The Royal Photographic Society's International Print Exhibition - world’s longest running photography competition - has announced the winners of its 159th edition. UK photographers Carolyn Mendelsohn, Polly Braden and Poem Baker secured the Gold, Silver and Bronze awards and Russian photographer Anna Shustikova won the under-30s Gold award. The competition attracted entries from 57 countries and the finalists and winners were selected by a panel consisting of social documentary photographer Dougie Wallace; Brighton Biennial Photo Festival director, Celia Davies;  the director of Glasgow’s Street Level Photoworks, Malcolm Dickson; Russ O’Connell, Picture Editor for The Sunday Times Magazine and the photography writer and editor Gemma Padley. The Gold Award image, titled Alice by Carolyn Mendelsohn focusses on the complex transition between childhood to young adulthood. Under-30s Gold winner Anna Shustikova’s image School Bus (above) was taken after a school excursion to the Dubna wetlands nature reserve in the northeast Moscow province. All the photographs selected for the exhibition will be shown at the opening exhibition at London’s Photomonth International Photography Festival, at the Old Truman Brewery, on Brick Lane, from 13–18 October (as part of the PHOTOBLOCK series of events).  The exhibition will travel to The Royal Albert Hall before moving to other venues in the UK, including the Belfast and Retina (Edinburgh) International Photography Festivals.

RPS Press Release

THE ROYAL PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY’S INTERNATIONAL PRINT EXHIBITION 159 - WINNERS ANNOUNCED

·        Carolyn Mendelsohn (UK) Gold Award and Anna Shustikova (Russia) Under 30s Gold Award

·        All female winners for the first time in the exhibition’s 162 year history

BATH, 23 AUGUST 2016 -- The world’s longest running photography exhibition has announced the winners of its 159th edition. For the first time in its long history all four winners are female photographers. 

UK photographers Carolyn Mendelsohn, Polly Braden and Poem Baker secured the Gold, Silver and Bronze awards and Russian photographer Anna Shustikova won the under-30s Gold award. All the selected photographs will be exhibited from 13-18 October at London’s Photomonth International Photography Festival before touring the UK.

The competition attracted entries from 57 countries and the finalists and winners were selected by a panel consisting of social documentary photographer Dougie Wallace; Brighton Biennial Photo Festival director, Celia Davies;  the director of Glasgow’s Street Level Photoworks, Malcolm Dickson; Russ O’Connell, Picture Editor for The Sunday Times Magazine and the photography writer and editor Gemma Padley.

The Gold Award image, titled Alice by Carolyn Mendelsohn focusses on the complex transition between childhood to young adulthood. Selector, Gemma Padley, commented: “Carolyn Mendelsohn’s winning portrait of a young girl making the transition from girlhood to womanhood was a clear standout from the start. It possesses a quietness and elusiveness, and there is something behind the girl’s eyes that gives the image its potency. It stayed with me throughout the judging process”.

Under-30s Gold winner Anna Shustikova’s image School Bus was taken after a school excursion to the Dubna wetlands nature reserve in the northeast Moscow province. Alongside the monetary prize, Anna will receive a place on a 12 month mentorship programme with Metro Imaging.

About the Award Winners

Gold Award (£1500): Carolyn Mendelsohn (UK), Alice.
Carolyn Mendelsohn is an artist and photographer using photography, film and sound. She has a business as a portrait photographer, and her passion is in creating personal work that is rooted within the story and the lives of people and their communities. She has received many awards and has worked nationally and internationally. She is based in Saltaire, Yorkshire. carolynmendelsohnphoto.com

Under 30s Gold Award (£1500 + Metro Imaging mentorship prize) Anna Shustikova (Russia), School Bus.
Anna  Shustikova grew up in Zarechny, a small town, in Russia. She studied physics and mathematics in Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology in 2010-2014 and now lives in Moscow where she works as a scientific journalist, teacher of physics, documentary photographer and writer. shustikova.viewbook.com

Silver Award (£750): Polly Braden (UK), Lucie, from the project 'Great Interactions. Life with Learning Disabilities and Autism.
Renowned for her naturalistic photographs of human relationships, Polly Braden has published two books, China Between (2011) and Great Interactions: Life With Learning Disabilities and Autism (2016), both with Dewi Lewis Publishing. She works on long term self initiated projects as well as working for publications such as The Guardian and the Saturday Telegraph. A previous winner of both the Jerwood Photography Prize and The Guardian Young Photographer of the Year award, Braden has exhibited internationally including exhibitons in the UK, Germany and the United States. In November 2016 Hoxton Mini Press is publishing her new book, shot in partnership with David Campany, 'Adventures in the Lea Valley.’ pollybraden.com

Bronze Award (£500): Poem Baker (UK), The Jungola Klownz of Deptford.
Poem Baker is a self-taught photographer, focusing on documentary, fashion, and street photography. She recently signed to Angela Woods Agency.  Poem’s work is characterised by its intimacy, adding her own tender twist to each portrait she makes with her subjects. poembaker.co.uk

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