On 1 June 2024, Pas-de-Calais Tourisme organised its first Photo Marathon in Lens, at the heart of the Autour du Louvre-Lens destination. Despite the gloomy weather, the event attracted around thirty amateur photographers from the Hauts-de-France region, all keen to highlight the heritage of Lens.
On 27 June, participants were able to discover the winning photographs at a face-to-face and online prize-giving ceremony. There were six winners, three in the ‘smartphone’ category and three in the ‘digital camera’ category.
Prizes to promote the region
The winners received a variety of prizes combining tourism, culture and photography. First place won a stay at the 4-star Louvre-Lens hotel. Second place won a meal in a gourmet restaurant. And third place won guided tours of the town of Lens. Vouchers for photographic equipment, photo prints and photo books were also added to the prizes. The prizes are designed to encourage amateur photographers to continue discovering, capturing and showcasing the destination’s hidden treasures.
In addition to the six winners, the photographers whose photos came first in each theme also received a 20×30 cm print.
Portfolio with all the photos for download.
A panel of committed professionals
The event would not have been such a success without the participation of the jury, chaired by Jean-Michel André, artist photographer, and made up of Pas-de-Calais Tourisme, the Pays d’Art et d’Histoire, the CRP/ Centre régional de la photographie Hauts-de-France, the Louvre-Lens museum and young people, Fanny, Matthieu and Chérine, from the local mission in Lens-Liévin. Their expertise and keen eye helped them to select the most remarkable images from among the many high-quality works on display.
A convivial moment of sharing
The prize-giving ceremony ended with a convivial moment where the photographers were able to share their views with each other and with the organisers. They praised the work of the Storytooling group in creating and organising the event. This moment of sharing strengthened the bonds between the participants and created a real community of enthusiasts, eager for the next edition.
Thanks
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all the participants, jury members and partners for their commitment and contribution to the success of this first Photo Marathon. This event not only highlighted the beauty and richness of Lens, but also strengthened the bonds within the local community.
