From the press release:
Hot Shots of Westminster Snap Up Photographic Glory
Six MPs and Peers have snapped up a winning position in a prestigious photographic competition supported by Jessops.
A panel of expert judges sifted through the images entered by Members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords in the Jessops Parliamentary Photographic Competition.
Now the panel have picked their favourite six, captured by Parliamentarians during their duties or on their travels.
The winning photographs from the Commons comprise Labour MP and human rights lawyer Emily Thornberry’s image depicting a young woman’s face in the snow, Austin Mitchell’s panoramic image of a committee room at the House of Commons and Shadow Children’s Minister Tim Loughton’s ‘Middle Eastern Chic’.
The House of Lords was represented in the final selection by former NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson’s ‘On Duty at the Kremlin Wall’, Viscount Allenby’s ‘Proteas’ and Lord Crathorne’s ‘Cap Badge Day - Yorkshire Regiment’.
Mike Maloney OBE, former Mirror Group chief photographer and Chairman of the judging panel, said: “The quality of entries grows hand-in-hand every year with the spirited nature in which Westminster takes part.
“There is clearly some exceptional photographic talent among our Lords and MPs, and it is interesting to see that, while the judges do not know who has taken the images, some names appear among the winners year after year.”
Each winning entry receives £100 to be donated to CLIC Sargent – Jessops’ adopted charity - which provides care and financial support for children and their families living with cancer and leukemia.
Now it’s the turn of the public, who can vote for their favourite photograph at www.jessops.com/parliament, where a striking selection of 36 images have been posted.
The People’s Choice winner – which also raises money for CLIC Sargent – will be announced later in the year.
A calendar featuring a dozen of the best photographs and a photobook of the top 30 images can be bought via the website, with proceeds going straight to the charity.
The Jessops Exhibition of selected photographs taken by politicians and peers is being held in the Upper Waiting Room at the House of Commons until 20th April 2007 when it will move to the House of Lords until 4th May 2007.
The images will also be touring Jessops stores later in the year.
