The 38th AOP Photography Awards are open to all AOP Accredited Photographer and Assisting Photographer members.
© Todd Antony
Bringing together a wealth of talent, creativity, expertise and industry perspective – we are delighted to introduce you to our pool of Judges for the 38th AOP Photography Awards.
Judges are selected for their exceptional experience, insights and their specific relevance to each category.
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. Because of the long-form nature of the work, images for the Project category have no date limitation but must be a proven ongoing project. (Please note because of space limitations up to 8 images may be chosen to be included in the Awards Book and exhibition).
Nick Waplington is a British artist living and working in the UK and US. He is the recipient of the European Photo Award at the Rencontre D’Arles Photo Festival (1990), an ICP Infinity Award (1993), and he represented the UK at the 2001 Venice Biennale. Over the last thirty years Waplington has developed a body of work marked by eclecticism and juxtaposition, using both traditional and new media to push the boundaries of contemporary art practice. While best known as a photographer, Waplington also works extensively with painting, video, computer-generated imagery, sculpture, and found material. In addition to his solo projects, Waplington has also collaborated with a wide array of other artists, from the Mexican conceptualist Miguel Calderón; artist David Shrigley; writer Irvine Welsh; musicians Tricky and Orbital; film director Paul Thomas Anderson; and the fashion designer Alexander McQueen.
Eliza has been editor of Creative Review since 2019. She has been writing, speaking and broadcasting about advertising, design and visual culture for over two decades, and is the author of two books published by Laurence King. She also hosts the Creative Review podcast.
Adrian worked as a freelance graphic designer for three years after university before moving into photography at the Hutchison archive. In 1990, he joined Panos Pictures as Archive Director, buying a controlling stake in the agency in 1997. Under his direction Panos Pictures has become the pre-eminent photo agency for ‘concerned photojournalism’, known throughout the industry for its intelligent and sensitive commentary on social issues.
Photography where the subject, human or animal, is the primary focus of the image.
British Asian photographer Suki Dhanda has been working professionally for more than 20 years. Following early commissions for broadsheet magazines, Dhanda became the retained portrait photographer for The Guardian and Observer newspapers, and remains their most used photographer. A sought-after portrait specialist, Dhanda’s archive includes a fascinating breadth of subjects; from the actors, musicians and politicians who have defined our times, to everyday people with a story to tell.
Her personal work examines themes of identity and belonging, seen through intimate portraits of subjects in their own environments. Her projects on this theme – often capturing communities at the intersection of change. The most prominent being Common Ground for the British Council which have been exhibited in National Galleries across the world, while several of her pieces are in the National Portrait Gallery’s permanent collection.
Instagram @sukidhanda
Jason is currently Photography and Visuals Lead at Comic Relief and was Creative Director of Photography at the BBC for many years, responsible for promotional photography across all BBC content. his judging credentials including the Sony World Photography Awards, Promax, Feature Shoot and Communication Arts in the US.
He also runs his own creative consultancy based in London, working with commercial clients, broadcasters, agencies, and photographers to maximise the impact of their imagery and creative processes. He’s across shoot production, mentoring, creative direction, curation, portfolio reviews, and business development.
Photography curator living in London, UK
As a photography expert she is focussing on social and cultural issues for a critical engagement with contemporary photography. With a background in Anthropology, Eicker has a keen interest in interdisciplinary aspects such as sound and materiality in relation to photography.
Amongst others, she curated the exhibitions Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2022 and In Focus: Jeano Edwards at the National Portrait Gallery, London (2022); Anna Barriball and Dirk Braeckman at KINDL – Centre for Contemporary Art, Berlin (2020). During her time at The Photographers’ Gallery (London) she was curating the Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize for many years; as well as Noemie Goudal: Southern Light Stations (2016) and Gregory Crewdson: Cathedral of the Pines (2018
Additionally she held positions at Studio Tacita Dean, Magnum Photos London; Haus der Kunst Munich; Hauser & Wirth; London, and The Museum of Modern Art (New York City).
