<i>IoS</i> competition winners capture pictures of health

The finalists in the <i>IoS</i>/British Heart Foundation photographic contest go on display in London tomorrow after impressing the judges

What the eye sees not, the heart rues not, runs the Scottish proverb. There was little to rue and much to celebrate among the entries in the Independent on Sunday/British Heart Foundation "Red for Heart" photography competition. Constrained only by the rule that red must be in the image, entries showed a wide creative response.

David Jenkins, winner of the adult category with his image, "The Swimmer", said: "My idea was to set the strength of the colour red against a muted backdrop to draw on themes of tranquillity and solitude. This is linked metaphorically to feelings of isolation when battling personal health issues."

Beanie Trant, 14, said of her winning entry in the junior category: "'Leap for Life' shows young people keeping fit and having fun. It shows how important friendship is."

The student-category winner, Tom Price, said of his picture – "Pulse" – that the heart was represented by a powerful beam of light "which punctures the surrounding darkness".

The finalists' images can be seen at the National Heart Month exhibition next to the London Eye from tomorrow, and at bhf.org.uk/redphotos

Simply red

1. 'Leap for Life', by Beanie Trant, 14, the junior winner

2. 'The Swimmer', by David Jenkins, the adult winner

3. 'Pulse', by Tom Price, the student winner

4. 'Wearing Red and Purple', by Chris Mole, adult runner-up

5. 'Heart', by Samantha Durrant, 15, junior runner-up

6. 'Heart to Heart Over a Cuppa', by Ottilie Simpson, student runner-up