Aberdeen photographers capture ‘Light in the Dark’ as competition winners announced

The winners of a photography competition aiming to capture moments of joy in Aberdeen, Scotland have been announced today.

Sixty amateur photographers submitted over 150 entries to the Light in the Dark competition, run by Aberdeen Arts Centre in partnership with the photography department at North East Scotland College (NESCol).

The top three photos in the 18+ and Young People categories will be displayed in the Aberdeen Arts Centre foyer, and unveiled at a special celebration event on February 16. First place in both categories have also won tickets to the centre’s 2025 pantomime, Robin Hood.

The winners in the 18+ category are:

• 1^st Place – Newburgh Beach by Scott Carr

• 2^nd Place – Aberdeen Beach Sunrise by Janice Forsyth

• 3rd Place – NESCOL 1 by Uchechi Adeboye

In the Young People’s category for those aged 17 and under, the winners are:

• 1^st Place – Through the Broken Gate by Julia Gunn

• 2nd Place – In the Lane Next to the Hut by Georgie Quinn Skolnik

• 3^rd Place – Lights Will Guide Me Home by Georgia McLeod

With judges so impressed by the strength of the entries, a number of photographers across both categories have also received honourable mentions – and these will be revealed on the night.

Tickets for the celebration event, available on a pay-what-you-decide basis, are available from https://www.aberdeenartscentre.com/whats-on/light-in-the-dark-celebration-event.

Judge Steve Smith, a NESCol photography lecturer, said: “Judging the competition was a tough job, but an enjoyable one, as all the entries were of such a high standard. I was really impressed with the quality of the photographs submitted across both categories.

“It was clear that whatever the age of the entrant, they had thought carefully about the composition of their images. Every photo taken, whether on a camera or a phone, tells a story – and all our entrants really captured a strong narrative in their work.”

The Light in the Dark competition encouraged amateur photographers to get out and explore Aberdeen to find new perspectives on the city, and find moments of light and joy in the darker winter months.

The competition formed part of Aberdeen Arts Centre’s wider Creative Learning programme, providing participation opportunities for the local community across a range of artistic disciplines.

Aberdeen Arts Centre creative director Amy Liptrott, who shared judging duties, said: " I have been so inspired by the moments of light in the dark that the people of Aberdeen and beyond have found in our beautiful city and captured on camera.

“It has been fantastic to see the variety of different perspectives, and the creative ways that each entrant interpreted the brief. The talent on show in this competition proves that our local community is full of creative individuals, and we are thrilled to have been able to provide a platform for them to express themselves.

“There is a huge amount of beauty in our part of the world, and it has been a pleasure to see the light and joy our photographers have shared with us.”

Aberdeen Arts Centre is an independent arts venue and registered charity in the heart of Aberdeen. For over 60 years, it has played a crucial role in the north east’s vibrant arts scene through its programme of performances, Creative Learning Programme for children and adults, and an Artist Development Programme to support local professional creatives.

The venue encompasses a 350-seater auditorium; café bar; flexible spaces for performances, events, exhibitions and meetings; and the Children’s Theatre, opened in the 1950s as a pioneering youth theatre and now used as a vital resource for professional artist development.

For more information, visit www.aberdeenartscentre.com or follow Aberdeen Arts Centre on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at @AberdeenArtsCentre.