Finalists for the AOP's Emerging Talent Awards

We are delighted to introduce the Finalists for the 2024 AOP Emerging Talent Award. Winners will now be announced live at the 2024 AOP Awards Showcase on 26th September alongside other award winners for 39th AOP Photography Awards. the 2024 AOP Open Award and the 2024 Martin Even Excellence in Digital Retouching Award. Congratulations to our finalists and all those who entered the 2024 AOP Emerging Talent Award;

Panos Chatzistefanou: Offline
Within this project, women are portrayed within their homes and familiar spaces, in everyday moments that often pass unnoticed. The photographic depiction of these women showcases them not as abstract subjects but as protagonists of serene repose, entrapped in the silence of simple moments. Each small scene (like an abrupt pause in the everyday rhythm) transforms into a space where existence reacts and resonates, revealing a conscious yet isolated world of thoughts. Beyond this internal completion, a social dimension emerges that is linked to the prevailing hyper-connectivity. In an era of continuous connection and overexposure, it serves as an inviting beacon, illuminating a different approach. In a society that often displays the external image of being “connected,” the project urges for internal disconnection. This work attempts to create an isolated space, urging each viewer to reconnect with their personal reality. It functions as an internal call, a dialogue guiding towards detachment from the diverse world of external stimuli and the cacophony of the many, fostering a desire for self- awareness and self-knowledge, as well as a deeper understanding of the social. Through the isolation and internal disconnection prompted by the work, the viewer is confronted with themselves, discovering their personal reality and reconnecting with their inner needs and values. This deepening of self-awareness and understanding of the self can lead to a more informed and sensitized approach to social dynamics and relationships. Thus, the work not only captures isolation but also uses it as a means to promote a more profound social consciousness and empathy.


Panos Chatzistefanou (b. 1984) is primarily a self taught photographer who lives and works in Athens, Greece. In my photographic journey, I delve into the intimate, everyday moments of women within the sanctuary of their homes, capturing the subtle beauty and profound depth of their contemplative states. These women, portrayed in their private spaces, embody a subtle existential anxiety, a quiet reflection of the inner turmoil that defines the human condition. These images serve to highlight the delicate interplay between vulnerability and strength, offering a glimpse into the universal experience of introspection. Through the lens, I aim to challenge societal preconceptions and celebrate the richness found in the simplicity of everyday life. This exploration seeks to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of the narratives that shape women's lives, transcending the ordinary to reveal the extraordinary.

Raymond Davies: Portraiture Selection
Portraiture is an area of photography I've found I particularly enjoy since beginning the Profesional Photography HND course at Edinburgh College last year. For my submission, I've included a selection of my favourite portraits I have produced as part of my coursework. The images come from several projects I've embarked upon and were taken on-location and in the studio using both natural and artificial light.
Lauren Gilholm: Lost in the Fog
Audi's TT is one of their most well known models, initially made for a younger, sporty demographic, and has become a fan favourite in the years since. With the TT being discontinued in late 2023, these images act as a send off to the valiant, loved sportscar as it becomes replaced by an EV counterpart.

Lauren Gilholm is a commercial advertising photographer, specialising in product, food, and automotive photography. Her love for taking photos developed during her childhood, and after being given an Olympus E-PM 1 she quickly found her passion. After achieving her BA Honours Degree in Photography in 2023, she began freelancing for businesses throughout Northumberland and up into the Scottish Highlands. Lauren combines her love for the natural world with her subjects, introducing flora and fauna into her product work, scene building in her food photography, and embracing beautiful colours and locations in her automotive work. Lauren is currently expanding her client base and offering her services across the UK.

Max Kessell: Where the sun sets on an Oyster Bay
Where the Sunsets on an Oyster Bay is my first long-form photographic project, Starting in the summer of 2023. To get out of this creative rut, I set myself the task of shooting a long-term project and releasing it as a zine at the end of summer. When thinking of project ideas I wanted to start with a project I knew a lot about. I chose the British seaside as it meant a lot to me as a child and I thought that if I explored deeper than its natural beauty, I could look at some complex social topics. I also wanted to observe and capture the essence of this traditional British pastime enjoyed by people regardless of colour or creed. In most situations, Despite the apparent differences between the beach-goers, these seaside towns offer a welcoming space for everyone. I found the sometimes comical nature of these towns, with their unique characters, gaudy arcades and retro bingo halls to be a great source of inspiration for a story. The significance of this project to me is the relatability of it to British people as well as the ability to see into a world that must seem incredibly alien to those not from the UK. This work focuses on the farcical characters and situations as well as the deep-rooted social quirks I saw in a famously overcast Britain.


