The winners of the 39th AOP Photography Awards, celebrating excellence in the creative
photography and image-making industry, have been announced live at an Awards
ceremony in London on the evening of Thursday 26 September 2024 as part of the AOP
Annual Showcase event, sponsored by MPB, this year’s headline sponsor. As the voice for
photographers since 1968, the AOP Awards programme recognises and promotes
professional excellence, technical ability and talent at all stages of a photographer’s
career.
The gold and silver winners of all 10 broad ranging categories, plus Best Commissioned and
Best Personal and the AOP Discovery Award presented exclusively to AOP Assistant
Photographer Members, are announced alongside the 2024 AOP Open Award, where
professionals and amateurs compete on equal terms; the AOP's Emerging Talent Awards
(sponsored by Hahnemühle), celebrating the very best in the new wave of photographers and
image makers, who have been practising their craft for less than 3 years; the AOP Discovery
Award presented exclusively to AOP Assistant Photographer Members; and the 2024 Martin
Evening Excellence in Digital Retouching Award (sponsored by Luminar Neo). These diverse
awards reflect the AOP’s commitment to showcasing the very best in photography, as well as
promoting and protecting the rights of professional photographers.
Isabelle Doran, CEO of the Association of Photographers, says of the 39th AOP Awards,
“Such a stunning array of winning images by our professional photographers for this years’
Awards - they are all so different, but equally arresting and thought-provoking, enabling us as
viewers to consider the human stories either in front of or behind the lens in a myriad of ways.”
Todd Antony, Flying Stars © Todd Antony. Courtesy the AOP
* GOLD - Todd Antony
* SILVER - Hannah Maule-ffinch
Factual / observational photography and short
form film documenting real-life that informs or
promotes ideals. Includes photojournalism and
reportage photography. (Judged by Olivia Arthur,
Magnum Photographer; Laura Summerton,
Photography Manager, Water Aid; and Krishna
Sheth, Head of Photography – The Economist 1843 Magazine. Sponsored by Wex
Photo Video)
Environment -
* GOLD (joint) - Ian Kirby/ Tom Parker
* SILVER - Samuel Hicks
Photography and short form film where the overall
situation or location is the primary focus of the image
that covers outdoors, environmental and natural
landscape photography. (Judged by Alan McFetridge,
Artist & Photographer; David Gray, Content Director,
Finisterre; and Chrissy Levett, Co-Founder & CEO, Creative Conscience. Sponsored by
EIZO)
Ian Kirby, 'Diptych I', from 'The Cycle_ Masima Nagar Village' © Ian Kirby. Courtesy the AOP
Tom Parker, 'The Digital Volcano' © Tom Parker. Courtesy the AOP
* GOLD - Rocio Chacon
* SILVER - Nádia Correia
Photography and short form film that illustrates or promotes
clothing or beauty products. (Judged by Kaj Jefferies, Director &
Photographer; Jamie Spence, Visuals Director | BRITISH VOGUE;
and Safia Minney MBE FRSA, British social entrepreneur, author,
former Global CEO & founder of People Tree. Sponsored by MOT
Models)
Food + Drink
* GOLD - Scott Grummett
* SILVER - Chloe Hardwick
Photography and short form film where food or
drink is the primary focus of the image. (Judged
by Julie Fisher, Founder & Ice cream Innovator
(and former AOP Photographer); Ginny Rolfe,
Head Food Stylist at Jamie Oliver Limited; and
Rich Robinson, Head of Creative, M&S food. Sponsored by Fair Licensing)
Lifestyle
* GOLD - Ben Rayner
* SILVER - Michael Wharley
Fictional / staged photography and short form film reflecting
lifestyle scenarios that illustrate or promote brands,
corporations, products, and ideas.
(Judged by Julian Love, Photographer; Matthew Beaman,
Director of Photography, Monocle; and Jaki Jo Hannan, Head of
Print Production and Experiential, adam&eve DDB. Sponsored
by Capture One)
Liam Arthur, 'Nyha' © Liam Arthur. Courtesy the AOP
* GOLD - Liam Arthur
* SILVER (joint) - Brian Doben/ Julia Fullerton-Batten
Photography and short form film where the subject, human
or animal, is the primary focus of the image. (Judged by
Emma Hardy, Photographer; Russ O’Connell, Picture Editor,
Sunday Times Magazine; and Nella Soušková, Associate
Editor, Photography & Design, Thames & Hudson.
Sponsored by Peerspace)
Spaces
* GOLD - Joseph Ford
* SILVER - Matthew Joseph
Photography and short form film where interior spaces and
decoration, built exteriors and locations are the primary
focus of the image. (Judged by James Merrell, Photographer;
Caroline Rowland, Founding Editor, 91 Magazine; and Fiona
Naylor, Co-Founder Johnson Naylor | Interior Architecture &
Design Magazine. Sponsored by Williamson Carson,
Insurance for the Creative Industries)
Sport
* GOLD - Nick David
* SILVER - Will Cornelius
Photography and short form film where
sport or fitness activity is the primary
focus of the image, includes sports fans
and venues. (Judged by Henrik
Sorensen, Photographer; Helen Stergios;
Design Director, Nike; and Leon
Yearwood, Picture Editor, Sky Sports.
