Supporting the Future of Photography
These annual awards present an array of diverse and vibrant talent from students across the UK, representing a number of different UK photography courses. This year, its 40th, received over 300 submissions divided into three categories – People; Places; Things – of which there are gold and silver winners with one overall winner. The Best in Show overall winner, Matthew Marshall [Arts University Plymouth / BA (Hons) Commercial Photography] receives £5,000 worth of camera equipment and support from Fujifilm UK, and a £500 booking credit from Peerspace for his image Tinside which was and was selected blind by the full judging panel from all the gold and silver category winners. Tinside received gold in the Places category and Marshall also received silver for another image, Football Casuals, in the People category. All of the gold and silver winners receive a complimentary one-year subscription to Capture One ‘All in One’ and a tailored AOP membership package to support the start of their professional careers.
People’s Category (19 finalists) – This category covers any form of people-photography from portraiture to street photography, photojournalism and beyond. The People category is an opportunity to make visual comments about the human race and its ways. In previous ‘portrait’ categories, animal pictures have been featured but the originators of this category feel that entries this year should feature the human race.
Silver – Matthew Marshall, Arts University Plymouth / BA (Hons) Commercial Photography
Silver – Hannah Mittelstaedt, Falmouth University/ Commercial Photography BA(Hons)
© Matthew Marshall, ‘The Football Casuals, Charlie & Tyler’. SILVER Winner – People Category 2024
© Hannah Mittelstaedt, ‘At Home In My Body’. SILVER Winner – People Category 2024
Places Category (19 finalists) – Rather than duplicate possible locations such as landscapes and architecture, The AOP offers this category which provides unlimited opportunities.
Gold – Matthew Marshall, Arts University Plymouth / BA (Hons) Commercial Photography
Silver – Emrys Thursgood, University of the West of England, BA Photography
Silver – Linda Jarrett, Falmouth University (Online) /BA Photography-MA Photography
© Matthew Marshall, ‘Tinside’. GOLD Winner – Places Category 2024
© Emrys Thurgood, ‘The House Over The Sea’. SILVER Winner – Places Category 2024
© Linda Jarrett, ‘Under Destruction‘. SILVER Winner – Places Category 2024
Things Category (17 finalists) – This category covers almost everything else. Think Irving Penn’s found objects, Mapplethorpe’s flowers, Ori Gersht’s explosions, cats, dogs, bats and monkeys by Tim Flach, and sublime still-lifes by Richard Maxted and then make something unique and sensational.
Gold – Craig Bennett, University of Cumbria / BA (Hons) Photography
Silver – Gemma McNaughton, Edinburgh College/ HND Professional Photography
© Craig Bennet, ‘Beacons – Illuminating Nature’s Hidden Pathways’. GOLD Winner, Things category 2024
© Gemma McNaughton, ‘Nature Morte Vivante’. SILVER Winner, Things category 2024
The judges for the AOP 2024 Student Awards are People – Michael Wharley, AOP Accredited and GOLD Winner of the 37th 2022 AOP Photography Awards – Documentary ; Places – Sachini Imbuldeniya, CEO of full–service content agency House of Oddities, that champions exceptional talent from the most underrepresented groups in the UK’s creative sector; and Things – Frankie Turner, AOP Accredited Photographer and GOLD Winner of the 38th 2023 AOP Photography Awards – Food and Drink.
Entry to the AOP Student Awards 2024 is open to all students (including those from overseas) studying photography in the UK at FE level or higher. The AOP Student Awards were established in the early 1980s, to recognise and highlight emerging photographic talent which existed in further education institutions across the UK. Many of the AOP Student Awards winners go on to become discovery winners as assisting photographers and then as professional photographers for the AOP Photography Awards, as the organisation prides itself on nurturing talented photographers throughout their career.
As Isabelle Doran, CEO of The AOP, explains, “Challenging perceptions of identity, environment and society, through provocative and attentive imagery seems to be the central theme to this year’s AOP Student Awards. It’ll be fascinating to see how this year’s finalists and winners progress in their professional careers going forwards. The AOP is steadfast committed to the development and support of professional photographers and image-makers, whether they are starting out, emerging or established, and our Student Awards, showcasing the next generation of talent, have been a key feature of the AOP since the early 1980s and is a testament to that.”
Theo Georghiades, General Manager Fujifilm UK, says of Fujifilm’s partnership with the AOP’s Student Awards, “Fujifilm is proud to support the next generation of photographers through our association with the AOP’s student awards. We believe in nurturing creativity and innovation in the field of imaging, and we look forward to seeing the incredible talent that emerges from this competition. The overall winner can expect a prize that reflects our commitment to excellence in imaging solutions.”
Best in Show plus Gold and Silver winners, along with selected finalists, will have the chance to be showcased and appear in the official 39th AOP Photography Awards Book which is published in time for the AOP Awards Showcase on 26 September 2024.
About the Association of Photographers (AOP)
The Association of Photographers was first formed in 1968 as the Association of Fashion and Advertising Photographers and is one of the most prestigious professional photographers’ associations in the world. The Association’s aims are to protect, promote and inspire the worth and standing of its members within the commercial photographic industry
Its mission is to be the guiding force for professional photographers, and image-makers, on matters relating to business practice in still and moving images, whether from a practical, educational or legal basis. The Association brings professionals together and provides a sense of community that is simply unavailable anywhere else. It promotes the highest levels of achievement, and campaigns for its members’ interests at all levels.
The AOP membership has always been formed of some of the most influential, trailblazing photographers in the history of the art form. Past and present members include the likes of Terence Donovan, Rankin, Tim Flach, Nadav Kander, Tessa Traeger, David Bailey, Julia Fullerton-Batten and Jillian Edelstein. For over 50 years, members’ work has appeared in global advertising campaigns, books, newspapers, magazines, exhibitions and cultural events the world over.
Membership is open to professional and assisting photographers working in the creative sector; agents; any individuals working in the photographic industry; those starting out in the profession; those in education; and anyone with an interest in professional photography.
www.the-aop.org
For further press information, images, and interview requests please contact
Sam Trenerry – samtrenerry@yahoo.com/ +44 (0)7780 991 811
The Association of Photographers is a membership organisation dedicated to promoting, protecting and educating photographers of all levels – from those starting out, to experienced professionals, and everyone in between.
© The Association of Photographers Ltd
The AOP Photography Awards are known as the ‘Oscars’ of the photography world. They celebrate excellence in the creative photography and image-making industry.
This is your chance to be seen by leading commissioners and names within the photographic industry.
Find out more about our 39th AOP Awards…