Spanning both photographic stills and short form film, recognising outstanding work in digital retouching and post-production.
© Todd Antony
© Richard Seymour
Digital retouching and post-production image manipulation for commissioned or personal work, applied to still and moving imagery. Submissions must demonstrate levels of editing, grading, picture and audio finishing, deliverables and international versioning, as well as visual effects showing a high degree of proficiency in post-production techniques, producing images with the utmost visual impact within a contemporary creative framework.
Judges will be looking at essential aspects which includes photographic application of skills, the use of conceptual and aesthetic application, as well as visual effects, colour grading, audio post, screen graphics, shoot and edit and broadcast technology. Submissions may include the use of AI-assisting tools, but excludes any fully AI-generated works.
Entry Criteria
Nominees are required to have worked in the industry for at least two years and have made a real impact on a piece of work either for commissioned or personal work requested by a client. The Award may recognise an individual, or team, who consistently goes above and beyond expectations and shows a genuine curiosity and passion for digital retouching and post-production.
Nominations open – 20 March 2023
Nominations close – 14 April 2023
[Invited submissions will open late April 2023]
Tim Flach is a photographer best known for his stylised portraits of animals and for the originality that he brings to capturing animal behaviour and characteristics. His work is driven by a desire to better communicate stories of the natural world and to explore questions around art, communication and conservation science.
Tim is a long-standing member of the AOP, since 1986. From the late 90s to 2003 he sat on the council chairing the Awards Committee, along with forming a group of photographers to negotiate a new Getty Images contract during a critical transitional period. In his role as President, he intends to continue to represent and support the advocacy of the AOP.
His photographs are showcased in books, exhibitions and galleries around the world. He has seven internationally published books: Birds(2021), Who am I? (2019), Endangered (2017), Evolution (2013), More Than Human (2012), Dogs Gods (2010) & Equus (2008). He has also contributed to books and group projects, including Surveying the Anthropocene: Environment and Photography Now, which was published by Edinburgh University Press in 2021, and A Cabinet of Curiosities for the Anthropocene, published by Chicago Press in 2018.
He has also contributed to academic research into how photographs of animals impact their audiences. In 2020, he published a study with two social scientists, Professors Cameron Thomas Whitley and Linda Kalof, which used empirical evidence to show that anthropomorphic animal portraits promote empathy. Tim has been invited to speak at conferences such as The Zoological Society of London and St Petersburg International Economic Forum, and has lectured at universities worldwide.
In recognition of his work, he has received a number of awards, including an Honorary Fellowship from the Royal Photographic Society and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of the Arts London (Norwich) in 2013.
Joined the Board: 17 Feb 2022
Richard Seymour, AOP Accredited Photographer
After a brief flirtation with a military flying career, Richard moved in a radically different direction and instead attended University of Westminster in London to study professional photography.
He claims a module on Kubrick’s 2001 A Space Odyssey changed his entire perspective.
Richard now specialises in capturing the forces of technology in our ever-changing world.
Shooting stills and motion worldwide for aerospace, automotive and tech clients.
Much of his work includes advanced composite techniques and he has used CGI rendering in his automotive and aerospace imagery for over a decade.
He has worked closely with Leica Camera since 2010 and his short film on the manufacturing of the Leica M10 went viral with over 500,000 views.
Richard enjoys mentoring the next generation of image creators.
He has been a finalist in the AOP Awards in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019 and 2021, winning Best in Category in 2012 and 2015. He was also a judge of the AOP Open Awards in 2013 and AOP Student Awards 2021.
After graduating from the University of Lincoln in 2011, Holly began her career in post-production as a Runner in London. Initially wanting to pursue moving image and VFX, entering the world of retouch was a happy accident. Tapping into her love of fine art, she was hooked from that moment.
Holly has since explored a broad variety of retouching subjects but none she is more passionate about than the image creation and storytelling for Automotive brands. She revels in the more technical side of retouching and the challenge it presents. A firm believer that the devil is in the detail, she strives to create beautiful imagery with a delicate touch.
In 2021 Holly started her own business, Talk Retouch and has since worked with a number of Automotive clients, Creative Agencies and Post Production houses internationally.
As a visual artist, I strive to reveal the soul of an image, so the world may be treated to its magic and wonder. I want to create imagery that ‘moves’ people – that grabs their attention, and holds it long enough to form an emotional response. ”
James has worked with many of the world’s leading advertising photographers and creatives, crafting iconic and impactful campaigns over a 24 year career at one of the world’s leading CGI & Post studios – Saddington Baynes.
Now, drawing on all his expertise in Shoot/Post Production, Creative Direction and Studio Operations, James has gone back to his roots, offering top-end Photographic Retouching and Emotive Colour Grading for Key Art and Photographic Stills campaigns, as Head of Crayons of his new shop, Cuttlefish Creative Studios in Brisbane.
www.cuttlefishcreativestudios.com
james@cuttlefishcreativestudios.com
This special Award, initiated by the Association of Photographers, is dedicated to commemorating the late Martin Evening, a highly influential photographer who was an early pioneer of digital retouching, and to acknowledge his contribution to the excellence in digital retouching within our industry.
A long-standing member of the AOP (Membership No. 20), Martin Evening was a noted photographer, expert digital retoucher, author and teacher. Martin had a successful 25-year career as a London based, award-winning portrait, beauty, and advertising photographer, working with some of the biggest names in hairdressing.
In the 1990’s, Martin turned to digital imaging. He was an early pioneer in computer retouching and an early adopter of Photoshop, becoming a respected alpha and beta tester for Adobe for many years. His expertise in photo imaging led him to share his knowledge by writing over 30 books on digital imaging and photography, and became a noted speaker at major international conferences.
In 2008, Martin was inducted into the Photoshop Hall of Fame, in recognition as a respected leader in the industry and his contributions to the advancement and development of Photoshop.
Martin was also a founding partner in a software company called Pixel Genius and was product manager lead creator for the product named PhotoKit Color, an award-winning Photoshop plug-in.
“Martin Evening has been a massive figure in terms of the impact of the technological changes that came to our industry with the advent of digital photography. Clearly a kindly man, he was always generous with his time and encouragement, particularly towards those entering our industry.
He will be greatly missed but his influence and legacy will live on for future generations of professional photographers.”
AOP President, Tim Flach
“Years back I was a studio assistant at a studio in Newington Green, near the Nobody’s Inn. I was straight out of art college and had hardly any experience of assisting.
One day Martin used the studio for a beauty shoot. He made me a part of the shoot, showed me the lighting set up, the before and after polaroids. I always remember how kind he was, not just knowledgeable but kind. Rest in peace Martin.”
Sarah Hogan
After retiring from commercial shooting, he and his family moved to the English countryside where he devoted more time to landscape photography and personal work and being a loving husband and father.
Martin had quietly battled cancer for several years and had no regrets. He was 63 years old when he sadly passed away in December 2022.
“I counted Martin as a colleague and friend. He was one of the founders of the Digital Imaging Group in the UK, of which we were both members. Martin helped me launch PRODIG and was a listmom in its early days. His prolific writing, first on Photoshop and then on Lightroom, gradually took over from his photography. He was a world renowned expert and was inducted into the NAPP Hall of Fame in 2008.
Through his work he helped thousands of people and advanced the abilities of professionals all over the world. May his memory be for a blessing.“
Ed Horwich
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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. Our 38th AOP Awards are now open…