Award-winning, influential and internationally acclaimed, David Loftus’ photographs for the books of Jamie Oliver, Rachel Khoo, Gennaro Contaldo, Elizabeth David and April Bloomfield have brought food to life for millions of people. For over 20 years, David has photographed over 100 books including all but one of Jamie Oliver’s international best-sellers. He has also directed television commercials including one of the most successful food ads of all time, for UK supermarket Sainsbury’s. He works with a range of advertising clients such as American Express, Dove, Fortnum & Mason, Nespresso, Pizza Express and Philips, to name a few.
His work with Jamie Oliver alone has resulted in international book sales in excess of 30 million copies. There can be few people with any interest in food who have not at some time looked hungrily at David’s pictures of Jamie’s food and not been immediately inspired to cook.
In addition to his food photography, David has also shot fashion, portraits, landscapes and reportage for the likes of Red magazine, Conde Nast Traveller, Soho House, Collette Dinnigan, India Hicks and Pippa Middleton. He works closely with the digital photographic brand Hipstamatic and has developed the most successful downloadable camera pack to date – the “Loftus Lens”.
His stripped-back, fuss-free style of photography has won David numerous awards over the years including European Portrait & Garden Photographer of the Year and David is now a judge on Garden Photographer and Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year Awards. In 2010, Professional Photographer magazine named David the 65th most influential photographer of all time.
In 2012, David published his first book under his own name, a recipe collection entitled “Around The World in 80 Dishes”.
Before co-founding F&f in 2009, Alex was a design director at Landor Associates, leading much of the UK Pepsico and European Proctor & Gamble creative output. With a degree in graphic design from The University of Northumbria, Alex’s 20 year career has seen her design across a very broad and varied spectrum of industries, spanning petroleum, airlines, automotive, as well as her beloved food and drink sector.
Alex is a hands-on creative director, who, with a passionate and deep understanding of FMCG packaging, leads the team in every aspect of visual communication and art direction.
Her keen eye has helped us achieve remarkable results in multiple creative awards.
A photographic director, art buyer and picture editor, Kimberly has over 20 years experience in the industry. Kimberly worked as a senior picture editor for the Guardian for over ten years, during which time she launched the weekly food title, Cook (now Feast), establishing a unique visual aesthetic that set it apart from competitors. She went on to produce award-winning campaigns across digital and print platforms for the Guardian’s branded content department.
Having previously worked for Magnum in New York, Kimberly’s eye for powerful documentary continues to inform her approach to photography. She is currently picture editor for Save The Children where she commissions global, multi-media campaigns that bring humanitarian stories to life.
Kimberly is driven by her passion for authentic storytelling. She works with photographers to challenge perceived boundaries, uncovering fresh perspectives and new talents with each commission.
Photography where sport or fitness activity is the primary focus of the image, includes sports fans and venues.
Born and raised in Norway, Director and Photographer Cathrine Wessell moved early on to New York where she found inspiration, experience, wisdom and the energy that signifies her work today.
An observer of life, Catherine started as a photographer in the music industry, then moved into fashion and sports. With her quest to always tell an honest story, observing life with a documenting heart, she naturally began to merge both film and stills, working with brands such as North Face, Nike, Reebok, Under Armour, Adidas, Esprit, Conde Nast, Elle Uggs and Neutrogena.
Through a carefully considered lens depicting an artful yet honest vision, Cathrine looks to build the light that enhances the emotion she is trying to capture as well as always seeking that true moment with an emotional energy. Redefining stories in fashion, sports, beauty and travel she tells the tale beyond the still and film.
She creates attention grabbing, unapologetic, stylish films and stills. Cathrine is based between Norway , NY and London
Ronaldo Taveres is an award-winning, globally experienced Executive Creative Director.
Born in Brazil, and living in London for 10 years, he is a global citizen, bringing a fresh world view to his creative work.
