[Photo credit: Brian Harris]

Open to amateur and professional photographers, from today, the British Life Photography Awards boasts £10,000 in prizes.

The overall winner of the Sony-sponsored contest will bag £6,000 worth of kit including a Zeiss FE 24-70mm lens and a 55in Sony TV.

Organisers are seeking images ranging from street life to portraiture, ‘documenting real life through original, illuminating, thought-provoking, humorous and poignant imagery’.

They add: ‘The awards celebrate British life and culture, while also highlighting the relevance and importance of photography to raise and inform.’

Alien Shadow[Photo credit: Tom Fox]

The contest features 10 categories, including street life, portraiture and rural life.

There will be special awards for the best documentary feature and best young photographer.

The closing date is 26 September 2015.

The 10 categories are: Rural Life; Street Life; Urban Life, Work in the Community; Brits on Holiday; Portraiture; British Fashion and Popular Culture; British Weather; Documentary Series; and Young British Life Photographer.

Judges include Magnum Photos photographer Chris Steele-Perkins.

For details visit www.blpawards.com

CARLA REGLER.web[Photo credit: Carla Regler]

Service at the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Central London. [Photo credit: Janine Wiedel]