Photo essay

Portrait of Britain 2024

The annual photography competition captures the constantly evolving identity of the UK

Portrait of Britain 2024 image of Suhag is from an ongoing project focusing on the small but growing community of Muslims on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent.
This portrait of Suhag by Ash Islam, from 2023, is from a project focusing on the small but growing Muslim community on the Isle of Sheppey. Portrait of Britain vol. 7 © Ash Islam

Portrait of Britain is the nation’s biggest annual photography competition. Now in its seventh year, the event, run by British Journal of Photography in partnership with the outdoor advertising company JCDecaux UK, aims to celebrate the diverse nature and evolving identity of contemporary society.

In this annual exhibition, 100 images will be selected from thousands of submissions and displayed from 6 January on digital screens on high streets, in shopping malls and at transport hubs across the country. A book of 200 selected images is available now, published by Bluecoat Press. UK Muslims feature prominently among the 2024 entries, both in front of and behind the camera. Here are some of our favourites.

Portrait of Britain 2024: Aisha in the Cairngorms by Ameena Rojee.
Aisha in the Cairngorms by Ameena Rojee. Portrait of Britain vol. 7 © Ameena Rojee

Aisha is a participant in the Following Nan expedition, inspired by the pioneering Scottish mountaineer and author Nan Shepherd and her memoir, The Living Mountain. The expedition experiments with a different, more intentional approach to mountaineering.

Portrait of Britain 2024: Idriss Sesay by Elijah Thomas
Idriss Sesay by Elijah Thomas. Portrait of Britain vol. 7 © Elijah Thomas

“This is Idriss Sesay,” writes photographer Elijah Thomas. “I grew up in the Rhondda Valley with his son Mohammed and even though I keep in touch with Mo I hadn’t spoken to Idriss for about 20 years. We made this photograph in their family home in Llwynypia. He’s wearing a boubou, an item of clothing traditionally worn across west Africa.”

Portrait of Britain 2024 photography competition: Huda Abdulgader by Elena Mendoza
Huda Abdulgader by Elena Mendoza. Portrait of Britain vol. 7 © Elena Mendoza

Portraits of Identity, of which this image is part, is a photographic project that aims to capture Edinburgh’s diversity.

Portrait of Britain 2024 photography competition: Bodrul Islam by Rehan Jamil
Bodrul Islam by Rehan Jamil. Portrait of Britain vol. 7 © Rehan Jamil

A volunteer at the East London Mosque for many years, Bodrul Islam stands by the car park gate directing worshippers during Friday prayers, which attract a congregation of up to 7,000. 

Portrait of Britain 2024 photography competition: Mohammad and his Daughter by Simon King
Mohammad and his Daughter by Simon King. Portrait of Britain vol. 7 © Simon King

This image was made during a Palestine solidarity protest in Wanstead, east London, at which the local community came together to fly kites — a popular Palestinian pastime.

Portrait of Britain 2024 photography competition: Young Hakim, photographed outside Downing Street, highlights some of the many injustices in the world.
Freedom by John Behets. Portrait of Britain vol. 7 © John Behets

Young Hakim, photographed outside Downing Street, highlights some of the many injustices in the world.

Portrait of Britain 2024 photography competition: Fahma by Freya Najade
Fahma by Freya Najade. Portrait of Britain vol. 7 © Freya Najade

Fahma and her friends having a picnic in a park in Haggerston to celebrate Eid, from an ongoing series titled Hackney Colours, which explores and celebrates the people of the borough.

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