Finalists revealed for the Liverpool City Region Photo Awards

The finalists for this year’s Liverpool City Region Photo Awards have been unveiled.

An independent judging panel cropped more than 2,000 photographs to create a shortlist of just 18 photographers capturing images of celebration, connection, futures, shared spaces, movement, and care.

Delivered by Open Eye Gallery with the support of Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, the competition is in its second year and has attracted some of the region’s best amateur and professional talent.

The list includes an amateur photographer who took part in this year’s ‘Photo Here’ residencies, a city region wide project that brought together six diverse community groups – including refugees and asylum seekers, LGBTQI+ members, and D/deaf and BSL users – to share their stories through socially engaged photography.

Councillor Mike Wharton, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Business, Investment and Trade said:

“These awards are more than a celebration of photography – they’re a celebration of the people and places that make our region unique. Every image tells a story of connection and creativity, and that’s what makes this competition so special.

“It’s not just about technical skill; it’s about capturing the spirit of our communities and the shared experiences that bind us together. Through initiatives like this, we’re showcasing the incredible talent that exists in every corner of the Liverpool City Region and reinforcing the role of culture in bringing people closer.”

Winners will be announced on 27 November 2025 at the launch of the photographic exhibition of their work at Open Eye Gallery. The exhibition is open to the public from 28 November to 11 January.

Category winners will receive £500, while commended photographers will be awarded £100.

Declan Connolly, Liverpool City Region Photo Awards Lead at Open Eye Gallery, said:

“Photography has the power to stop us in our tracks and make us see the world differently. The finalists this year show just how vibrant and diverse our local talent is – their work reflects the heart of our communities and the possibilities of our shared future.

“These images are not only visually striking; they carry meaning, emotion, and a sense of place. That’s what makes the Liverpool City Region Photo Awards so exciting – they give photographers a platform to share stories that matter and invite all of us to look again at the world around us.”

The Liverpool City Region Photo Awards are part of the Combined Authority’s 2025 Cultural Events Programme where six diverse groups from across the Liverpool City Region told their stories, and the stories of the areas they live in, with the help of professional socially engaged photographers in residence. ‘Photo Here’ created a unique snapshot of their lives and communities including those of refugees and asylum seekers, members of the LGBTQI+ community, D/deaf and BSL users.

Winners and commended submissions will make up a physical exhibition at the gallery, but an image from every entry will also be featured in the Digital Window Gallery exhibition.

In addition, the outside walls of the gallery will also see a selection of photography from the ‘Photo Here’ residencies.

Find out more about the Liverpool City Region Photo Awards here.

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