Thank you to everyone who entered the 2023 Cherry Blossom Photography Competition.
Over the course of six weeks, we had well in excess of 600 brilliant entries and it was absolutely wonderful to see so many people enjoying the beautiful blossoms in Oozells Square.
From baby buds to full on blossom, furry pets and cherished children in front of stunning sakuras to the amazing architecture of the square decorated with pink flowers and partying people – we’ve seen it all. And, gosh, it was hard for the judges to pick our winners…
But now, the wait is over and the results are in!
The judging panel was made up of Matt Long, Brindleyplace, Head of Tenant Engagement & Placemaking, Lucy Mounfield, Assistant Curator at Ikon Gallery and James Carnell, National Trust – Head Gardener – Wightwick Manor and Gardens.
After whittling down the initial entries to a shortlist of 80, our judges met last week and after two hours of intense discussion and deliberation, the 80 became 10 and, in turn, the 10 became our final 3.
So, drum roll please… We are delighted to announce that with her photograph entitled ‘Ikonic’, the winner of the 2023 Cherry Blossom Photography Competition is Miriam Stevens.
The judges loved the way Miriam captured the different stages of blossoming in the image along with her depiction of the blossom in bloom at the forefront of the picture with the muted tree and Ikon Gallery in the background. Congratulations Miriam!
The two runners up are Vanessa Harbar with ‘Spring up Brum’ and Sundip Samra with ‘The Reflections of an Ikon’. Congratulations!
Speaking of the competition and winning entries, Matt Long said: “Cherry blossom trees have numerous benefits for ecosystems and environments especially within a city – in fact, we planted two new trees this year to further promote our commitment to the wellbeing of the tenants who work in Brindleyplace and the visitors who come here to enjoy the lovely outdoor spaces.
“We’re extremely proud of the amount of love shown for the blossoms in Oozells Square every year and this year, their beauty has been captured through this competition in a number of ways – some traditional, some more quirky, but all very engaging. The sheer volume of entries has been incredible and judging was extremely hard.
“We feel the three winning entries when combined capture not only the beauty of the blossoms, but also the joy they bring and the serenity and peacefulness they inspire.
“Congratulations to the winners and thank you to everyone for sending in your photographs.”
The three photographs will be on display at Ikon Gallery from 20th April until 4th May.