After 8 years’ experience as a graphic designer, he has since worked across the advertising industry including DDB Brazil, McCann, Fallon and Pablo in London. Currently he’s the Executive Creative Director at M&C Saatchi Sport & Entertainment.
He is passionate about data and storytelling and creating work which makes a positive change in society, shapes culture, inspires people to be better and builds brands.
He has worked on a breadth of brands including Johnson’s&Johnson’s, Honda, MasterCard, Zurich Insurance, Panasonic, Whirlpool, Skoda, Adidas and Absolut just to name a few.
His work has been recognised by major advertising festivals including Cannes Lions, D&AD, One Show among others, including a Cannes Glass Lion in 2019, which he’s really proud about. And his work awarded by important music industry festivals for 2 years in a row with projects for Skoda.
Ronaldo is also a Photography lover, calligraphy experimenter and filmmaking enthusiast.
Dr Rashmi Becker MBE is the founder of Step Change Studios, which provides opportunities for D/deaf and disabled people to dance. Over 20 years, she has developed expertise in the arts, sport, social affairs, and disability advocacy. She is a Board Member of Sport England, also serving as the Board Champion for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. She holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge where her research focused on Intellectual Disability. Accolades include the One Dance UK Innovation Award, London Sport Award for Health and Wellbeing and National Learning Disabilities and Autism Award for Outstanding Contribution to Innovation. In 2021 Rashmi was recognised with an MBE for services to disabled people.
Factual / observational photography documenting real-life that informs or promotes ideals. Includes photojournalism and reportage photography.
Christopher Anderson is known for his emotionally charged, artfully drawn images that explore themes of truth and subjectivity. He is one of today’s most influential photographers, whose origins began in war reporting and later transformed into something more intimate, blending the worlds of commercial, art and fashion work, but always with a foundation in documentary.
Anderson was born in 1970 in Canada and grew up in west Texas. His photographic career began working for local newspapers. In 2000, on assignment for the New York Times Magazine, he boarded a small wooden boat with 44 Haitians trying to sail to America. The boat sank in the Caribbean. The photographs received the Robert Capa Gold Medal and marked the beginning of a ten-year period as a contract photographer for Newsweek Magazine and National Geographic Magazine. In 2011 he became New York Magazine’s first ever Photographer in Residence; a notable collaboration that would also mark Anderson’s shift into portraiture and fashion, making images of significant figures including Barack Obama, Spike Lee and Debby Harry.
In 2008, after the birth of his first child, Anderson moved further away from journalistic magazine work to subjects more immediate to his personal experience. In 2012, his book, SON, was published, defining a visual direction that has come characterize to his work. Other projects created within this intensely intimate approach include Capitolio, Stump and Approximate JOY.
Ivy Lahon is a communications and content specialist with 18 years’ experience commissioning award-winning creative content for NGOs and national editorial titles. Ivy is currently head of creative content and stories at Save The Children and oversees comms for fundraising and campaigns across print, online and digital. She is passionate about innovative, authentic and ethical humanitarian storytelling and producing strategic, world-class multimedia content that amplifies brand, engages audiences and inspires them to act. She has produced large scale, long term multimedia projects worldwide and oversees a team that is linked closely to the children Save works with globally.
Prior to moving to NGO’s, Ivy worked as associate picture editor at The Independent and ‘i’ paper for ten years commissioning reportage, portraiture and features photography during some of the biggest breaking global news stories of the decade. In the past she has picture edited for The Guardian and Time Out and spent 2 years working with Amnesty International on photographic projects including the first book by former Amnesty Secretary General Irene Khan and the imagery for Amnesty’s 50th anniversary in 2011. She is a visiting lecturer in Photojournalism at UK universities and is a mentor for young photographers at the London College of Communication.
https://www.savethechildren.org.uk
Sarah Gilbert is features picture editor for the Guardian with over 20 years’ experience as an editor. Previous roles have included work for book and magazine publishers, a picture editor at Conde Nast, and several years in the US as the Guardian’s Photo Editor. She has been a juror on a number of leading photography competitions, conducts portfolio reviews at international photo festivals, and was a mentor on the Women Photograph programme. Her specific areas of interest include documentary and long-form photography, and she commissions portraits around the world and loves to encourage new talent.
