Blackburn Cathedral to Host Moon Photography Exhibition

Widely believed to be the world’s most photographed unique subject, images of the Moon will be shown in a variety of ways having been captured using a range of techniques and equipment – from smartphones to telescopes and everything in between.

Photographers of all ages and skill levels were invited to enter a lunar photography competition and the free-to-enter competition attracted hundreds of participants from across the United Kingdom and the two winners and shortlisted entries are to be displayed in a special exhibition at Blackburn Cathedral.

Showcasing some wonderful Moon images the exhibition highlights individual creativity whilst also evoking a reaction, sparking curiosity and encouraging reflection on our place in the universe.

The competition was judged by an expert panel from a range of disciplines:

Luke Jerram

The creator of Museum of the Moon, Luke’s multidisciplinary arts practice involves the creation of sculptures, installations and live artworks. Living in the UK, but working internationally, Luke creates artworks at all scales, that deliver messages and inspire communities around the world to recognise often challenging concepts.

Robert William Walsh

Professor of Solar Physics and Academic Lead of UCLan Space, Robert is the institutional principal investigator of two NASA sounding rocket programmes and was the UK National Outreach Coordinator for the International Astronomical Union. Currently he is the Co-Director of the UK regional office for the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs Disaster Management Programme.

Janet Thomas

As Senior Non-Executive member of Blackburn Cathedral’s Dean and Chapter, Janet brings an unbiased approach to evaluating entries, with a focus on visual creativity, originality and storytelling. She considers the emotional impact of each piece to offer a unique and valuable perspective to the panel.

Graham McLoughlin

A fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and member of the Society for the History of Astronomy, Graham is secretary of Preston and District Astronomical Society. He is a keen astrophotographer and in-demand speaker especially on astronomical history.

Juned Patel

Juned is a lunar enthusiast, avid photographer and amateur astronomer deeply dedicated to studying lunar crescent visibility. To understand the beauty of this phenomenon, Juned travels several times a month, chasing and capturing the moon’s crescent phase.

In addition to the overall winner and highly commended entries – who will win £500 and £250 respectively – there is an opportunity for visitors to the exhibition to vote for their favourite image too. The one with the most votes will be recognised as the People’s Choice Award and will secure a £250 prize.

There is no charge to visit the exhibition during the daytime and is included in the ticket price for all of the evening events taking place throughout November.

Full details can be found at blackburncathedral.com/moon

This competition has been kindly supported by Nybble.