Today is Holocaust Memorial Day. 

Holocaust Memorial Day is the day for everyone to remember the millions of people murdered in the Holocaust, under Nazi Persecution, and in the genocides which followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur.

This year, The Holocaust Memorial Organisation hosted a Photography Competition. The theme was "Be the light in the darkness" and encouraged young people to "reflect on the dark depths humanity can sink to, but also the ways individuals and communities resisted that darkness to ‘be the light’" (hmd.org.uk).

Students studying A-Level photography were set the competition for homework over the Christmas holidays, by their teacher Erin Day. 

The work produced was stunning and the responses expressed a range of unique interpretations and approaches to 'Light up the darkness'.

The Holocaust Memorial Competition hosted two categories, the 14-18 category and the 19-25 category. 

First year A-Level Photography student Hannah Sheehy successfully won the 14-18 category. Her photo features butterflies on a window and for the exhibit, Hannah explained that her photo "represents the hope of being accepted and a better life in the light."

Erin Mae Robinson also placed and became part of the exhibition. Her photo reflected "hope for the younger generation in difficult times."

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To view Hannah's winning entry and all the other photographs that made the 'Light up the darkness' exhibition, click here.

To find out more about studying Photography at Ashton, click here.