31 December 2012 via the online entry form: www.lords.org/photoentry
If an entrant’s three images combined exceed 6MB, then each photograph should be submitted separately. Full caption details must be supplied for each photograph, including the location and date on which it was taken.
Full entry terms and conditions: www.lords.org/photoentry
Closing date: Sunday 13 January 2013 (23.59 GMT).
Prizes
The prize for the winning photograph is £500 cash, plus a £500 Park Cameras voucher for Canon equipment. Two runners-up will each receive £250 cash, plus a £400 Park Cameras voucher for Canon equipment. Eight other shortlisted entries will each receive £50 cash, plus a £150 Park Cameras voucher for Canon equipment. The top three winning photographs will be reproduced as the first three images in the colour section of the 2013 Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, and each of the 11 short-listed entries will be exhibited at Lord’s during the 2013 season.
Judging Panel
Chris Smith (award-winning sports photographer), Nigel Davies (art director on The Cricketer magazine), Eileen Langsley (award-winning sports photographer), Graham Napier (Essex professional cricketer).
Park Cameras was established in 1971 as equipment suppliers at Burgess Hill, West Sussex, building a good reputation across the photographic industry.