“Mercer & Hole… a new perspective” Photography Competition Winners

We are thrilled to announce the winners of the “Mercer & Hole – a new perspective” photography competition of 2025! In April, we announced to our team members the opening of our photography competition.

The categories in which people could enter their photographs included:

1.  Architecture or Cityscapes – focusing on the design and aesthetics of buildings and structures, using our office locations
2. Portrait – focusing on people or animals, trying to capture their personality/character
3. The Colour Red – focusing on a scene or subject where red is the dominant colour
4. Wonderful Spring Season – capturing the essence of spring
5. Joy at Work – encompassing the wellbeing, allyships, and teamwork of Mercer & Hole’s culture

From among all the entries, our esteemed judges also chose five photographs that stood out to them which they put forward for the People’s Choice category. The winner of the People’s Choice category was then voted for by our team members.

When we opened submissions for the competition, we also circulated a fantastic collection of the best photography hints and tips by Caroline Mockett, who was shortlisted in the London Camera Exchange 2024 Photographer of the Year, to give people a bit of guidance in getting the best shots and help them feel more confident behind the camera.

After an outstanding response of 42 entries from colleagues across all four of our offices, it has been inspiring to see the creativity and talent within our team. The submissions ranged from the striking and artistic to the joyful and spontaneous.

But, of course, each category can only have one winner!

So, in June, we invited Dan Branton, a freelance Graphic Designer and former Creative Director, and Mark Sims, a freelance photographer (who has taken many photos of Mercer & Hole team members over the years!) to act as judges in conjunction with Maria Kelly, our Marketing Director, to choose the winners of “Mercer & Hole – a new perspective”!

Thank you to everyone who entered and voted. Your enthusiasm has made this initiative a huge success.

Now, we are proud to reveal the winning entries…

 

Cityscapes/Architecture

Winner: Saffron Bourn
Saffron’s entry really stood out to the judges as a breath-taking photograph that gives us a snapshot of the story of St Alban’s Cathedral. Using a symmetrical viewpoint, the photo brilliantly balances architecture and light, capturing the gently illuminated windows, arches, pillars, and rosettes of the cathedral – all of which evoke the rich and deep history of a place that’s been at the heart of St Albans for hundreds of years.

 

Portraits

Winner: George Budge
This stunning portrait of two foxes really captures their personalities with a rawness and real feeling of wildness. The contrast between the expressions of each animal gives this photo a fantastic sense of drama and authenticity. It is a powerful image that cannot have been easy to take, and the judges agreed that it really stood out for how well it captured the distinct characters of the two subjects in that moment.

 

The Colour Red

Winner: Jess Maberly
This photo captures the bold vibrancy of red in one of the most iconic forms, which will be very familiar to everyone based in our London office – red London buses! The red stands out from the blue of the evening sky, and the line of sleek modern buses stands out from the ever-recognisable St Paul’s Cathedral rising up in the background. The use of depth and contrast brings this familiar view to life.

 

Wonderful Spring

Winner: Glyn Richards
Bursting with a sense of hope and brightness that spring brings, this winning photo encapsulates everything we love about the season. The judges agreed that Glyn’s photo really captures the essence of spring: new life, new beginnings, fresh colours, and the soft light of spring sunshine. The photo has a beautiful composition, with the fallen, brown leaves from winter that cover the forest floor being interrupted by the focus on the bright, fresh, delicate snowdrops that sit front and centre.

 

Joy at Work

Winner: Mandy Bagot

The judges loved this entry from Mandy showcasing our flag on a Mercer & Hole golf day we held in May. Whilst the focus of the photo is on the bright flag, it was clearly a beautiful day. The bright blue sky with fluffy white clouds in the background, above a beautiful golf green and beautiful trees lining the horizon… Mandy’s perfectly timed photo really highlights how enjoyable work-related events can be!

 

People’s Choice

Winner: Andrew Lawes

This entry by Andrew Lawes ended up being the photograph that truly captured the hearts and minds of the Mercer & Hole team from the five entries put forward by the judges. Showcasing charm (as well as perfect timing!) this winning photograph of two donkeys is a fantastic reflection of our team’s shared appreciation for the personality that shines through in this beautiful animal portrait.

Each of the winning photographs from all categories will soon be displayed proudly on the walls across the Mercer & Hole offices – bringing some more colour, inspiration, and personality to our shared spaces. Additionally, the images will be featured on a new set of bespoke coasters, as a daily reminder of the talent among us and the beauty of the world around us.

Once again, congratulations to all our winners, and a big thank you to everyone who participated. Whether you entered, voted, or admired from afar, you helped make this competition a success.

We look forward to seeing even more creativity in future competitions!