In pictures: photographers shortlisted for Portrait of Britain Awards

By Vanessa PearceBBC News, West Midlands

Portrait of Britain Vol 6/ Andy 'Compo' Compton

Herefordshire photographer Andy "Compo" Compton captured this image of Kington cobbler Nick Turner who has cerebral palsy.

Diversity, empathy and authenticity are all depicted in images shortlisted for this year's Portrait of Britain, organisers say.

Photos from across the West Midlands feature among the 200 shortlisted portraits and accompanying book that make up the nation's biggest photography exhibition.

They include images of Herefordshire cobbler, Nick Turner, who was advised never to work alone when he left college, and recently celebrated 36 years in business - working alone.

A community project to improve a neighbourhood in Stoke-on-Trent also features, as does a father pictured in his Coventry back garden.

Portrait of Britain Vol 6/Jaskirt Dhaliwal-Boora

This girl in Rowley Regis helps support her grandmother and grandfather in caring for her little brother who has a cleft palate and Pierre Robin syndrome

Portrait of Britain Vol 6/Neil McNaught

Coventry street photographer Neil McNaught was shortlisted for this Polaroid photograph of his dad, 90, taken in his Keresley garden

From the shortlist, 100 winners will be chosen whose photographs will go on display on digital advertising screens located in high streets, shopping centres and transport hubs across the country.

The images capture "the quirky, the mundane, the here and now of the extraordinary everyday in which we live," said Mick Moore, chief executive of the British Journal of Photography, which runs the competition.

Portrait of Britain Vol 6/Felicity Crawshaw

Neighbours embark on a plan to improve their Hanley neighbourhood, captured by Felicity Crawshaw

Portrait of Britain Vol 6/Anthony Luvera

An assisted self portrait of Mauvette Reynolds by Anthony Luvera in Birmingham is also shortlisted

Portrait of Britain Vol 6/Joseph Horton

A young handler is pictured with her ewe in Malvern, Worcestershire by Joseph Horton

The 200 shortlisted images feature in the Portrait of Britain Vol 6 photo book, printed in collaboration with Bluecoat Press and sponsored by JCDecaux.