The Royal Photographic Society (RPS) has revealed the recipients of its annual awards at a ceremony held this evening at the Royal Society, London. Also announced were the recipients of The Society’s educational bursaries, given to promising photographers starting their careers and the Combined Royal Colleges Medal, awarded for an outstanding contribution to the advancement of medical photography or the wider field of medical imaging. Click through / read on for the full list of recipients.

RPS Press Release

The Royal Photographic Society Awards 2013 announced:

·         Progress Medal and Honorary Fellowship to Professor Paul Corkum FRS

·         Centenary Medal awarded to Professor Brian Griffin Hon FRPS

·         The Royal Photographic Society Award for  Outstanding Service to Photography and Honorary Fellowship to Weston Naef

Bath, UK, 17 September 2013 – The Royal Photographic Society has announced the recipients of its annual awards at a ceremony held this evening at the Royal Society, London.  The awards ceremony, which is supported by The Macallan, recognises individuals who have made significant contributions to the art and science of photography. They have been given since 1878.  Photographers, scientists and curators were all honoured.

Professor Paul B Corkum FRS - Canadian physicist, Professor Paul Corkum FRS is credited with developing attosecond laser pulses (one attosecond is 10-18 seconds, or one billionth of one billionth of a second) — flashes of light so short that they can provide images of electrons moving around atoms.

Professor Brian Griffin Hon FRPS – Is one of the most influential photographers of the past four decades.  Brian has been commissioned and exhibited at Marseille, Provence, 2013 European Capital of Culture, and for Reference Works, celebrating the opening of the new Library of Birmingham. A retrospective of his corporate photography takes place at Foto Industria Bologna, a new event dedicated to corporate and industrial photography in Bologna, Italy, from 3-20 October.

Weston Naef - Founding Curator of Photographs at the J Paul Getty Museum for 25 years until his retirement in 2009, Weston Naef guided the growth of the Getty Museum photographs collection, supervising more than 100 exhibitions and 50 publications.  Prior to his role at Getty, Weston was responsible for rare photographs at the Metropolitan Museum of Art for 15 years.

Also announced were the recipients of The Society’s educational bursaries, given to promising photographers starting their careers and the Combined Royal Colleges Medal, awarded for an outstanding contribution to the advancement of medical photography or the wider field of medical imaging.

The full list of recipients is given below.

Roy Robertson Hon FRPS, President of The Royal Photographic Society commented:   “The Society, with the support of The Macallan, is delighted to recognise the contributions of some of the most important individuals in the art and science of Photography in its many diverse applications. In addition, the contribution of young photographers is recognised in a series of Awards and bursaries. Individuals from the global photographic community are recognised, reflecting the international nature of The Society and the importance attached to the Awards.”

Ken Grier, Director of Malts at The Edrington Group, said: “Photography remains an important medium for The Macallan and we are delighted to be able to support The Royal Photographic Society.  Our Masters of Photography Series is now in its fourth year, and our commitment to the art and mastery of photography remains as strong as our passion for this art form.”

The 2013 Awards recipients

Progress Medal and Honorary Fellowship.   Professor Paul Corkum FRS
Canadian, Physicist, developed a new theoretical approach, which eventually resulted in the production of a pulse of 650 attoseconds, which is getting shorter as the technology develops.

Awarded in recognition of any invention, research, publication or other contribution which has resulted in an important advance in the scientific or technological development of photography or imaging in the widest sense.

Centenary Medal.  Professor Brian Griffin Hon FRPS UK, one of the most influential photographers of the past four decades.
Awarded in recognition of a sustained, significant contribution to the art of photography.

The Royal Photographic Society Award for  Outstanding Service to Photography, and Honorary Fellowship.
Weston Naef
American, Founding curator of photographs at the J Paul Getty Museum
Recognises major sustained, outstanding and influential contributions to the advancement of Photography and/or Imaging in their widest meanings

Honorary Fellowship
Giles Duley British Documentary photographer and photojournalist
Tim Flach Renowned animal photographer
Peter Fraser British pioneer of colour photography
Jane Hilton Photographer and filmmaker
Simon Roberts FRPS award winning British photographer, author of The Election Project, We English and Motherland series
Awarded to persons having, from their position or attainments, an intimate connection with the science, fine art or application of photography.  No more than eight awarded in one year.

Colin Ford Award. Dr Claude Sui. Director and curator of the Forum International of Photography at the Reiss-Engelhorn-Museen in Mannheim
Given each year to honour an individual who has contributed in a major way to curatorship.

Combined Royal Colleges Award.  Professor Anders Persson, pioneer in medical imaging
Awarded each year for an outstanding contribution to the advancement of medical photography or the wider field of medical imaging.

Davies Medal.  Dr John D Meyer:
Awarded for significant contribution in the digital field of imaging science.

Education Award.  Conrad Tracy. Course Leader of the BA (Hons) in Commercial Photography at the Arts University, Bournemouth.
For outstanding achievement or sustained contribution in photographic education.

Fenton Medal.
Dr Afzal Ansary ASIS FRPS
Alan Elliott ARPS
Dawn Osborn FRPS
Dr Tim Rudman FRPS
Made to a member or non-member who has made an outstanding contribution to the work of The Royal Photographic Society.  No more than four are awarded in one year.

Hood Medal.  Derek Kendall . With over three decades in first the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England, and English Heritage.

For meritorious performance in some branch of photography, with particular emphasis on any exhibit which revealed the most outstanding advance in photography for public service.

J Dudley Johnston Award.  Martin Barnes. Senior Curator of Photographs at the Victoria and Albert Museum
For major achievement in the field of photographic criticism or the history of photography.

Lumière Award.  John de Borman.  Renowned Director of Photography,
For major achievement in British cinematography, video or animation.

Members’ Award.  Carol Palmer ARPS
Given to an ordinary member who, in the opinion of Council, has shown extraordinary support for The Society over a sustained period.

Saxby Award.  Dr Peter Plassmann and Dr Carl Jones
For achievement in the field of three-dimensional imaging.

Selwyn Award.   Ren Ng. Founder, and now Executive Chair of Lytro
For those under the age of 35 years who have conducted successful science based research connected with imaging.

Vic Odden Award.  Kate Peters
For a notable achievement in the art of photography by a British photographer aged 35 or under.

Bill Wisden MBE Hon FRPS Fellowship of the Year 2013.  Paul Walker FRPS
Inaugurated in 2012, the Bill Wisden Fellowship of the Year is awarded annually to the most outstanding panel of work achieving a Fellowship, as decided by the Fellowship Review Board.

Educational Bursary Winners

The Joan Wakelin Bursary. The Royal Photographic Society in association with the Guardian newspaper.
Eleri Griffiths

Environment Awareness Bursary. The Royal Photographic Society in association with The Photographic Angle
Over 25 - Toby Smith
Under 25 – Souvid Datta

The Royal Photographic Society Postgraduate Bursary
Richard Nicholson

Photo: Simon Roberts Hon FRPS: Piers. Clevedon

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