The Royal Photographic Society (RPS), renowned for hosting the world’s longest-running photography awards, has unveiled the winners of its 146th installment. Held in Bristol, U.K., the RPS Awards have celebrated photographic excellence since 1878.
In 2024, Dr. Ingrid Pollard received the prestigious RPS Centenary Medal for her exceptional contributions to photography. Palestinian freelance photojournalist Samar Abu Elouf was honored with the RPS Award for Photojournalism, recognizing her impactful work featured in outlets like The New York Times and Reuters. These awards continue to highlight the artistry and significance of photography across diverse genres and voices.
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#1. The RPS award for photojournalism: Samar Abu Elouf
The Light from Hell. Playing with fire at sunset. The sea is the only outlet here, 9 November 2022. Samar Abu Elouf is an award-winning Palestinian freelance photojournalist, covering events where she lives. Abu Elouf documented the 2018–19 Gaza border protests, also known as the Great March of Return. In May 2021, on assignment for the New York Times, she covered 11 days of fighting between Israel and Hamas that destroyed essential infrastructure and killed more than 230 people, including several of her own relatives
Photograph: Samar Abu Elouf/Courtesy the Royal Photographic Society
Photograph: Samar Abu Elouf/Courtesy the Royal Photographic Society
Photograph: Samar Abu Elouf/Courtesy the Royal Photographic Society
#2. The RPS award for editorial or documentary photography: Darcy Padilla
Wounded Knee, Pine Ridge Reservation, February 2015, US, from the series Dreamers. Darcy Padilla is an associate professor of art at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a member photographer of Agence VU’ in Paris. Known for her narrative photography, Padilla focuses on long-term projects that explore themes of struggle and the transgenerational effects of socioeconomic issues.
Photograph: Darcy Padilla/Courtesy the Royal Photographic Society
Photograph: Darcy Padilla/Courtesy the Royal Photographic Society
Photograph: Darcy Padilla/Courtesy the Royal Photographic Society
Photograph: Darcy Padilla/Courtesy the Royal Photographic Society
#3. The RPS award for fashion, advertising and commercial photography: Campbell Addy
Theatre of Dreams for The Ready, Set, Go! Issue, Dazed Magazine. Campbell Addy is a British-Ghanaian artist, photographer and director. He draws inspiration from his culturally diverse upbringing, which has informed an intricate discovery of the self and a unique eye. His striking imagery has garnered him international success and awards including the 2021 Forbes 30 under 30 list and the British fashion awards in 2018 and 2019. His monograph Feeling Seen debuted in 2022 to critical acclaim.
Photograph: Campbell Addy/Courtesy the Royal Photographic Society
Photograph: Campbell Addy/Courtesy the Royal Photographic Society
Photograph: Campbell Addy/Courtesy the Royal Photographic Society
#4. The RPS award for photography with young people: Carolyn Mendelsohn
From the series Through Our Lens, Harry, 16. Carolyn Mendelsohn is an artist and portrait photographer whose practice is rooted in telling stories and amplifying those quieter voices through co-produced portraits. Recognised internationally for her portraits, and work with young people, Carolyn founded Through Our Lens, initially responding to the pandemic and working with young people on Zoom, a workshop and mentoring programme enabling people to tell their stories through photography.
Photograph: Harry/Carolyn Mendelsohn/Courtesy the Royal Photographic Society
Photograph: Harry/Carolyn Mendelsohn/Courtesy the Royal Photographic Society
Photograph: Harry/Carolyn Mendelsohn/Courtesy the Royal Photographic Society
#5. Honorary fellowship: Marilyn Nance
Festac Village: Sun Ra rehearsing on the keyboard, with Kamau Seitu (of the Wajumbe Cultural Ensemble) on tap drums
Photograph: Marylin Nance/Courtesy the Royal Photographic Society
#6. Honorary fellowship: James Balog
Ice Diamond #1, 2009
Photograph: James Balog/Courtesy the Royal Photographic Society
#7. Honorary fellowship: Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen
Children with Collected Junk, from Byker, 1971. Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen is a Finnish-British photographer who has worked in Britain since the 1960s. She lived in Byker in Newcastle from 1969, and for seven years photographed and interviewed the residents of this area of terrace houses until her own house was demolished. By the time Konttinen arrived in Byker, the neighbourhood was already scheduled for demolition, to make way for the Byker Wall estate.
Photograph: Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen/Courtesy the Royal Photographic Society
#8. Honorary fellowship: Michelle Sank
From the Series Ballade. ‘Ballade is a poetic homage to my birthplace, Cape Town. My strongest memories are of the Sea Point Promenade and its accompanying Pavilion swimming pool of my formative years.Michelle Sank cites her background of growing up in South Africa during apartheid and being the child of immigrant parents as informing her interest in subcultures and the exploration of contemporary social issues and challenges. Her work has won many awards including the Taylor Wessing portrait prize.
Photograph: Michelle Sank/Courtesy the Royal Photographic Society
Photograph: Michelle Sank/Courtesy the Royal Photographic Society
#9. Honorary fellowship: Ami Vitale
National Geographic photographer and film-maker Ami Vitale’s work has consistently highlighted the urgent need for conservation and this image records a Kenya Wildlife Service triumph : the successful translocation of 21 critically endangered rhinos from three reserves to Loisaba conservancy, where rhinos had not been seen for 50 years owing to poaching. This is the moment a rhino was resuscitated after it stopped breathing and then quickly released.
Photograph: Ami Vitale/The Nature Conservancy/Courtesy the Royal Photographic Society
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