In a jubilant gathering at the National Museum of Bermuda (NMB) on Thursday, December 7, the spotlight shone brightly on Bermuda’s youngest photographers. Over 115 attendees, including students, educators, families, sponsors, and esteemed judges, gathered for the fifth annual Dr. Reg Grundy Annual Youth Photography Competition’s prize ceremony and exhibit opening.
Established in 2019 in memory of Dr. Reg Grundy, AC, OBE, whose passion for Bermuda continues through his captivating photographic legacy, the annual photography competition is a joint endeavor of the late Mrs. Joy Chambers Grundy and NMB. Geared towards nurturing the artistic spirit of local photography enthusiasts aged 7-18, the competition aims to inspire a deeper appreciation for Bermuda’s cultural and natural world.
A panel of local judges: Chris Burville, local photographer, Dr. Deborah Atwood, NMB Curator, and Chinni Mahadevan, Reg Grundy Photographic Libraries Curator, faced the daunting task of selecting 27 finalists from a staggering pool of nearly 600 submissions from 23 local schools. The event received the esteemed presence of Anthony Richardson, MP and Senator Arianna Hodgson, who officially unveiled this year’s exhibit.
Winners of the 7-10 age group with NMB Executive Director Elena Strong, MP Anthony Richardson, Chinni Mahadevan, Reg Grundy Photographic Libraries Curator, and Deanne Hart, Brown & Co.
Winners in the 11-14 age group
Winners in the 15-18 age group
NMB Executive Director, Elena Strong, extended her warm congratulations to the participating students and conveyed sincere gratitude to the sponsors for their invaluable support:
“Thank you to Mrs. Grundy and our local sponsors: A.F. Smith, Phoenix Stores and Clarien Bank. It is fantastic to see how much the competition has grown and the calibre of photos has increased over the past five years! Congratulations to everyone who submitted—we have an impressive group of talented young photographers in Bermuda. The competition is a great opportunity for students to develop their creativity, patience, visual literacy and ability to closely look at the world around them in a unique way, and share their perspective through art. For those who entered but were not selected as finalists, I encourage you to continue being curious, take photographs and share your point of view by submitting again next year!”
The competition featured submissions under the themes People of Bermuda, Bermuda Buildings, and Bermuda Wildlife & Nature, categorized across age groups—7-10, 11-14, and 15-18. Winners celebrated their achievements with a variety of rewards: Iron Kids Accounts at Clarien Bank for the Winning photo in each category, $150 gift cards to Brown & Co. stores for the runners-up, and a noteworthy accolade for Bermuda Institute, receiving a generous $1,500 gift certificate to A.F. Smith for school supplies due to their significant participation. Additionally, in honor of what would have been Dr. Grundy’s 100th birthday, this year a special prize was granted with every 100th submission.
Winners and runners-up photos are on display on the second floor of Commissioner’s House at NMB, with honorable mentions also featured at: www.nmb.bm/rg-photo-competition.
Among the remarkable winners stands Josiah Tull from Bermuda Institute, excelling in the 7-10 age group with a win in the People of Bermuda category and taking runner-up in the Bermuda Nature and Wildlife category. His remarkable talent earned him a $200 Iron Kids account and $150 gift certificate from Brown and Co. His winning People of Bermuda entry was also chosen as Best in Show and he was presented with a Canon DSLR camera with lenses, memory card, filters and monopod, donated by Mrs. Grundy.
The Dr. Reg Grundy Annual Youth Photography Competition stands as a testament to youthful creativity and the pursuit of excellence in visual storytelling. These captivating images capture the essence of Bermuda, showcasing the island’s allure, culture, and vibrancy. They pay homage to Dr. Reg Grundy’s legacy, inspiring future generations to explore their world through the lens of imagination and artistry. Congratulations to this year’s participants. Keep snapping those photos and sharing your unique perspectives, and please submit again next year—we can’t wait to see more of your incredible talent!
