PROFESSIONAL and amateur photographers have been invited to focus their cameras on “the beauty of industry” to enter the EEF Made in Britain Photography Awards.

Winners will share a prize fund of £5,000 worth of photographic equipment from Canon and gain national recognition at a Westminster awards reception in December.

The awards are free to enter in three categories – professional, amateur and young people aged 14 to 19.

EEF, the manufacturers' organisation, wants to see images of modern manufacturing that capture British products, components or processes – anything from turbines to silicon chips or portraying any part of the journey in inventing, designing or making British products.

“There's a boldness and beauty to British manufacturing that we're looking to capture through stunning photography," said Terry Scuoler (pictured), EEF chief executive. “Our aim is to give British manufacturing greater visibility and to challenge the myth that ‘Britain doesn't make anything anymore’.”

The government's Make it in Great Britain campaign is also backing the awards – with Business Minister Mark Prisk commenting: “Manufacturing is a creative and innovative industry. EEF's Manufacturing Photography Awards will help raise awareness of how interesting and dynamic the industry is, while tackling outdated perceptions.”

The closing date is 28 September, 2012. Entries will be shortlisted by a national panel of photographic and industry experts in October and winners will be announced at a special ceremony in Westminster in December. The gallery of winning and shortlisted images will be showcased throughout 2013. To enter, go to www.eef.org.uk/photo or call 020 76541501.