Sponsored by IMAGO)
Still Life + Object
* GOLD - Euan Myles
* SILVER - James Day
Photography and short form film where still life or objects
are the primary focus of the image. This can be any type of
object in any place. (Judged by Kevin Mackintosh,
Photographer; Jaina Minton, Set Designer & Prop Stylist;
and Jon Clarke, Operations Director, Havas, London)
Project
* GOLD - Carol Allen-Storey
* SILVER - Owen Harvey
A long-term photographic project on a singular
subject that portrays a narrative, illustrated in a
series of 10-20 images, or short form film.
(Judged by Miles Aldridge, Photographer;
Christiane Monarchi, Editor, Hapax Magazine; and
Clare Grafik, Head of Exhibitions, The
Photographers’ Gallery. Sponsored by Genesis
Imaging)
Best in Show Personal / Non-commissioned
* WINNER - Nigel Riches
A specific award celebrating inspirational
personal work from amongst all 2024 eligible
finalist entries. (Judged by Tracy Marshall-Grant,
Arts Director/Producer)
Best in Show Commissioned
* WINNER - Jack Eames
A specific award celebrating inspirational commissioned work
from amongst all 2024 eligible finalist entries. (Judged by
Jacqui Dixon, Arts Buyer / Stills Producer)
The AOP Open Award
* GOLD - Drew Gardner
* SILVER - Matt Davies
The Open Award is open to everyone – both professional and
amateur – and is about championing exquisite imagery with no
categories or restrictions. (Judged by Francis Augusto, AOP
Accredited Photographer; Zoe Norfolk, AOP Accredited
Photographer; Waldo Wilkinson, MD / Agent / producer, Morgan
Lockyer)
Drew Gardner, Austin Morris, descendant of Frederick Douglass, from the series The Descendants of Black Civil War combatants © Drew Gardner. Courtesy the AOP
* GOLD - Ruth Samuels
* SILVER - Panos Chatzistefanou
Celebrating the very best in the new wave of
photographers and image makers. (Judged by Kate
Congreve, producer, Mother London; Katy Niker,
Photographic Agent & Producer; Jason Baron,
Photography Consultant formerly BBC and Comic Relief)
The AOP Discovery Award
* JOINT WINNERS - Oliver Clyde; Theo Deproost; Lesley
Lau: and Owen Peters
Part of the main AOP Photography Awards and with the
same judges the Discovery Award is a way of singling out
and encouraging Assisting Photographer members.
The Martin Evening Excellence in Digital Retouching Award
* WINNER - Matt Brewin, Retouch
Spanning both photographic stills and
short-form film, recognising outstanding
work in digital retouching and post-
production. Launched in 2023, this Award
is for an individual or team who excels
at digital retouching in either still or moving
image. (Judged by Paul Waterworth,
Director of Photography and Founder Cine Photo Pro; Mark Francis, Creative Director
Midas Retouching and inaugural Martin Evening Excellence in Digital Retouching Award
Winner; Julia Fullerton-Batten, AOP Accredited Photographer)
The Beholder: Group Portrait, Confidence and pride, love and support often feel hard won for black women. This series is intended to communicate the beauty and worth of the many women who have been made to feel inferior. © Ruth Samuels Courtesy the AOP
The 39th AOP Photography Awards comprises ten individual subject categories, plus
additional Awards for Best Commissioned and Best Personal work which are considered by
key industry figures from all the selected finalists. The Awards are open to all AOP Accredited
Photographer and Assisting Photographer members. As in previous years, stills, moving
image and innovation can now be entered into each category. All still and moving images
have been created (by a person) or published as new from January 2022, with the exception
of the Project category which has no date limitation but must be a proven ongoing project.
Also announced live at the AOP Showcase Event were the winners of the 2024 AOP Open
Award, where professionals and amateurs compete on equal terms, the winners of the AOP's
Emerging Talent Awards (sponsored by Hahnemühle), celebrating the very best in the new
wave of photographers and image makers, who have been practising their craft for less than
3 years, and the winner of the Martin Evening Excellence in Digital Retouching Award
(sponsored by Luminar Neo), for an individual or team who excel at digital retouching in
either still or moving image in commemoration of the late Martin Evening, a highly influential
photographer who was an early pioneer of digital retouching.
Katie Thompson, Head of Marketing UK & Ireland at MPB, the Awards’ headline sponsors,
says, “We are delighted to support the latest celebration of the AOP's photographers' stunning
work from the past 12 months. The AOP’s dedication to the protection and guidance of visual
storytellers is a cause also shared by MPB, as we look to make photography accessible for all.”
The many awards presented by the AOP in its calendar reflect the organisation’s focus on
human creativity and professional practice and are an unmissable opportunity to be seen by
leading commissioners and names in photography.
