A place that is special is the theme of a new photography competition that aims to reach out to people who are experiencing or have experienced homelessness, alongside people who have a secure place to live.

MyPlace_MyFace encourages people to take a photo of themselves, their friends, family or pet, in a setting that has added meaning for them, be it a local park, favourite tree, café, swimming spot, the back yard shed, mum's old lounge, or a cubby house.

The initiative, a collaboration between the City of Sydney's Pine Street Creative Arts Centre and Homelessness Unit, Australian Centre for Photography and Wesley Mission, invites entries from amateur photographers, regardless of age or skill level. A panel of judges, including Verity Chambers, Photo Editor of Sydney Morning Herald, will decide a winner and runner-up in each category to receive prizes.

Playing on the pervasiveness of today's online social networking applications, such as My Space and Facebook, the competition encourages members of the community to celebrate “real” as opposed to “virtual” places and people.

The Homeless Category is for people sleeping rough or living in temporary shelter, while the Housed Category is for people who have a place to live. Both have Under 18s and Over 18s sub-categories.

Prizes

Over 18 Housed

First Prize - Total Value $717
- Photography Course at Australian Centre for Photography (value $425)
- Crumpler "Five Million Dollar Home" camera bag (value $115)
- Ted's Camera Store Voucher (value $100)
- Australian Photography Magazine subscription (value $77)

Highly commended - Total Value $367
- Creative Arts Course at Pine Street Creative Arts Centre (value $240)
- Australian Photography Magazine subscription (value $77)
- Ted's Camera Store Voucher (value $50)

Over 18 Homeless

First Prize - Total Value $715
- Five Classes of Private Photography Tuition (value $450)
- Crumpler "Five Million Dollar Home" Camera Bag (value $115)
- Coles Voucher (value $100)
- Ted's Camera Store Voucher (value $50)

Highly commended - Total Value $350
- Ted's Camera Store voucher (value $150)
- Coles Voucher (value $200)

Under 18 Housed

First Prize - Total Value $455
- Creative Arts Course at Pine Street Creative Arts Centre (value $240)
- Crumpler "Five Million Dollar Home" camera bag (value $115)
- Ted's Camera Store voucher (value $100)
- Australian Photography Magazine subscription (value $77)

Highly commended - Total Value $202
- Ted's Camera Store voucher (value $125)
- Australian Photography Magazine subscription (value $77)

Under 18 Homeless

First Prize - Total Value $465
- Coles Voucher (value $200)
- Ted's Camera Store Voucher (value $150)
- Crumpler "Five Million Dollar Home" camera bag (value $115)

Highly commended - Total Value $200
- Ted's Camera Store voucher (value $100)
- Coles Voucher (value $100)

Winners announced on 19th August 2010.

Judges in 2010:

• Verity Chambers, Photo Editor, Sydney Morning Herald
  
• Julie Sundberg, Education Manager for the Australian Centre for Photography
  
• Jane Hooper, Manager of Pine Street Creative Arts Centre
  
• Liz Giles, Manager of the City of Sydney's Homelessness Unit
  
• Rowen Atkinson,Web Master, Wesley Mission.

Summary