Kate Middleton Is Hosting a Digital Photography Exhibit Inspired by COVID-19—Here’s How to Submit Photos
Royal fans know that Kate Middleton is quite the photographer, and Kensington Palace frequently shares the adorable shots she’s taken of her three children on social media. As a way to inspire others during the coronavirus pandemic, the Duchess of Cambridge (and art history major) is teaming up with the UK’s National Portrait Gallery on a first-of-its-kind community project, inviting anyone from the UK to submit their own photos for inclusion.
Middleton recently announced her partnership with the London-based gallery called Hold Still, which is described on their website as “an ambitious community project to create a unique photographic portrait which captures the spirit, mood, hopes, fears, and feelings of the nation as we continue to deal with the Coronavirus outbreak.”
From now through June 18, residents of the UK can submit their unique photos—whether taken with professional equipment or simply an iPhone—that best express one or more of the following themes: “Helpers and Heroes,” “Your New Normal,” and “Acts of Kindness.”
You don’t have to be an experienced photog to enter, either. The virtual exhibit will feature 100 photos that “reflect resilience and bravery, humor and sadness, creativity and kindness, human tragedy and hope as we hold still for the good of others, and celebrate those who have continued so we can stay safe,” focusing less on “photographic quality or technical expertise” and more on the emotions behind each shot.
Entrants are encouraged to share their submissions on social media using #HoldStill2020, along with submitting your picture using the official entry form, where you can also include a short description of the meaning behind your pick. You can also check out the Hold Still Gallery online, where some of the submissions are already highlighted and available to view.
In a video announcing the initiative, Middleton (who has been a patron of the National Portrait Gallery since 2012) explained a bit more about the project. “We have all seen some incredible images out there, and heard some amazing stories,” she said. “Some desperately sad stories, but also some really uplifting ones as well, and I really hope that through a project like this we might be able to showcase some of these stories and to document and share a moment in time that we are all experiencing.”