Moods of Mann Young Photographer Competition - Oct 2022

The Moods of Mann Young Photographers Competition was organised by the Rotary Club of Rushen and Western Mann to encourage young photographers on the Island to express their views on how they saw the Island.

The competition was open to 11-18 year-olds living on the Island, and received 103 entries from 24 young photographers. 

The photos were judged by two well-known Island photographers – Dave Silvester and Ron Strathdee.  Before they saw them, all the names were removed from the entries. In a lengthy session, the judges generated a shortlist of 25 entries that were then refined down with some difficulty to yield twelve winning entries to appear in a 2023 calendar. The winning entries came from seven talented young photographers from across the Island. 

The overall winner was Evan Darroch, who lives in Port St Mary and goes to UCM, with his photo “Ramsey Harbour” (November) winning him the top prize.

Evan said “I followed the line of the wall I was leaning on. The various harbour walls and their angles zigzag into the picture, and create an unusual view of Ramsey Harbour”.

Evan also had two other photos, “Field of Grass” (July) and “Benches” (February) selected for the calendar.

The other winners appearing in the calendar were:

·       Matilda (Tilly) Bird-McGowan, who lives in Port Soderick and goes to King Williams College. with “Earth sea and sky in Castletown” (January) and “Train passing through Port Soderick Glenn” (May)

·       Zoe Kirk, who lives in Onchan and goes to St Ninians High School with “Sulby Reservoir” (October).

·       Zoe Paris, who lives in Douglas and also goes to St Ninians High School with her photos “Seagull and Manannan”(April) and “Glen Roy River, Laxey” (September).

·       Mia Reed who lives in Douglas and goes to Ballakermeen High School with “The Camera Obscura” (August).

·       Georgia Smith, who lives in Maughold and goes to Ramsey Grammar School with “Sunset” (December).

·    Michael van Zyl, who lives in Ballasalla and goes to Castle Rushen High School for his photos “Moody sky over lighthouse” (March) and  “Green Glen, Laxey” (June).

As well as receiving cash prizes and certificates all the prize winners will get the opportunity to take part in a group workshop session of tuition kindly donated by Dave Silvester from Manx Photography Training.

The awards were presented by Michael Gallagher President of Rotary Club of Rushen & Western Mann who said

"I am always amazed at the talent of young people on the Isle of Man. The winners have taken some very high quality photographs which really showcase the Island and it's different moods."

He added

"The Moods of Mann" calendar helps to raise the profile of these young photographers in a way that also raises funds for charities and good causes supported by Rotary. As we approach the end of the year these will make perfect Christmas stocking fillers for family and friends" 

Each month of the calendar was sponsored by a different local firm -Affinity Group, Alpine, Atla Group, AOB, Celton Manx, Descon, DITO, DQ, Elite, Hill Robinson, Manxmania and RED5.

The calendar is on sale at selected outlets on the Island. Proceeds from calendar sales will be used to support charities and good causes support both here on the Island but also across the world.

The event has been a great success and will be repeated next year.