Exeter photographer represents SW in national charity photography competition
Budding photographer Patrick Dixon, from Exeter, is announced the regional winner of nationwide photography competition Patient Portraits: A New You and will be going on to represent the South West at the national phase of the competition.
The competition which is run by UK heart valve disease charity Heart Valve Voice and The Royal Photographic Society aims to raise awareness of heart valve disease; a growing health concern with approximately 1.5 million people over the age of 65 currently affected by the condition in the UK.
Patrick submitted 5 photographs depicting heart felt moments focusing on experiences of love, joy and laughter from spending time with family and loved ones to secure his winning place.
Heart valve disease is a common heart condition leading to the wear, disease or damage of one or more of the heart’s valves, affecting the flow of blood through the heart. It is important to diagnose early as for example, if severe aortic stenosis (a type of valve disease) is left untreated, half of patients can die within two years of developing symptoms.
The disease can be initially detected through a simple stethoscope exam and be easily treated using a number of treatments currently offered. Being successfully treated for valve disease enables patients to improve their quality and length of life and allows them to return to their previous lifestyle. In the next phase of the competition Patrick will be paired with a local heart valve disease patient and tasked with capturing, through photography, what life after heart valve disease means to them.
As a regional winner, Patrick’s documentary photo series will be displayed at the Houses of Parliament alongside other regional representatives this Autumn where the national winner will be announced to an audience of friends and family, MPs, patients, and clinicians.
“I’m delighted to be announced as the regional winner for the South West section of the Heart Valve Voice photography competition. This will be a great opportunity to use my passion for photography for a good cause.” comments regional winner, Patrick, “I have read the brief summary about my patient, Leonard, and I can already tell that he has had great benefit from his surgery, so I am looking forward to documenting this photographically when we meet. This will hopefully promote the awareness of heart valve disease and how this condition can be helped by the work of the wonderful teams involved in its treatment."
“Heart valve disease is a common but very treatable condition,” says Clinton Lloyd, Consultant Cardiac Surgeon at Derriford Hospital. “I am delighted to be supporting the photography competition to raise awareness of this condition and highlight the reality of living a full life after receiving treatment.”
To find out more about Patient Portraits: A New You please visit the Heart Valve Voice website: http://www.heartvalvevoice.com/photo-competition
And follow the conversation online via #NewValveNewMe
