A stunning nighttime image of the Church Village Bypass has won first prize in a photography competition for young people in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
James Perry, aged 15, of Bryncelynnog Comprehensive School, took the winning photograph of the new bypass for the ‘Your Community Through Your Eyes’ competition.
The contest was open to all young people aged 11-19 living in Rhondda Cynon Taf. They were asked to capture on camera what they love or hate about their communities.
James won a digital camera for his photograph of the new road. Runners-up Billy Thomas, aged 17, of Mountain Ash, and Owen Chant, aged 13, of Ferndale, were awarded a masterclass with photographer and competition judge, Darren Warner-Griffiths.
Rhondda Cynon Taf’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Recreation and Tourism, Cllr Robert Bevan, said: “Well done to everyone who took part. The standard of entrants was excellent and this competition certainly captured the imaginations of young photographers.”
Brian Greaves, Community Relations Manager for Costain, the contractors who built the £90m bypass, said: “We were always mindful how important the project was for the local community and the economic development of Rhondda Cynon Taf, but this competition has demonstrated the interest in the bypass from all sections of the community including young people, and in particular James Perry – who took the time to secure this outstanding photograph.
“Costain would like to extend our congratulations to him and foresee a budding career ahead for him in photography.”
The competition was overseen by Rhondda Cynon Taf Arts Development Team, within the Council’s Cultural Services division, as part of the Reach the Heights project. Reach the Heights is a Welsh Assembly Government initiative funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) and co-ordinated by the Arts Council of Wales.
