MPB - Headline Sponsor for 39th AOP Photography Awards

 

While judging for the 39th AOP Photography Awards has kicked off with a stellar group of judges – the Association of Photographers has announced that MPB, the global online platform for trading in used photographic and video equipment, is the headline sponsor for this year’s 39th annual awards.

The Awards celebrate the very best in professional photography and judging by 30 category judges has already begun across the Award’s 10 categories with results due to be announced at the AOP’s annual showcase event in September 2024.

‘As a not-for-profit trade association dedicated to protecting photographers’ and image-makers’ interests, we’re really thrilled to have MPB supporting our 39th AOP Photography Awards as our headline sponsor this year. Its commitment to sustainable business practice and human-creative endeavour comes at a critical time under the contrariety of GenAI. Together with a stellar group of judges who all advocate the skill and talent that professional photographers bring, we can’t wait to showcase the very best visual work our photographers have produced over the past year.’

‘We are delighted to support the latest celebration of the AOP's photographers' stunning work from the past 12 months. The AOP’s dedication to the protection and guidance of visual storytellers is a cause also shared by MPB, as we look to make photography accessible for all.’

Among the prestigious photographers, commissioners and industry representatives who make up this year’s judging panel are:

  • Fashion & Beauty judge Safia Minney MBE FRSA

Safia is an award-winning, international social entrepreneur, speaker and advisor. She has more than 20 years’ experience as a global CEO of the company she founded, People Tree, developing the first sustainable and Fair Trade supply chains and standards with advisory roles within industry bodies. Safia is seen as a thought leader in sustainable fashion and as an influencer in sustainability and modern slavery. She has received an MBE for services to Fair Trade and the fashion industries.

  • Documentary Award judge Olivia Arthur

Olivia began working as a photographer in 2003 and 10 years later she became a full member of Magnum Photos. Much of her work has illuminated the daily lives of women across countries as varied as Saudi Arabia, India and across Europe. Her work has been shown in publications including The New Yorker, Vogue and TIME magazine. In 2010, she co-founded Fishbar, a publisher and space for photography in London.

  • Project Award judge Miles Aldridge

Miles’ photography mixes historic and modern motifs and his interest in art history has led to collaborations with artists such as Gilbert and George, Maurizio Cattelan and Harland Miller. He has had many major museum exhibitions, and his work is held in prestigious museums and institutions including the V&A and British Museum in London, the Fondation Carmignac and the Palais Galliera in Paris, the Davis Museum at Wellesley College, Massachusetts, and the International Centre of Photography in New York.

Full List of 39th AOP Awards Judges:

  • Documentary: Olivia Arthur, Photographer – Magnum Photos; Laura Summerton, Photography Manager – Water Aid; Krishna Sheth, Head of Photography – The Economist 1843 Magazine
  • Environment: Alan McFetridge, Artist & Photographer; David Gray, Content Director – Finisterre; Chrissy Levett, Co-founder and CEO – Creative Conscience
  • Fashion and Beauty: Kaj Jeffries, Director & Photographer; Jamie Spence, Visuals Director – British VOGUE; Safia Minney MBE FRSA – British social entrepreneur and author, former Global CEO and founder of People Tree
  • Food and Drink: Julie Fisher,Ruby Violet, Founder & Ice cream Innovator (& Former AOP Photographer) – Ruby Violet; Ginny Rolfe, Head Food Stylist, Jamie Oliver Limited; Rich Robinson, Head of Creative – M&S Food.
  • Lifestyle: Julian Love, Photographer; Matthew Beaman, Director of Photography – Monocle; Jaki Jo Hannan, Head of Print Production – Adam & Eve DDB.
  • Portrait: Emma Hardy, Photographer; Russ O’Connell, Picture Editor – The Sunday Times Magazine; Nella Souskova, Photography & Design – Thames & Hudson Ltd
  • Spaces: James Merrell, Photographer; Caroline Rowland, Founding Editor – 91 Magazine; Fiona Naylor,Co Founder – Johnson Naylor | Interior Architecture & Design
  • Sport: Henrik Sørensen, Photographer; Helen Stergios,Design Director – Nike; Leon Yearwood, Picture Editor – Sky Sports
  • Still Life and Object: Kevin Mackintosh, Photographer; Jaina Minton, Set Designer & Prop Stylist; Jon Clarke, Operations Director – Havas
  • Project: Miles Aldridge, Photographer; Christiane Monarchi, Editor – Hapax Magazine; Clare Grafik, Head of Exhibitions – The Photographers’ Gallery
  • Best – Commissioned Work: Jacqui Dixon, Art Buyer and Stills Producer
  • Best – Non-Commissioned / Personal Work: Tracey Marshall Grant, Arts Director, Curator & Producer 

 

The judges will identify the finalists and ultimately the AOP’s Gold and Silver winners in each category. In addition, two Best in Show judges will judge awards for Best Commissioned and Best Personal work from all the selected finalists.

The 39th AOP Photography Awards are further supported by Category Sponsors: MOT Models, Fair Licensing created by Pixray, Peerspace, Williamson Carson – Insurance for Creative Industries, Genesis Imaging and Capture One.

Ends

Notes to Editors

Links:

For more information about the 39th AOP Photography Awards:  https://www.aopawards.com/aop-photography-awards/

For more information about the 2024 Awards Judges: https://www.aopawards.com/39th-aop-photography-awards-judges-gallery/

 

For more information, please contact: linda@ashcommunications.com, 07788 592842 or suzanne@the-aop.org

About MPB

MPB is the largest global platform to buy, sell and trade used photo and video gear. It is the simple, safe and circular way to trade, upgrade and get paid for gear, serving more than 625,000 visual storytellers, and every year it recirculates more than 500,000 cameras, lenses and accessories. MPB is rated ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot with more than 30,000 reviews.

MPB is not a marketplace. It buys directly from visual storytellers and evaluates all items before reselling MPB-approved gear. Its dynamic pricing engine provides the right price upfront for all items. It promotes sustainability, diversity and inclusion in everything it does. All packaging is plastic-free and its cloud-based platform uses renewable electricity.

It prioritises inclusive recruitment and supports employees with extensive training and development.

About the Association of Photographers

The Association of Photographers was first formed in 1968 as the Association of Fashion and Advertising Photographers and is one of the most prestigious professional photographers’ associations in the world. The Association’s aims are: to promote and protect the worth and standing of its members, to vigorously defend, educate and lobby for the interests and rights of all photographers, especially in the commercial photographic industry.

Membership is open to Professional and Assisting Photographers working in the creative sector, agents, any Individuals working in the photographic industry, those starting out in the profession, those in education and anyone with an interest in professional photography.

AOP Photography Awards

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.
Find out more about our 39th AOP Awards…