A call has gone out to corporate sponsors to support the unique 24 Hours in Bristol photo competition, which focuses on a day in the life of the city.
The annual 24-hour photo-marathon returns next month for its fourth year and is open to anyone with a smartp
hone or camera. In previous years it has attracted hundreds of amateur and professional photographers from across the West of England, the UK and Europe.
Around 10,000 images of Bristol are taken during the single competition day with those selected as winners sharing prizes worth more than £6,000.
Registration is now open for the contest, which takes place during 24 hours spanning April 16 and 17.
In an interesting twist on other photographic competitions, entrants for 24 Hours in Bristol are randomly allocated an hour of the day or night in which they must take at least one photograph. This adds an additional challenge and results in full 24-hour coverage of Bristol at work, rest and play.
Since the first 24 Hours in Bristol in 2013 thousands of stunning images of the city and its people have been generated, taken at all hours of the day and night. They have built a unique visual ‘Domesday Book’ of the city. 
Competition images have been featured on TV, in the press and on magazine covers, including nearly 2m Visit Bristol guides. 24 Hours in Bristol 2016 is supported by Destination Bristol, Bristol City Council, law firm Veale Wasbrough Vizards, the Trevor Osborne Property Group – the firm converting Bristol’s historic Guildhall and Assizes Courts into the city’s first 5-star hotel – the Steak of the Art restaurant group and Fotospeed.
The event offers a number of sponsorship opportunities for Bristol companies.
Director of contest organiser 24 Hours in Our City Ltd Mike Porter said: “We are asking everyone with cameras, mobile phones and a sense of fun and adventure to photograph 24 hours in the life in this vibrant city.
“This year is Bristol’s 800th anniversary and we are keen to see images that reflect the diversity of the city and celebrate its unique personality.”
Chair of the competition judges this year is Destination Bristol chief executive John Hirst. He said: “I am very much looking forward to seeing the incredible variety of great new photographs of our city. 
“We’re also really pleased that, as part of Bristol’s 2016 Year of Learning, competition entrants will have the opportunity to attend free photography workshops to improve their skills using both mobile phones and cameras.
“I am looking forward to attending the sessions myself as part of my plan to learn more during Bristol’s Year of Learning.”
On the judging panel are Benedict Brain, the editor of Digital Camera magazine; Simon Galloway, the group picture editor of the Bristol Post; award-winning photographer and UWE lecturer Amanda Harman and Mike Porter.
Entry photographs are uploaded onto the event website in the hourly slots in which they were taken. The judges then choose three winners from each of the 24 hours plus three overall winners. 
The final 72 images will be exhibited at the Harbourside Arts Centre, just off Millennium Square, in May.
All entrants will be invited to Millennium Square for free photography workshops on the morning of the competition on Saturday, April 17. Photographs from previous years’ exhibitions will be shown on @Bristol’s Big Screen followed by a countdown to the start of the competition at noon.
Photographers then head off to all areas of the city for the following 24 hours in search of award-winning photo opportunities.
The contest HQ will be open for the full 24-hour period as a sanctuary for participants to relax and recharge their batteries between photographic forays.
Bristol venues are invited to contact the organisers if they would like to offer a base or discounts for photographers during the day or night of the competition.
Budding David Baileys, students office teams and those who just love being out and about exploring Bristol are invited to enter the competition by registering in advance at www.24hoursinbristol.co.uk
Pictured, previous winning photos. From top: Bristol Sunrise by Philip Clark, Magic Hours on the Dock by Jim Cossey, Night Suspension by Rich Perrin, Old Dock Cottages by Martin Urmson
