Entries are open for this year’s young photographer contest

All images entered must have been taken after January 1, 2018 and must be digital.

Judges are unable to accept prints

There are two age categories for entries - under 14 years, and 14 to 18 years.

First prize in each age group is a £150 photographic voucher donated by Renishaw

Second prize in each age group is a £75 photographic voucher donated by Sigma Freight Systems

Third prize in each age group is a £50 photographic voucher donated by London Camera Exchange.

The Richard Pearse Memorial Prize of £100, donated by Stroud News & Journal, is an additional special award to the entrant submitting the photograph which, in the opinion of his family, would most have been enjoyed by the founder of the competition, Richard Pearse 1953 - 2017.

The competition will be judged this year by Martin Fry FRPS APAGB EFIAP AV-AFIAP BPE3.

Finalists will be invited to the Awards Evening to be held on Wednesday, September 26 at the Renishaw Innovation Centre located at the company’s headquarters site near Wotton-under-Edge.

Prizes will be presented by Sabet Choudhury from BBC Points West and Inside Out.

For details of how to enter and for full terms and conditions please visit stroudcameraclub.co.uk/competition/

A beloved teacher and chairman of Stroud Camera, Club, Richard Pearse was a force for good throughout his life and his sudden death last year was mourned by all who knew him.

Following his death, the SNJ and Stroud Camera Club launched the award for young photographers in memory of the 63-year-old, who was passionate about encouraging children to take up the art.

Father-of-three Richard, who was a popular teacher at Maidenhill School and Wycliffe College and lived in Stroud, set up the camera club’s Young Photographer of the Year contest in 2015 for those aged 18 and under who live or study in the district.

The Richard Pearse Memorial Prize sees the SNJ award £100 to the young photographer who submits a picture which Richard would have liked best, as chosen by a judging panel.

Richard’s wife Sue said: “He would be so proud to have a photography award in his name.

“He was a keen photographer from an early age and was keen to get young people involved.

“It was such a shock to suddenly loose a healthy, fit, husband, father and grandfather and we miss him terribly.”

SNJ deputy editor Tamash Lal said: “Richard was an inspirational man and deserving of an award in his honour, so we’re delighted to sponsor a prize which will follow his lead of encouraging young people to take up photography.”

Richard died of a heart attack while cycling along the A4135 in Kingscote.

He was a well-respected teacher at Maidenhill School from 1995 to 2000 and then Wycliffe College until 2006.

Following his death, his daughter Lucy Brown told the SNJ: “We feel honoured to have had him as a husband and dad – he was a hugely loving and caring man, with an all-round great sense of humour and a strong sense of duty to his family and his surroundings.

“He was a husband, father, grandad, brother, uncle and all round good man.”

Richard grew up in St Albans, trained as a teacher at Wolverhampton University, and had lived in Stroud for 35 years.

He was popular with his fellow camera club members and was appointed chairman in 2014.

Richard also had a talent for writing, which he used to document his photography walks with witty short stories.