Capture the sound of music in a photo - and win a cash prize

Imagine you couldn’t hear the sound of radio in the mornings or your children playing their musical instruments.

This is the harsh reality for many people and today the EADT and The Hearing Care Centre are launching a special competition to raise awareness of this increasing problem.

Called ‘Hear Suffolk’ the competition is being staged to coincide with National Deaf Awareness Week.

The Hearing Care Centre, based in High Street, Ipswich, is inviting amateur and professional photographers alike from across Suffolk to enter the competition with pictures that demonstrate the ‘sounds of music’ in Suffolk.

“It could be a rock band at the Ipswich Music Day, a church choir at Sunday service, or a marching band in Woodbridge - the choice of photo opportunities is endless,” says Karen Finch, Managing Director of The Hearing Care Centre.

“In fact any picture which depicts the quintessential sounds of Suffolk music in a powerful way would be ideal,” she says.

“People with good hearing often don’t realise the impact even mild hearing loss has on the enjoyment of ordinary things around us – we want our competition and the campaign to draw attention to some of the sounds that hard-of-hearing people cannot hear.”

Karen explained: “It can take years for some people to decide to do something about their hearing loss - it’s estimated that there are around 70,000 people in Suffolk who haven’t yet done anything about it – and we want to get the message across that they really are missing out on life and can do something about it.”

There is a prize of �250 for the best picture and in a special class for entrants who are under 14 there’ll be a prize of �100.

The runners-up will also get cash prizes and the best pictures will go on display in the Hear Suffolk Exhibition taking place in Ipswich later in the year.

The EADT will also be printing the winning and runner up entries in a special feature, as well as displaying entries in an online gallery.

The judges will include Barry Freeman a member of Ipswich & District Photographic Society and Andy Abbott, head of photos for Archant Suffolk, publishers of the EADT.

The competition is just one of a number of activities the company has organised as part of National Deaf Awareness Week (28th June – 4th July).

Other events include Suffolk’s first ‘Hearing Care Show’ and an educational event at Ipswich Music Day, raising awareness about the damage loud music can cause and noise protection.

The Suffolk Hearing Care Show takes place on Friday 2nd July (10am-4pm), at the Robert Cross Hall, Corn Exchange, Ipswich, with the aim to give members of the public and employers the opportunity to learn all about every aspect of hearing. Entry is free of charge.

To enter the competition, send your picture as an A4 print (in colour or black and white) to Photographic Competition, The Hearing Care Centre, 5 High Street, Ipswich, IP1 3JZ.

Make sure write your name, address, contact number and age (junior category only) on a label on the back of the print. If you want your picture returned, please enclose a suitable stamped and self-addressed envelope.

For more information and full terms & conditions visit www.hearingcarecentre.co.uk/hearsuffolk.

Competition deadline August 31, 2010.