Since 2018, the competition has helped launch creative journeys, attracting thousands of students from 85 universities across the UK. It gives emerging photographers the opportunity to showcase their work alongside world-renowned photographers.
Supporting the next generation of photographers. Open to students of all levels, the competition offers free portfolio reviews and career advice from leading industry professionals, including the Channel 4 Senior Pictures Team. Finalists will exhibit their work at Photo North Festival 2027, putting emerging talent at the heart of Photo North.
All students who enter the Competition will receive a 50% discount on a festival ticket.
THE ALUMNO PHOTO NORTH STUDENT COMPETITION
Brief:
‘Home’.
2027 - Entries Now Open!
Entries are open for the 2027 Alumno Photo North Student Photography competition.
2026 Runner-up Riley Lawless “And all at once, we bathed in so(u)l”
Glasgow School of Art, Fine Art Photo, Yr 3.
”Winning…has given me a massive boost to my confidence & motivation. Seeing my work displayed across from Martin Parr's was really special for me, but also being on display with the other finalists all of such a high standard was amazing too. At the festival I met photographers & editors whose work I had been following & since the festival I have started my mentorship with Carolyn Mendelsohn, which is a great opportunity. Thanks to Photo North and Alumno!” - David Shaw, Winner. Insta @davidjshawphoto
2026 WINNERS
Outstanding emerging talent.
Overall Winner Tracy McIlhatton Where Life Begins City of Glasgow College, Photography HND2
Tracy McIlhatton
winnerrunner-upRunner-up Riley Lawless “And all at once, we bathed in so(u)l” Glasgow School of Art, Fine Art Photography, Year 3
Riley Lawless
runner-upRunner-up Georgia-Millie Crocker Wayfinding University of Greater Manchester, BA Photography (Hons), Year 3
Georgia-Millie Crocker
The 2026 competition attracted an exceptionally high standard of entries - remarkable creativity, technical skill, and originality across every submission.
DEADLINE
8 Feb 2027
Entries close 11.59pm on Monday 8 February.
Judging Panel: Channel 4 Senior Pics Team. Impressions Gallery. The RPS. Carolyn Mendelsohn. Photo North Team.
KEY DATES
FINALISTS ANNOUNCED
19 Feb 2027
Finalists announced on Photo North Instagram on 19 February. Prints must be delivered to venue by Monday 1 March 2027.
Finalists will be exhibited alongside world renowed artists, throughout the full 3 days of the festival,
WINNERS ANNOUNCED
5 March 2027
Winners announced at the festival’s Education day on Friday 5 March 2027.
Presented by Carl Palmer, Senior Picture Editor at Channel 4.
OPEN TO
All UK students
Alongside inspiring exhibitions talks and screenings, join us for free portfolio reviews, career advice and inspiration from industry professionals
2027 COMPETITION BRIEF
Home.
Where is home? It might be a place, a person, a feeling, a memory, or somewhere you’re still searching for.
For this year’s Photo North Student Photography Competition, we invite you to explore the theme of HOME in whatever way it means to you.
HOME can be literal. It could be the house, street, city or landscape you know best. It might be your bedroom, a family kitchen, a student flat, a favourite corner of your neighbourhood or somewhere that simply feels familiar.
But HOME can also be emotional. It can be about belonging, family, friendship, identity, comfort and memory. It can be the people who make you feel at home, even when you’re far from where you grew up.
And HOME doesn’t always have to be a happy place. It can explore loneliness, change, displacement, migration, leaving, returning or the feeling of being somewhere that no longer feels like home.
Your photograph might tell a story, capture a fleeting moment, reveal a place or simply make us feel something. Look at the familiar in an unfamiliar way. Find the extraordinary in the everyday. Or show us a version of HOME that we might never have imagined.
There are no rules about what HOME should look like. HOME — it’s a place. It’s a feeling. It’s complicated.
We’re looking for photographs with feeling, imagination and a point of view, no need for expensive equipment, exotic locations or technical perfection. HOME is something we all understand, but we all experience differently.
Look around you. Look back. Look forward. Look closer. Wherever and whatever HOME is for you, show us.
Deadline for entries: 11.59PM on 8th February 2027.
Good luck, we look forward to seeing you in Leeds! Pete and Sharon – Founders & Curators
All students who enter the Competition will receive a 50% discount on a festival ticket.
PRIZES
More than a trophy.
Cameras, film and printers - plus mentorships with some of the most respected figures in British photography.
WINNER
Camera.
TBA
WINNER
Camera.
TBA
RUNNERS-UP
Printers.
Printing kit to get new work off the screen …TBA
ALL FINALISTS
Mentorships.
TBA. With Jane Hiley, Carolyn Mendelsohn and Simon Hill.
Former finalists.
“Being a part of the Alumno Sponsored Photo North Festival Student Competition has been a welcome experience. It has allowed me to work towards a set brief with a unique approach, thus fostering creativity. It has also allowed me to explore subject areas outside of my comfort zone, creating some of my strongest work. I would encourage all students to participate in the years to come, pushing themselves creatively and producing inspiring work.”
www.zhanfilonovphoto.co.uk Instagram @zhanfilonovphoto
— Zhan Filonov
“Being a part of this competition pushed me out of my comfort zone, encouraging me to take on a theme in a way that I may not have attempted due to having little confidence in myself, however, I am so glad that I did as I have produced a new body of work that I love and am proud of. It is also such an honour to know that my photos were also exhibited at the same event as such amazing work by other extremely talented photographers and artists. I am really looking forward to the future regarding my photography work and Photo North has given me the push and platform to be able to take my work further”.
Instagram @evie.scarborough
— evie scarborough
“Taking part in the Alumno sponsored Photo North Festival student competition (‘Identity’) for me has been such an invaluable experience. As a mature student trying to emerge into the creative industries from a personal experience is a continual process. The fact my practice has been considered and rated by professionals involved with Photo North Festival may open up future opportunities to potentially springboard my career. The full event with guest speakers, photobook stalls, the student and professional exhibitions has such a positive impact that is engaging and a great way to network to aid the next generation of photographers.”
www.sofiaconti.photography Instagram @sofiaconti.photography
— sofia conti
Backed by Alumno.
ABOUT OUR SPONSORS
Since 2006, Alumno has specialised in developing student accommodations across the UK, emphasising local context, history, and community integration. Their schemes serve as more than just living spaces for students, acting as connectors to the surrounding towns and cities through the incorporation of public art and creative concepts. Alumno collaborates with local artists and creative entities, often sourcing new graduate work to infuse a unique atmosphere into their buildings. Committed to fostering creativity, they sponsored the Photo North Festival photography competitions, promoting student engagement and inspiration. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, Alumno continues its support, sponsoring the upcoming competition in Leeds and eagerly anticipating the display of entrants' work within their new student accommodations. www.alumnogroup.com