Photography where the overall situation or location is the primary focus of the image. Includes urban, outdoors, environmental and natural landscape photography.
Klaus Thymann is a Danish explorer, scientist, fellow at the Royal Geographical Society, multi award-winning photographer, filmmaker and creative director. He has developed an original viewpoint utilising a cross-disciplinary skillset that combines journalism, image making, mapping, documentary and exploration with a focus on contemporary issues and the climate emergency. Thymann has been featured by New Scientist, National Geographic, BBC, Wired and more.
Working as a documentary filmmaker and journalist his work has reached audiences of tens-of-millions through features and commissions in media outlets including the BBC, The New York Times, CNN, The Guardian, and Vice, among others. Through creative directing, Thymann has delivered original content and installations across multiple platforms for institutions and NGOs, as well as brands like Nike, Sony, Björn Borg, Arc’teryx and Red Bull.
He is an experienced mountaineer, frequently summiting oxygen deprived peeks, as well as a technical diver capable of navigating in deep waters, below ice, and cave diving. Over the past two decades he has worked in conflict zones and led more than 50 expeditions to extreme environments across six continents and into all the planet’s four oceans.
Amy Grant has 15 years of experience producing and commissioning creative content for a variety of audiences and formats – from illustrated non-fiction and educational books through to arresting social media for major UK charities. As Head of Content and Creative at Friends of the Earth, she’s responsible for overseeing the work of a team of 10, including photo and video editors, graphic designers and web content specialists. Together they help galvanise support for the organisation’s high-profile campaigns, demonstrating the impact of the climate and environmental crises on communities across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and showcasing the action taken by Friends of the Earth’s 300+ local groups. Recent work has included partnering with photographer Grey Hutton to create a series of striking thermal images showing how the energy crisis is affecting those who live in the UK’s coldest neighbourhoods.
Dom Stevenson – Head of Production, Havas Play
Dom has over 20 years experience in the creative communications industry, much of it centred around the world of entertainment.
He has co-founded two start-ups, the second of which, Superhero, he helped grow from just two people through to acquisition by Global network Havas.
As HOP for Havas Play he leads a hugely talented in house team to turn brilliant ideas into best in class execution across multiple platforms.
He is a passionate advocate of industry initiatives to respond to the climate emergency including: AdGreen, AdNetZero (working group member), #ChangeTheBrief, Purpose Disruptors, HKX Impact+.
Photography where interior spaces, built exteriors and locations are the primary focus of the image.
Simon Kennedy’s photographic vision developed in a unique way – years of working as a qualified architect combined with teaching post-graduate architectural studies at The Bartlett School Of Architecture. This experience has given him a unique understanding of architecture, and a highly insightful photographic vision which continues to develop and be informed by his teaching practice at the Bartlett and collaborations with various architects.
More than twenty years of experimentation have informed Simon’s current photographic techniques. Cutting edge equipment is combined with a hybrid workflow which enables him to deliver extremely high resolution digital images of uncompromising quality quickly and cost-effectively.
Simon’s work has been exhibited and published widely, and his recent clients include cultural institutions The BBC, The Pompidou Centre, Westminster Abbey and The Victoria and Albert Museum, larger, established architecture firms including Moxon, Arup Architecture, Hopkins Architects, MacCormac Jamieson Prichard Architects (MJP Architects), SimpsonHaugh Architects, EPR, Sheppard Robson Architects, Haptic Architects, Grimshaw Architects, MICA Architects, LOM Architects, IBI Group, Ptolemy Dean Architects, and smaller practices including Coup de Ville Architects, Aberrant Architecture, Gort Scott, BAT Studio, Edge Architecture, and TRACE Architects.
