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•nook• and The New Photo Company invite you to take part in our latest photography exhibition :

THIS IS THE HEATH

'This is the Heath' calls on professional and amateur photographers and local residents to capture the essence of Kings Heath - whether poetic or prosaic, fleeting or enduring. From overlooked details to vivid gatherings, intimate corners to open spaces, we want to see Kings Heath through many lenses.

This will be run as a photography competition, with the chance to win exciting prizes and awards - including £100 cash, vouchers, and special awards celebrating creativity and originality.

Two ways to enter the competition:

1. Photographers’ submission

Are you an professional or amateur photographer? If so, we would love you to bring your imagination, artistry, or a documentary eye to our exhibition.

This category is for people who use photography as part of their creative practice - whether you’re a professional, an art student, or an enthusiastic amateur. You might work with photography as an artform in its own right, or as part of a wider creative exploration. Submissions can be polished, experimental, or deeply observational.

2. Community Submissions

Alongside the photographers’ exhibition, we’re creating a Community Wall: a real-life “grid” built from snapshots shared by local residents.

These don’t need to be professional photographs. They can be daily snaps, chance encounters, or small details that capture what Kings Heath means to you. With so many of us carrying cameras in our pockets, this is a chance to contribute your everyday moments to our collective neighbourhood photo gallery.


Key Dates: 

submission deadline: 12 Sept

Exhibition at •nook• 18 - 28 Sept

Awards evening: Thursday 25 Sept

Public Vote announcement: after the exhibition finishes

The exhibition will be on display during Birmingham Open Studios, when we expect a high footfall at •nook•

We will host an awards evening at •nook• on Thursday 25th September. This will be an informal gathering: a chance to meet other contributors, share in the project, and see the awards announced.

We plan to showcase as many entries as possible in a smaller format, depending on the number of submissions received. Alongside this, a selection of photographs will be highlighted in larger format prints as part of the exhibition. These large-format works will also be gifted to the photographers afterwards.

 

Prizes

Photographers’ Awards

  • Main Prize: £100 cash
  • Special Prize: £50 Printing voucher from The New Photo Company

Community Award:

  • Special Community Prize: £50 •nook• voucher 

Additional Awards (across both categories):

• Public Vote Award

• Best in Category

• Judges’ Choices / Curators’ Picks


Submissions

How to submit: Please submit digital photographs using the online submission form. (If you experience any issues, email us at nook@nook-gallery.co.uk )

Please read all the guidelines & T&C before submitting!

We ask for a small submission fee to help cover printing and organisational costs (starting at £5 for community & £10 photographers).

However, we don’t want cost to be a barrier. Reduced-fee entries are available for those on low income - please choose this option if it makes participation easier for you.

For those who are able, we also offer a Generous Supporter option. By contributing at this higher level, you not only help keep the project running, but also “pay it forward” by covering the cost of entries from community members who wouldn’t otherwise be able to take part.

(•nook• is an independent, self-funded space with no outside funding - every contribution directly supports this exhibition)


Submission Guidelines

  • Location: Photos should be taken within Kings Heath (or strongly connected to the area)
  • Number of photos: You may submit up to 5 photos. (Bigger projects: If your Kings Heath project or story feels larger than this, please get in touch—we’re happy to consider a bigger submission)
  • File size: Good-quality phone photos are fine. Please send images between 1–5 MB each.
  • File format: JPEG only.
  • Photo ratio: 3:2, 5:4 or 1:1. (Other ratios may be cropped by us for display.)
  • Image quality: Please avoid blurry, pixelated, or low-resolution images—these may not be printed.
  • File naming: Name files clearly, e.g. YourName01.jpeg.
  • Display: Most work will be exhibited unframed. We reserve the right to design the display according to our curatorial vision.

 

Submission terms:

By submitting, you agree to:

  • Grant •nook• and The New Photo Company permission to print and display your work for the exhibition.
  • Confirm that the work submitted is your own and that you hold the rights to the image(s).
  • Confirm that you have permission from any identifiable individuals featured in your photographs, except in the case of candid street photography where consent is impractical (

    though such photos may be removed upon objection by the person featured)

  • Accept that organisers reserve the right to remove any photographs if there are doubts about permissions, suitability, or rights.
  • Allow your images to be used for exhibition promotion (social media, website, press), with full credit given.
  • Accept that organisers reserve the right to print your image in the format and size they deem most suitable for display.
  • Accept the decisions of the selection panel as final.

Start your submission now


Examples of themes:

(These are just our prompts - feel free to surprise us!)

Everyday Life & Special Moments
The ordinary and the extraordinary - school runs, chance encounters, corner shop chats, birthday balloons in trees, or fleeting moments that stay with you.

Movement & Travel
Walking, cycling, commuting, traffic, street crossings - the ways people and things move through the neighbourhood.

Home & Domestic Spaces
Private glimpses of Kings Heath living - gardens, kitchens, window views, home life.

Businesses & Work Life
Behind the scenes in shops, cafés, salons, workshops, kitchens - everyday graft and hidden moments.

Community & Change
Protests, campaigns, new buildings, regeneration, or how Kings Heath is changing over time.

Food & Gatherings
Meals, markets, street food, family dinners, café culture, pub nights - food as community.

Music, Gigs & Events
Kings Heath’s vibrant scene: gigs, venues, buskers, festivals, cultural celebrations (Queens Heath, Arts Markets, Faro dancing, Eid, and more).

Details
Fragments and textures we usually overlook - shopfront lettering, plant pots, a crack in the pavement, light falling across a wall.

Reportage & Stories
A day in Kings Heath, a hidden narrative, a sequence of up to 5 photos that tell a story. Add a short caption or write-up if you like.

Nature & Seasons
Parks, planting, street trees, weeds, wildlife, seasonal changes—bloom, growth, and decay.

Artists & Makers
Studios, process, or practice - especially for those taking part in Birmingham Open Studios. (We’ll note your venue number if you’re on the trail.)