The World Photography Organization shared the overall winners list of the prestigious 2021 Sony World Photography Awards with the public. Distinguished documentary photographer Craig Easton (UK) was named 'Photographer of the Year' for his series titled Bank Top and was awarded a cash prize of $25,000 as well as an equipment kit consisting of Sony's digital imaging products. In addition, the 10 category winners, the 2nd and 3rd place winners in the Professional competition, and the overall winners of the Freestyle, Student and Youth competition sections were also announced.
The winners were announced in a ceremonial video hosted by World Photography Organization CEO Scott Gray and TV and radio host and author Konnie Hug. The video, including interviews, behind-the-scenes clips and reactions from the winning photographers, can be watched at: worldphoto.org/ceremony-2021
Additionally, a virtual exhibition featuring the winning and finalist works; A specially prepared documentary presented by art historian Jacky Klein and entertainer Nish Kumar and the 2021 Sony World Photography Awards book were also shared with the public. It is possible to watch and download all three works at: worldphoto.org/announcement-2021
Created in collaboration with writer and academic Abdul Aziz Hafez, Bank Top, examines the ways in which communities in northern England are portrayed and misrepresented, focusing on the close-knit Bank Top neighborhood in Blackburn.Project; Easton's work in this area , Thatcher's Children, an investigation into the chronic nature of poverty experienced by three generations of a family , 2nd place, Documentary Projects, 2021 Professional competition) and Sixteen ' in (Sixteen, 2017 Awards Portrait category) which is a look at the dreams, aspirations and fears of 16-year-olds from all walks of life It forms part of his wider body of work, including (shortlisted).
Bank Top , launched by Blackburn Museum & Art Gallery ' in response to media reports portraying the district as “Britain's most isolated borough” Kick Down the Barriers One of the results of the project named . In seeking to challenge this narrative, the museum invited artists and writers to collaborate with residents of various neighborhoods to create a truthful and authentic representation of those communities.
Easton and Hafiz worked closely with neighborhood residents for a year, exploring their stories and experiences through a series of black & white portraits and accompanying texts. These portraits and texts highlight issues such as social deprivation, housing, unemployment, migration and representation, as well as issues related to the impact of past and current foreign policies. Easton and Hafez's work resists simplistic generalizations and aims to provide context for how these communities came together and offer deeper insight into how they develop together today.
Mike Trow, President of the 2021 Professional Competition, said: "The most impressive aspect of this project is the intention, determination and insight that Craig puts forward. Knowing that words are also important in such a sensitive project, he worked closely with the writer Abdul Aziz Hafız and together they formed parts of a whole. The people in question here are not people who specifically wanted their photographs to be taken, but Craig has gained their trust. These people look at the camera sincerely, and we believe that there is an agreement between the documentary photographer and his subject." We can see that what makes this work so important and worthy of reward is the moral burden it carries.
Easton comments on his win: “ I am delighted that this work has been recognized by the 2021 Sony World Photography Awards. I take photographs to learn, to understand, and to document and share stories. It is a privilege to be able to do this, to challenge perceptions and stereotypes, which is of particular importance to me. It is fantastic that the stories of under- or mis-represented communities, where I live in northern England, are becoming known and shared around the world.” something. Thank you ”
PROFESSIONAL COMPETITION CATEGORY WINNERS
Photographers who won the professional competition; They were selected by a panel of expert judges because they presented a superior set of five to ten images captured on a wide range of topics, from stories of local significance to issues of global significance, from moments of quiet resilience to moments of creative grandeur and joy. All category winners are given Sony's digital imaging kit as a gift.
This year's winners:
ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN
WINNER: Tomáš Vocelka (Czech Republic) for his series titled Eternal Hunting Grounds
Finalists: 2nd Frank Machalowski (Germany); 3rd Gu Guanghui (China)
CREATIVITY
WINNER: Mark Hamilton Gruchy (UK) for his series The Moon Revisited (United Kingdom)
Finalists: 2nd Luigi Bussolati (Italy); 3rd place Sasha Bauer (Russian Federation)
DOCUMENTARY PROJECTS
WINNER: Vito Fusco (Italy) for his series The Killing Daisy
Finalists: 2nd Craig Easton (UK); 3rd place Lorenzo Tugnoli (Italy)
ENVIRONMENT
WINNER: Simone Tramonte (Italy) for the series entitled Net-zero Transition
Finalists: 2nd Mohammad Madadi (Islamic Republic of Iran); 3rd place Antonio Pérez (Spain)
VIEW
WINNER: Majid Hojjati (Islamic Republic of Iran) for his series titled Silent Neighborhoods
Finalists: 2nd Andrea Ferro (Italy); 3rd Fyodor Savintsev (Russian Federation)
PORTFOLIO
WINNER: Portfolio Overview by Laura Pannack (UK) for work
Finalists: 2nd place Brais Lorenzo (Spain); 3rd Loli Laboureau (Argentina)
PORTRAIT
WINNER: Craig Easton (UK) for his series Bank Top
Finalists: 2nd Julia Fullerton-Batten (UK); 3rd Jane Hilton (United Kingdom)
SPORTS
WINNER: Sport and Fun Instead of War and Fear ( ) Anas Alkharboutli (Syrian Arab Republic)
Finalists: 2nd place Patrick Meinhardt (Spain); 3rd Farzam Saleh (Islamic Republic of Iran)
STILL LIFE
WINNER: Peter Eleveld (Netherlands) for his series titled Still Life Composition, Shot on Wet Plate
Finalists: 2nd place Alessandro Pollio (Italy); 3rd Paloma Rincon (Spain)
WILDLIFE & NATURE
WINNER: Luis Tato (Spain) for his series titled Locust Invasion in East Africa
Finalists: 2nd Graeme Purdy (UK); 3rd place Angel Fitor (Spain)
For more information on this year's winners and finalist channel projects, visit winners' online galleries .
FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
The Freestyle Competition section is designed to appreciate the power of a single photograph. Winning photographs are selected for their ability to express a remarkable visual narrative combined with technical excellence. Selected from 10 Freestyle Competition section winners, Tamary Kudita (Zimbabwe) was named the 2021 Freestyle Photographer and was awarded $5,000 in cash prizes, Sony's digital imaging equipment and global exposure.
Kudita earned the win for her remarkable portrait of African Victorian in the Creativity category. The photo depicts a young black woman dressed in Victorian attire, holding traditional Shona kitchen tools.The photography questions the stereotypical depiction of the black female body and proposes an alternative visual language in which a multifaceted African identity is represented.
Kudita says the following about her first place: 'African Victorian is a tribute to today's existence, which is also rooted in history. I am very honored to be chosen as the winner of the Freestyle Competition section. This award proves the role we play as creators of creative content in shaping visual culture. A key idea in my work is the importance of how the African is represented. I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to put Zimbabwean art on the map.'
STUDENT PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
Stellenbosch Design and Photography Academy student Coenraad Heinz Torlage (South Africa) was named Student Photographer of the Year 2021 and won €30 thousand worth of photography equipment on behalf of his school.Torlage created Young Farmers in response to the mission statement Our Time , which asked students to describe the way they and their peers see the world and how they plan to change it for the better. was selected with the series. Torlage, who grew up on a farm himself, in Young Farmers ’ aimed to photograph a new generation of farmers facing challenging questions such as severe drought, debates over security and land ownership, as well as sustainability and food security, and how they can contribute to a more just and equitable future.
Torlage comments on his win: “ I had an experience that is almost impossible to describe. I have dreamed of winning many times and prayed to be able to share my country and its amazing people with the world. I believe in the young farmers of South Africa, which is what this country needs in terms of food, sustainability and ecological awareness. Winning is a dream come true thanks to the amazing people I photographed and everyone who helps and supports me. I focus on work, family and everything. First of all, I believe in God's grace. It is a great honor for me just to have my photographs accepted in such a prestigious competition."
YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
Selected from six category winners, Pubarun Basu (India, 19 years old) became the Young Photographer of the Year 2021 for her photograph titled No Escape from Reality (No Escape from Reality) . In the photograph, the shadows of the railing reflected on the screen create the illusion of the bars of a cage, while a pair of hands appear behind them, as if trying to escape. The shadow illusion and hand gesture reveal the feeling of being trapped that many people around the world have shared over the past year.
Basu comments on his win: "I am deeply honored to be named Young Photographer of the Year. Participating in this competition has given me a fresh perspective on my art. I have seen some extraordinary images taken by young photographers around the world and feel immensely proud to have such brilliant minds in my generation. I aspire to improve myself as an artist and express my gratitude to my friends and family who always encourage me. . "
SUPERIOR CONTRIBUTION TO PHOTOGRAPHY
This year's Outstanding Contribution to Photography award went to renowned Mexican artist Graciela Iturbide.Considered the most important living photographer in Latin America, Iturbide's works have been depicting Mexico with photographs since the late 1970s and have been appreciated for their contributions to the visual identity of the country. In photographs of daily life and culture, as well as ritual and religion, Iturbide's work explores the many complexities and contradictions of his country, questions its inequalities, and reveals the tensions between urban and rural, modern and settled culture. In his photographs, Iturbide goes beyond straight documentary narratives and aims to present the subjects of photography with a poetic vision illuminated by the photographer's personal experiences and journey.
You can see all the photos taken by the winners, finalists and student shortlists at: www.worldphoto.org/press