Max Kessell is a self-taught photographer hailing from Hackney in North London. His passion lies in landscape and portraiture mainly although he dabbles in live event photography and has extensive experience in commercial fashion photography also. This dynamic and varied past has influenced his current works

Ana Piero Munoz: Memories
I took this series of images as part of the Circle Return project organised by the AOP f22 Women Photographers group. My series was created for Week 22 of the project (15th- 21st April 2024). Photographers took turns to create and respond to each other’s photographs/films, with each contributor having seven days to respond to the previous entry in the project. I followed on from Stephanie Pollak’s moving story and project “The Dead Parents Potluck”, photographing five individuals with a dish that evoked memories of the parent they had lost. Her post deeply moved me as I lost my father more than 30 years ago. After reading her story, I began thinking of the memories I have of important people in my life whom I deeply miss. I have some objects that belonged to them, photographs, the memories of meals we shared together, places we visited, conversations, smells, music, sounds, and good times. Inspired by these thoughts, I started working on a series called “Memories”, which features beautiful, delicate flowers captured in ice, symbolizing the beauty of memories that have survived the passage of time — where the flowers and the moments they represent have been carefully selected to be cherished forever. As some of my once vivid memories have now been softened by the passage of time, in my images I have tried to represent both my sharper recollections, as well as the soft, faded and blurred memories that I have been left with.

Ana Peiró Muñoz is a Spanish-British photographer living in Hampshire, UK. She has always been interested in both science and art, and is particularly passionate about close-up and macro photography. She holds a PhD in Chemistry and, before focusing on the visual arts, she worked in chemistry research. Some of her recent accolades include a shortlist in the 2024 Mobile Photography Awards (The British Photography Awards and Samsung), Official Selection and Honorable Mention at the International Photography Awards (One Shot Contest and IPA 2022 Fine Art non-professional category, respectively), two shortlists at the Close-up Photographer of the Year (CUPOTY 04) and a Highly Commended at the International Garden Photographer of the Year (IGPOTY 15)

Cody Jai Murray: SYMBIOSIS
This photographic series celebrates the diversity of human features and the artistry of hairstyling. Each image captures the essence of the individual, while collectively showcasing the collaborative work of two hairstylists.


About Cody Murray: As a 19-year-old student at Falmouth University pursuing a BA in Photography, my journey began in Manchester's diverse environment. Being Home educated from age 7 allowed me to dedicate significant time to developing my skills and discovering who I am. My fascination with hair and human features led me to collaborate with professional hair stylists, aiming to capture the artistry involved in hairdressing and the beauty of embracing your features.

Ruth Samuels: The Beholder
While beauty is supposedly in the eye of the beholder, historically black women have been held to Western/Caucasian beauty ideals and considered to be lacking. Whether being judged too dark, too muscular, not having 'delicate' enough features, or to have undesirable hair textures - black women are consistently disparaged in mainstream media. In this series, I have assumed the role of “The Beholder”, celebrating beauty as I see it. I sought to soothe any wounds held by those who have been made to feel inferior, and invite others to find beauty in places they might previously have missed.


About Ruth Samuels: I am a London-based, British-Jamaican portrait photographer, originally from the West Midlands. I am motivated by a desire to learn about different experiences of life, and highlight issues requiring compassion or a renewed perspective - a thread which ran through my academic studies in Social Anthropology, and professional work in international development programmes. Having been led to explore photography further as a result of chronic illness in 2022, I completed my studies at London Institute of Photography in April 2023. My work has been featured in the Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize 2023 Exhibition, shortlisted for Portrait of Britain 2023, and has received an honourable mention in the 20th Julia Margaret Cameron Awards. My images are characterised by warm tones, texture, and the play between light and shadows. Through my photographic work, I aim to empower underrepresented groups, amplify their voices, and evoke a sense of shared humanity between sitter and viewer. I am particularly passionate about providing a platform for women and minority cultures, and sharing stories from a broad variety of communities.

Francisco Javier Sanchez Garcia
About Franzis Sanchez: I am a Spanish photographer (from Malaga) based in Edinburgh. I have already done my first professional works in the UK and I am currently completing my HND Photography studies at Edinburgh College. My passion for photography started at a very young age, thanks to my father who is a great amateur photographer and with his equipment I started my interest and my technical and artistic training. My first approach was landscape, nature, macro, architecture... although in recent years my interest and skills have increased in portraiture, street photography, cultural subjects, especially those related to History and traditions