A group of 20 local photography enthusiasts will be displaying over 130 images from their 'Local Patterns, Shapes and Textures' Photo Challenge at a forthcoming event to be held on Hastings Pier. The exhibition takes place on Sunday 4 May 11-5pm and local people and visitors to Hastings are being invited to vote for their favourite image from the Challenge.

The budding photographers are all members of the Channel Hastings group on the popular photo-sharing site Flickr. It currently consists of 155 members comprising both local residents and visitors to Hastings and has over 2500 photos taken in and around Hastings. The official voting will take place from 11 to 4pm and the winner of the Challenge will be announced shortly afterwards.

The Channel Hastings stall on the Pier with not only display the entries to the Challenge but will also be selling unique local postcards with proceeds going to The Sara Lee Trust.

Freelance photographer and organiser of the challenge Terry Russell said: "Our Local Patterns, Shapes and Textures' Challenge has proven to be another big success with over 130 submissions. We hope that local people and visitors to Hastings will feel inspired to visit us and cast their vote for their favourite photograph and in doing so feel very much part of the event."

Terry Russell added: "We also really want to show our support to the new Hastings Pier and White Rock Trust and hope that new aspiring photographers will also show theirs and get involved in future challenges and events throughout the year."

To participate in future photo challenges all budding photographers need to sign up for a Flickr account. The basic membership is free and after joining Flickr they can then join the Channel Hastings group on Flickr and participate in the latest photo challenge.

In the event of bad weather visit the Channel Hastings website at or contact Terry at or on 07969 062 572

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

Terry Russell
Mob: 07969 062 572
Email: terry[at]channelhastings.com

NOTES TO EDITORS

Channel Hastings is a website set up by local freelance photographer Terry Russell. The website aims to showcase and celebrate the very best of Hastings and the local area through a unique collection of inspirational photographs from a community of photography enthusiasts who reside or visit Hastings.

Flickr is a popular photo-sharing site that supports an active and engaged community where people share and explore each other's photos. Flickr was acquired by Yahoo! in 2003 and currently hosts just over one billion photos from a worldwide community of photography enthusiasts.

Friends of Hastings Pier has been formed by local people concerned about the future of Hastings Pier. FOHP are lobbying for the re-opening of a safe, attractive pier at the earliest possible date.