Released Issued by Shugborough:
The Shugborough Photography Competition celebrating the life of Patrick Lichfield
A national photographic competition has been launched to celebrate the life and works of internationally renowned photographer Patrick Lichfield.
Amateur and professional photographers from across the country are expected to converge on Lord Lichfield's home in Staffordshire to take part in the prestigious contest.
The awards have been launched by tourist attraction Shugborough, his ancestral seat, and photographers are being encouraged to visit the estate to capture their own memorable images - just as Patrick Lichfield did during his lifetime.
The Earl of Lichfield, a cousin to The Queen, learnt the art of photography at Shugborough and as a child he took many photographs of the Estate's parkland and gardens. His first camera and some of his earliest photographs can still be seen at the estate today.
As his reputation as a professional photographer became established he travelled around the globe undertaking commissions, but he would still find opportunities to photograph at home using Shugborough and its grounds as the backdrop to many of his well-known images.
Lord Lichfield's son, Thomas, the sixth Earl of Lichfield said: "I am sure my father would have been most honoured and delighted at the prospect of this photographic competition taking place at Shugborough."
The competition is being run in conjunction with Olympus UK Ltd, Heart of England Tourism and the world famous Lichfield Studios.
The category winners will receive very generous prizes from Olympus - who had a longstanding association with the Earl. The main prize of an Olympus E-400 -D-SLR being awarded for the best overall image in the competition.
All photographs must be taken at Shugborough and maybe submitted for entry to the following categories:
People
Architecture
Wood & Parkland
Gardens
Shugborough - category open to children aged 11 and under
Shugborough - category open to children aged between 12 and 18
The competition will run from April 27 until December 21.
The stately home will also be featuring a high profile exhibition of some of Patrick Lichfield's most famous works. These were taken throughout his remarkable career from the 1960s through to his latest advertising commission, photographing Dame Helen Mirren, which was undertaken some three months before he died.
The images span the globe from Nicole Kidman in Australia to Princess Margaret at home in Mustique, to the picture of Britt Ekland, which was shot at Shugborough.
The exhibition features many of his iconic pictures, including The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, informal moments captured during the wedding of The Prince and Princess of Wales, Mick and Bianca Jagger and Marsha Hunt during her appearance in Hair.
Entry forms can be requested from the Marketing Office, Shugborough, Milford, near Stafford, ST18 0SR or by e-mail [email protected]
