Katie Everton has won the prestigious ‘Judge’s Award’ at Harrow Photographer of the Year 2024, taking home the prize for her beautiful photograph of the Kodak chimney, seen from Headstone Manor. Her work was selected from over 100 entries that showcased the unique stories of Harrow.
The competition, now in its second year, aims to build a sense of belonging and spark positive conversations about the borough and its communities. This year’s theme, “This is our story,” invited both professional and amateur photographers to capture their personal connections to Harrow. Entries were judged by Harrow Giving’s community panel, and the winners were chosen based on both technical quality and how well the photos represented the theme.
Katie’s winning photograph holds personal significance, as she explained: “This chimney is the last remaining part of the old Kodak factory and it means a lot to me as a photographer who still shoots on film. It makes me smile every time I see it. My Great Aunt and other family members used to work in the factory. I was told many stories of how the factory used to thrive at its peak. Even though things change and time moves on, I’m very pleased that the chimney still stands today. Every time I look at it, it reminds me of my Great Aunt and encourages me to keep taking photos.”
The People’s Choice Award, voted for by the public at community events over the summer, went to Pratik Goyal for his photograph “Lion in the Den.” It captured a striking view of Wembley Stadium through the buildings on Harrow on the Hill, with warm, orange lighting that sparked conversations about the evolving landscape of Harrow.
The Young Photographer of the Year Award was won by Niall Sewell, a student at Nower Hill High School, for his dramatic piece, “The death of Print.” Niall described his photograph as, “a criticism of how we interact with media in the modern day. As we become more obsessed with technology we begin to forget and appreciate physical mediums less, influencing the use of a newspaper… The careful choice of a fish and chips advert on the back directly relates to the phrase ‘Today’s news is tomorrow’s fish and chip paper.’”
The awards were presented at a ceremony held at Harrow Arts Centre, where an exhibition featuring the winning photographs is now open to the public until 10th October. The exhibition will then move to different locations across the borough, including Stanmore Library and the Harrow Art Pod, allowing more residents to enjoy the stories captured by local talent.
The Harrow Photographer of the Year competition is run by the charity Harrow Giving, with support from Harrow and Pinner Camera Clubs and Harrow Open Studios. More information about the exhibition and upcoming competition details can be found at www.harrowgiving.org.uk/photographer. Entries for the 2025 competition will open in June.
Chris Mitchell is the founder and editor of Harrow Online, Harrow’s leading local news platform.
He launched Harrow Online in 2010 as a Facebook page sharing local news and information. Since then, it has grown into a trusted source for breaking news, crime, council decisions, planning, transport, business and community stories across the borough.
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