On Thursday, December 3, on a Zoom gathering of 57 students, teachers, family members, sponsors, judges and Minister of Education Diallo Rabain, the National Museum of Bermuda revealed the 36 finalists of the second year of the Dr Reg Grundy Annual Youth Photography Competition: Your Eyes on Bermuda.

In memory of Dr Reg Grundy, AC, OBE, whose photographic legacy and passion for Bermuda live on in his work, Mrs Joy Grundy and the National Museum of Bermuda established the Dr Reg Grundy Annual Youth Photography Competition last year.

Open to all local photography enthusiasts aged 7 – 18, the competition was designed to inspire the next generation of photographers and encourage an appreciation for Bermuda’s natural and cultural environment and a desire to protect it.

When asked about the competition, Mrs. Grundy said: “I was thrilled to see the enthusiasm with which the schools, students, teachers, parents took part in the second year of the Dr Reg Grundy Annual Youth Photographic Competition.

“It was the culmination of my husband’s dream for the children of Bermuda.”

Local judges Aderonke Wilson, photographer, Dr Deborah Atwood, NMB curator, and Chinni Mahadevan, Reg Grundy Photographic Libraries curator, had a trying time choosing finalists from over 400 submissions, submitted by 27 different schools in Bermuda.

Students submitted photos under the following themes: Bermuda Community, Bermuda Homes and Bermuda Ecosystem in three age categories, 7-10, 11-14 and 15-18.

Winners received Iron Kids Accounts at Clarien Bank – amounts of $500, $300, and $200 based on age group – runners up received $150 gift cards to Brown & Co. stores, and the school with the most submissions – Somerset Primary – won a $1,500 gift certificate to AF Smith for school supplies.

All finalists will be featured on the NMB website and in the next edition of the museum’s biannual magazine MARITimes.

Winners and runners-up photographs will be displayed in Commissioner’s House at the museum. All finalists received two free admission passes to visit the museum.

Layla Kurt, of BHS, won her age group – 15 to 18 – in the Bermuda Ecosystem category and her entry was also chosen as Best in Show, winning not only a $500 Iron Kids account but also a Nikon DSLR camera with 18-55mm and 55-300mm lenses and a camera bag, all generously donated by Mrs Grundy.

Elena Strong, executive director of NMB, stated: “The calibre of the submissions this year was extraordinary.

“Our judges had a very difficult time selecting the finalists.

“Congratulations to all who participated.

“For those who did not place, please do not be discouraged: you have time to work on your craft and share how you see the world around you by submitting to next year’s competition.”

Finalists list:

School with the highest percentage of submissions: Somerset Primary

Age 7-10 Honourable Mentions

Samiya Christina Howgate – Harrington Sound, Bermuda Ecosystem

Victor Chimbi – Northlands Primary, Bermuda Ecosystem

Abigail Woodworth – Somersfield Academy, Bermuda Ecosystem

Prince Domingo – Gilbert Institute, Bermuda Community

K’ah Amali Seymour – Paget Primary, Bermuda Community

Filipa Duarte – Port Royal Primary, Bermuda Homes

Cruz Harvey – Somerset Primary, Bermuda Homes

Age 7-10 Prize Winners

Elizabeth Soares – Bermuda High School for Girls, Bermuda Community, Winner

Seri Fisher – Warwick Academy, Bermuda Community, Runner Up

Kira Dunley-Owen – Bermuda High School for Girls, Bermuda Ecosystem, Winner

Benjamin De Couto – Somersfield Academy, Bermuda Ecosystem, Runner Up

Owen Stewart – Somersfield Academy, Bermuda Homes, Winner

Lola Reape – Somersfield Academy – Runner Up, Bermuda Homes, Runner Up

Age 11-14 Honourable Mentions

Century Robinson – Bermuda Centre for Creative Learning, Bermuda Ecosystem

Vikashni Ragunathan – Bermuda High School for Girls, Bermuda Ecosystem

Marseille Williams – Clearwater Middle School, Bermuda Community

Reilly Durfy – Saltus Grammar School, Bermuda Community

Rylan Cundliffe, Mount Saint Agnes Academy, Bermuda Homes

Gabrielle Mia Turchiaro, Bermuda High School for Girls, Bermuda Homes

Age 11-14 Prize Winners

Karis Brooks – Warwick Academy, Bermuda Community, Winner

Ashley Todd – Warwick Academy, Bermuda Community, Runner Up

Trystan Hocking – Somersfield Academy, Bermuda Homes, Winner

Caiden Millett – Somersfield Academy, Bermuda Homes, Runner Up

Naomi Every – Somersfield Academy, Bermuda Ecosystem, Winner

Courtney Sims – Bermuda High School for Girls, Bermuda Ecosystem, Runner Up

Ages 15-18 Honourable Mention

Christopher Raymond, Mount Saint Agnes Academy, Bermuda Ecosystem

Sebastian Grob, Saltus Grammar School, Bermuda Ecosystem

Tommy Marshall, Warwick Academy, Bermuda Community

Sarah Cross, Warwick Academy, Bermuda Homes

Age 15-18 Prize Winners

Micah Straw II – Berkeley Institute, Bermuda Community, Winner

Susana Guerreiro – CedarBridge Academy, Bermuda Community, Runner Up

Keijah Iee – Berkeley Institute, Bermuda Homes, Winner

Kamaria Precious Easton – CedarBridge Academy, Bermuda Homes, Runner Up

Layla Kurt – Bermuda High School for Girls, Bermuda Ecosystem, Winner & Best in Show

Kian Mooney – Saltus Grammar School, Bermuda Ecosystem, Runner Up

* Press release issued by the National Museum of Bermuda.