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Bruce Davidson receives Outstanding Contribution to Photography Award

Bruce_Davidson_Magnum_Photos

The World Photography Organisation has just announced the recipient of this year’s Outstanding Contribution to Photography Award. The 2011 honour is going to Bruce Davidson and he’ll collect his gong at the Sony World Photography Awards on 27 April at the Odeon, Leicester Square. (Yes, if you were wondering, it did used to be called the Lifetime Achievement Award.)

Davidson has been shooting for over 50 years; he’s run away with a circus, followed a New York gang, and documented the Civil Rights movement; his work has been exhibited at MOMA in New York, the Foundation Cartier-Bresson in Paris, and the Tate Modern in London, to name just a few; he’s worked for Life magazine and is a member of Magnum Photos; and he’s directed three films. That’s a whole heap of awesome.

The Dwarf, Bruce Davidson, Magnum Photos

Some of Davidson’s favourite pictures, including those from his time with the circus, will be on display in the Terrace Rooms at Somerset House in London from 26 April to 22 May 2011. From 4 – 28 May there’ll be a retrospective of his work at Chris Beetles Fine Photographs in London, too.

For more information on the Sony World Photography Awards and on Bruce Davidson, check out worldphoto.org

(Featured image: USA. Los Angeles. 1964. © Bruce Davidson/Magnum Photos)

World Photography Festival, London

The Kitchest Bear, © Antoine Beyeler courtesy of Sony World Photography Awards 2011

The shortlist for the Sony World Photography Awards was announced earlier this week. With over 105,000 entries coming from professional and amateur photographers in 162, the judges have certainly had their work cut out. The winners will be unveiled at a posh-frock do at the Odeon, Leicester Square, on 27 April 2011. But, there’s a whole lot more to the champagne-fuelled awards ceremony going on that week.

26 April to 1 May is the World Photography Festival. For six days there will be a glut of photographic activity happening in London. Exhibitions, naturally; seminars, but of course; workshops, you betcha. And not forgetting the awards ceremony, either.

Serra da Laba, Angola, © Kostadin Luchansky courtesy of Sony World Photography Awards 2011

You can have your portfolio critiqued by a pro; if you’re a student there’s advice on how to start out in the big, bad world of professional photography; you can even leap on a guerilla photoshoot, in studio or on location around London. Exhibitions will feature the images from the Sony World Photography Awards, as well as those from the Student Focus Awards, the university showcase, and the Save the Children project.

The Kitchest Bear, © Antoine Beyeler courtesy of Sony World Photography Awards 2011

And finally, if you fancy attending a fancy do, there are a few tickets available for the public to attend the awards ceremony. Prices start at £22 and go on sale on 4 February 2011. Want more details? Go here.

World Photography Festival, London: lots more information from the website.

Shy, © Arup Ghosh courtesy of Sony World Photography Awards 2011

(All images are shortlisted images from the 2011 Sony World Photography Awards Open Category. Open category winners will be announced on 22 March. For further information see www.worldphoto.org.)