The RPS Documentary Photography Award is an international event attracting exceptional documentary and visual storytellers from across the world.
In total 9 projects were exhibited, with 3 projects from each of a Members, Students and an Open category. This format enables us to show long-form documentary work from our own RPS members, plus work of student photographers, as well as from more seasoned and experienced photographers in the open category.
The selected projects are diverse; ranging from the impact of conflict and war, migration, reflections on history and memory, performance, ageing, mental health and childhood. They provide an insight into the range of what can be documentary and how it can be used to tell stories.
The Awards and exhibiting photographers are:
Student Category: Julian Cabral, Sefa Eyol and Tamsyn Warde
On These Magic Shores, ©Tamsyn Warde
Members Category: Michael Knapstein, Ruth Toda-Nation and Brian Morgan
Late For Church, Murdo, South Dakota, USA ©Michael Knapstein
Open Category: Byron Smith, Gerard Saitner and Alisa Martynova
Sunday mass in a church that was once situated on the front line and subsequently sustained damage from Russian shelling. June, 2022. ©Byron Smith
This year’s international panel of selectors included:
- Alejandro Chaskielberg, photographer and curator, Buenos Aires
- Liz Hingley, photographer, curator and anthropologist, London
- Roy Mehta, photographer and Lecturer, London
- Rosy Santella, picture editor, Internazionale, Rome
- Roger Tooth, former head of photography, The Guardian
The touring exhibition showing a selection of work from the award-winning entrants was exhibited at Oriel Colwyn 3rd to 30th August.
If you didn’t manage to get to see the show you will find a virtual tour below:
