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\nThe winners of the Down\u2019s Syndrome Association\u2019s (DSA) international photographic competition have been announced, with successful entries coming from Ireland, Canada and the USA.\u00a0Now in its 10th year, the \u2018My Perspective\u2019 competition gives photographers who have\u00a0the genetic condition the chance to share their view of the world.<\/p>\n\n
The Peoples\u2019 Choice Award was voted for by the public online. They chose Conor O\u2019Dowd\u2019s portrait entitled \u2018My friend Jason the model\u2019 as their favourite (above). Conor, who is from Drogheda in County Louth, Ireland, said: \u201cI am surprised to win. It\u2019s great. It makes my parents proud. I can\u2019t wait to tell my best friend Jason the great news. I love the My Perspective competition. I was nominated before and it\u2019s great to win. During lockdown I was out and about taking pictures.”<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/6222_1_NatalieStevanus_Companionship-300x400.jpg\")
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Natalie Stevanus from Bloomingdale in Canada won the Judges\u2019 Choice Award for her moving image entitled \u2018Companionship’ (above). Although Natalie has reached the finals of the competition three times already, this is the first time she has got the top prize. She said: \u201cI am very excited and happy to be the winner. I was hopeful that I would be a winner of one of the awards, but surprised when I checked my emails and read the announcement.<\/p>\n
This year the judges panel included actors Peter Davison (Doctor Who, All Creatures Great and Small) and Emma Barton (Eastenders), who are both patrons of the DSA, along with Dianne Buswell, one of Strictly Come Dancing\u2019s professional dancers.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/6166_2_MyL-300x200.jpg\")
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Each year, a special award is presented to a photographer who doesn’t live in the UK. It\u2019s called The Stephen Thomas Award, and was established in memory of Stephen, a previous \u2018My Perspective\u2019 winner who sadly died with his father in a tragic boating accident in 2015. This year, Houston Vandergriff from Knoxville, Tennessee, was been named the winner. Entitled \u2018Travelling Thru\u2019, Houston said: \u201cI was at the train station early in the morning. We were going from Aix-en-Provence to Monaco. The sun was coming up. The reflection made it look like two sunrises.\u201d<\/p>\n
Congratulations to everyone shortlisted. As the organisers note, the\u00a0current Covid-19 situation is challenging for everyone, but even more so for people who have Down\u2019s Syndrome. “The usual rhythm of life has been disrupted without warning, leaving feelings of isolation, anxiety and frustration. Many have additional health conditions affecting respiratory and cardiac health. It can be hard to understand social-distancing and many have difficulty communicating how they are feeling if they become unwell, mentally and physically. It is hoped that this year\u2019s \u2018My Perspective\u2019 competition has given entrants something to focus on during lockdown.”<\/p>\n