Winner announced for West Dunbartonshire photography competition

A promising student who specialises in photographing music bands has won the first ever West Dunbartonshire Council and Clydebank College photography competition.

Lauren Millar, 21-years-old from Bonhill, came top of the public poll for her image of the River Leven at low tide in Dumbarton and wins a camera equipment voucher from the Council and sponsors Calumet worth £100.

The 'Picture This' competition had asked students at Clydebank College to capture images of local area at its best, and Lauren will now have her photo used prominently by the Council to showcase the area as a great place to 'Live, Work and Visit'.

In total more than 270 people from across West Dunbartonshire voted for their favourite images from a stunning shortlist of ten, and each image was viewed more than 700 times on the Council's online Flickr site. All the shortlisted images are currently on display in the exhibition room of Clydebank College for the next month and will also be showcased to the public later this year in the renovated Clydebank Town Hall.

Lauren, a film student at the College, said: "I am really happy to have won this competition. It has been good fun to go through the process of seeing your image shortlisted and then to know that so many people have been viewing them online and in the newspapers. I love photography and this gives me the confidence to keep working on my skills and try new things."

Patrick McGlinchey, Convener of Educational Services at the Council, said: "Congratulations to Lauren on her successful entry. It is certainly an iconic shot of Dumbarton.

"This is the first year the Council has run the competition and I'm delighted by how it has gone. It clearly captured the imagination of hundreds of students and residents and has also given the Council some fantastic images to use in its future publications and website. We are committed to education and lifelong learning and I believe this competition supports those goals."

Bob McEwan, Curriculum Leader for Art, Design & Photography, said: "Well done to Lauren on winning the public vote for her image. This has been a very worthwhile competition and Lauren and her fellow students have captured some very interesting images. We look forward now to 2013."

The images can still be viewed at http://bit.ly/K5reLI.