A striking image capturing the sound of waves crashing against the Suffolk shoreline has scooped first prize in a brand new photography competition.
Judges for Sounds of Suffolk, a contest created by family-run business The Hearing Care Centre to raise awareness about untreated hearing loss, picked their winning entries this week.
Backed by Archant Suffolk, the competition aims to encourage sufferers to seek help at their earliest convenience.
Judges BBC Radio Suffolk presenter Mark Murphy, professional photographer and Suffolk entrepreneur Tony Pick and the centre’s managing director Karen Finch looked over more than 100 entries submitted by photographers from across East Anglia.
They chose James Stannard, whose photo depicted the sounds of the sea rolling onto the shore at Covehithe near Southwold, as their overall winner. He collected the top prize of £250.
Judge Tony Pick said: “There were many outstanding images taken around Suffolk that really captured many of the sounds we take for granted.
“It was a difficult decision to choose the winning photograph.”
Second place was awarded to Stephen Squirrell, whose entry illustrated the tidal flow and sound of boats at Felixstowe ferry.
Josephine Sweetman, who photographed the sounds of a marching band on the Angel Hill in Bury St Edmunds, came third.
Ms Finch said she was thrilled with how the inaugural competition had gone.
She added: “We’ve been thrilled by the numbers of entries we’ve received and it’s great to see how many people have embraced our theme of Suffolk sounds.
“One in six of us here in Suffolk are affected by hearing loss and many of these people miss out on the sounds captured in this competition.
“If at least one person has been spurred on to seek out help with their hearing loss off the back of this, then I will be very pleased.”
It is hoped Sounds of Suffolk, which also aimed to raise awareness of hearing loss, will return again next year.
A full gallery of winning entries and commended photographs will be showcased on our website over the next few days.
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