Judges Announced

Nikon UK is pleased to announce an exciting line up of judges for this year's Discovery Awards, a competition in association with the British Journal of Photography which aims to celebrate and support the work of emerging photographers from selected colleges and universities around the UK.

Over £50,000 worth of prizes are up for grabs, including 21 shortlist vouchers worth £1800 to be spent with Nikon UK on equipment, along with a £5000 cash award for the grand prize winner whose work will also be featured in the British Journal of Photography. Through the Discovery Awards, Nikon also seeks to support the colleges and universities that are helping to shape the next generation of photographers and will be awarding £6000 worth of Nikon kit to the winning college/institution, along with a range of added benefits.

The judging panel boasts an impressive array of key industry figures from a vast range of photographic backgrounds. "The judges we've lined up for the first Discovery Awards have attained important positions in the industry early on in their careers," says Simon Bainbridge, editor of British Journal of Photography. "These are exactly the kind of people aspiring professional photographers will need to impress when they graduate. They will bring fresh and discerning eyes to the contest, and hopefully in the process, discover new talents that will find similar success in the years to come."

Fran Sears, editorial director of Magnum Photos, London and Sylvia Farago, photographic director of Dazed & Confused magazine will both be offering their expertise to the panel. Stefanie Braun, programme organiser at The Photographers' Gallery, who also curates the annual Photography Prize will also be casting a critical eye over the work along with Jess Crombie, freelance producer and curator who has worked in the commercial photographic industry as an art buyer for top agencies. Olivia Arthur, photographer, and winner of this year's Inge Morath Award for her project, "The Middle Distance," which documents the lives of women along the border between Asia and Europe will also help select this year's shortlist and overall winner.

Chris Hoare, professional business manager at Nikon UK said:"We are delighted to have such an inspirational panel of judges supporting the Discovery Awards and are confident that they will use their experience and expertise of the photographic market to identify future talent."

The awards ceremony takes place on Tuesday 27th November at Nikon's Solutions Expo show.
For more information about Nikon's Solutions Expo event please visit: www.solutions-expo.co.uk