Simon also provides editorial images, and has experience in technical verified views photography for planning applications.
Patricia Taylor has a passion for photography and bringing creative concepts to life. Before joining the Country Living team she worked on a variety of publications including Good Housekeeping, Tatler, The Radio Times and The Daily Mail. She also worked for many years at the BBC devising creative concepts.
Patricia loves the cold and always looks forward to the days shortening so she can bring out her trusty boots, a lovely warm winter coat and a nice pair of gloves. Oh and she collects antique clocks.
Julia Kendall is a highly experienced design professional best known for her appearances on BBC 1’s DIYSOS, and many other design programmes across all channels. She is a speaker and writer and currently heads ‘Kendell + Co.’
Julia is passionate about designing homes and commercial spaces to support wellbeing and create a positive energy. Taking inspiration from her studies of History of Art at Oxford, her designs explore both the aesthetic and the visceral experience of one’s surroundings.
Julia is thrilled to be judging the inaugural ‘Spaces’ category for the 38th Photography Awards and looks forward to the opportunity to see how AOP photographers experience and capture the built environment.
Photography where still life or objects are the primary focus of the image. This can be any type of object in any place.
Over the course of three decades, British-born photographer Robin Broadbent has established a marked aesthetic of still-life photography through an innate understanding of texture, form and abstraction. His work can be described as intricate studies of the object; the images command the interplay between light, space and shape with a 21st century knowingness. Using light with bold, graphic composition, he creates a startling sense of scale, dimension and sculpture.
Perhaps some of Broadbent’s most important early influences are the works of Moholy-Nagy, Rodchenko, and the artists/architects of the Bauhaus. He was excited by their unexpected viewpoints and ability to view life and objects from a unique yet universal perspective. Broadbent’s evocative still-life photographs exercise minimalist theory to demand attention as serious entities.
Broadbent’s advertising clients include Nike, Tom Ford, Prada, Bottega Veneta, Apple, Berluti, Tiffany & Co., Narciso Rodriguez, Dior Beauty, Frederic Malle and NARS. He has photographed numerous iconic editorial stories for publications including Numéro, System, Road Rat, Port, V Magazine, Esquire, T: The New York Times Magazine, Document Journal and W Magazine.
Broadbent has published two books of his black and white images, Marmalade and Minus Sixteen, both published by Browns Editions in 1998. He published a book of personal and editorial work with Damiani in 2017, The Photographic Work of Robin Broadbent.
His work has also been included in books published by Taschen, Rizzoli and Demisch Danant and exhibited at galleries in New York and London.
In 1999, Broadbent moved his studio from London to New York City, where he still currently lives and works.
“From a porterhouse steak to a lipstick pair of high heels, Broadbent’s photos are the natural heir to Irving Penn” -Tomas Maier, former Creative Director of Bottega Veneta
Cherie Federico is the Director of Aesthetica, the internationally acclaimed British art and culture brand that began with Aesthetica magazine in 2002 and is now multi-platform.
A passionate champion of new talent, Cherie is Director of the BAFTA-QualifyingAesthetica Short Film Festival that sits in the national portfolio of festivals from the BFI. It has showcased 9 Oscar and 11 BAFTA-nominated films, and includes an extensive masterclass programme with speakers from StudioCanal, the BBC, Aardman, Film 4, Channel 4 and British Vogue, among others.
She is also Director of the Aesthetica Art Prize, and Future Now, a symposium comprising panel talks and portfolio reviews, with sessions led by the Tate, V&A, and Getty. Winners and finalists have gone on to be included in exhibition at the Whitney Biennial, Barbican, Whitechapel and win various awards and bursaries.
Awarded Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2006, Cherie is a former Creative Practitioner in Residence at the London College of Fashion [2014 – 2016] and has worked extensively with the London College of Communication to produce the annual Next Generation photography feature, plus host its annual sell-out film Showcase Screening.
