Engineering creativity: IMechE’s 2018 Photographer of the Year award opens

​ This year’s exciting theme, “Engineering a Better World”, offers unlimited scope for creativity in the search for the perfect image. Enter now! ​

For Sri Lankan engineering intern, Kasun Weerasekara, wining a Photographer of the Yearaward unlocked a new professional network and gave his career a boost. For British teenager, Elena Smart, it was the motivation she needed to keep chasing her dream of becoming an engineer.

Both past winners of the competition, run by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. (IMechE), are encouraging photographers from across the globe to enter this year’s awards.

The 2018 theme is “Engineering a Better World”. How this theme will be interpreted through still photography is part of the beauty of this popular competition, which offers prizes to participants - members and non-members - from around the world.

The picture that won Kasun top honours last year caught a sun flare through a primitive wooden cart in his home town. The atmospheric image, titled “Ancestors”, not only spoke to the theme (which was about transport) but was a visual echo across generations.

“Photography is not just pressing the shutter button on a camera. We have to think outside the box,” says Kasun, a mechanical engineering student and intern at SriLankan Airlines, who taught himself to shoot by watching YouTube. “As engineers, we should search for solutions that are not common or typical. Take pictures that give uncommon meaning to themes.”

For the judges, it’s all about showcasing engineering in a positive and creative way.

“The content is more important than the quality,” says Lydia Amarquaye, judge and Chair of IMechE’s Young Members Board (YMB). “As the saying goes, 'a picture is worth a thousand words', so I'm sure whatever inspired you to take that picture will come across.”

Lydia says the awards can also inspire younger generations. “Once people start recognising that engineering is more than just fixing cars and planes, we have the opportunity and privilege to welcome a vast array of skills into the profession.”

Fellow judge and member of the YMB, Christian Young, says the competition is a great way for to have some fun and discover hidden talents.

“It’s not about technical brilliance. It’s far better to shoot a really interesting photo of an everyday piece of engineering than to shoot an impressive piece of engineering in a boring way.”

Elena Smart, who won last year’s under-18s category, did just that with her photograph of the escalators at Westminster tube station (titled “Going Underground”). She says the award has pushed her to keep chasing her dream job.

“Whenever you’re out, just look around and be aware of your surroundings,” she says. “Often, the most interesting pieces of engineering are not in the most obvious places.”

• Find out more about and enter our Photographer of the Year competition 2018.