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Ethan Williams, who studies BA Photography at Gray鈥檚 School of Art, took first prize in the competition, which aims to highlight the city, its people and communities.

Local entrepreneur and former Governor of 亚博体育官网, Professor Charles Skene CBE put his name to the prize in the hope that his own photography career could inspire the next generation to pick up a camera.

Ethan Williams, who received his award at a ceremony at Gray鈥檚 School of Art on Friday 14 March, said: 鈥淭he Charles Skene Street Portrait Photography Award was a great opportunity to showcase Union Street, its architecture, and the people within it. Through my work, I wanted to showcase that people are at the very heart of Union Street 鈥� the community makes the street what it is.

鈥淭he aim of my work was to invite the viewer to slow down and pay attention to the people in my images. If I can encourage the viewer to appreciate each person individually, this may encourage them to do the same on the street.鈥�

Professor Skene said: 鈥淚 am delighted to encourage students at Gray鈥檚 to experience street portrait photography, and grateful to Gray鈥檚 for organising the event. I was impressed by the quality of the entries, and hope that all students are able to pursue an artistically and commercially rewarding career in photography鈥�.

Fiona Stephen, BA Photography Lecturer at Gray鈥檚 School of Art, said: 鈥淓than鈥檚 image perfectly captures everyday life on Union Street, the community and architecture.

鈥淭here are a lot of changes happening in Aberdeen city centre now, and Ethan has shown that it鈥檚 a busy and vibrant area with a bright future.

鈥淎ll of the entries to The Charles Skene Street Portrait Photography Award were of an extremely high standard, and each showcases the fantastic talent we have at Gray鈥檚.鈥�

Students were challenged to produce street portraits that capture the people of Aberdeen within the city centre. Complementing the regeneration of Union Street, the competition, which was launched in January aims to highlight the centre of Aberdeen and portray the people of Aberdeen.