Cherie was instrumental in the launch of the hugely successful London College of Communication’s Screen School VR Lab at the Aesthetica Short Film Festival 2018, which will be expanding in 2019 to include Immersive Experiences, AR and Gaming.
Sarah Williams has a wealth of experience in art, photography and advertising. She’s commissioned artists for some of the world’s biggest brands, curated exhibitions for world renowned artists, sat on the board of the AOP, judged awards, spoken on many panels and was a judge on the BBC’s The Great British Photography Challenge alongside Rankin. To date she’s worked with hundreds of photographers, advising on their careers and portfolios. She now runs photography platform Darklight with Mimi Gray.
Fictional / staged photography reflecting lifestyle scenarios, that illustrate or promote brands, corporations, products, and ideas.
Lottie Davies is an artist, writer and educator based in Cornwall and London.
Davies’ work has won recognition in numerous awards including the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Award, the Arte Laguna Prize, and the Young Masters Prize. Her collaboration on Dreams of Your Life with Hide & Seek/Film 4.0 was BAFTA-nominated in 2012. In recent years she has developed her practice to employ moving image, audio, text and interactive installation alongside large format photographs. This mixed media approach wascrystallized in her seven-year project Quinn which was widely exhibited across the UK and published in a limited-edition monograph in 2021.
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Kirstie is a Creative Production Partner within the Integrated Production Department at AMV BBDO, where she has worked since 2008. Prior to joining AMV BBDO, Kirstie worked at BBH and JWT, her career in advertising spans thirty years.
As a Creative Production Partner, she is responsible for commissioning photographers, illustrators, artists, typographers, designers and CGI artists.
She has produced numerous award winning campaigns, curated exhibitions and auctions within AMV.
Actively involved in visual arts, judging industry awards, and mentoring emerging talent Kirstie thrives on working with the best partners in the industry.
Having been involved in commissioning and producing commercial photography for nearly 15 years, I’m still as enthusiastic about the medium as ever. Working at various advertising agencies, including; Publicis, adam&eveDDB and M&C Saatchi, I’ve been lucky enough to work with many artists in the industry and am looking forward to making more great work in 2023.
Photography that illustrates or promotes clothing or beauty products.
Rachell Smith is a portrait & fashion photographer who works between London and New York. After graduating from The London College of Communication, Rachell went on to assist some of the world’s biggest photographers before setting up her own studio in London. Rachell’s work has been featured in a large number of leading publications around the world, including Vogue, Glamour Magazine, Harpers Bazaar & ELLE.
I’m a Paris-based journalist, writer and editorial consultant.
I was born and raised in Sydney, Australia and began my career in London on the features desk at British Vogue.
Since then, my work has appeared in international editions of Vogue print and online, (I am currently a Contributing Editor for Vogue India) the Sunday Times Style UK, the Financial Times UK, GQ Australia, Document Journal New York, and Harper’s Bazaar Australia and India (as European Editor for both editions). I also work with AKQA Paris and ALMO Films for editorial consulting and copywriting.
Clients include Prada (Beauty), Louis Vuitton, Loewe, Google, and Saint Laurent.
Sarah is Head of Art Production at One Unilever at Ogilvy in London.
Prior to this she was Head of Art Production at Fallon and an Art Buyer at DDB London and AMV BBDO.
Before working as an Art Buyer Sarah was Gallery Manager at the Zelda Cheatle Gallery and a Producer for Nadav Kander, following starting her career as a Photographer’s Agent, with Catherine Collins.
She has judged numerous Photography and Illustration Awards, and advised, talked and contributed to various books on the subject of advertising, photography and illustration.
Zelda Cheatle is a well known Curator and Editor of photography. After some years taking photographs, she began a gallery career at The Photographers Gallery London 1982 – 1988, working with internationally renowned photographers and emerging British and European artists using photography.
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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.
Enter our 39th AOP Awards…
