NZ student shortlisted at 2019 Sony World Photography Awards

© Cassidy Power, University of Auckland - Elam, Auckland, Student Shortlist, 2019 Sony World Photography Awards

New Zealand student beats worldwide competition to be shortlisted at the 2019 Sony World Photography Awards

The 2019 Awards’ final shortlist announcement shows exceptional bodies of work from around the world

March 26, 2019: Emerging photographic talent is today celebrated by the World Photography Organisation with the announcement of the ten young photographers shortlisted in the Student competition of the 2019 Sony World Photography Awards. Within the shortlist is a powerful photographic series by Cassidy Power (age 24), a student at the University of Auckland, Elam, New Zealand.

Being shortlisted is significant as the Awards offer young photographic artists unparalleled opportunity to showcase their art to a global audience and is a vital support to anyone looking to make a career in photography.

This exposure begins in April when Power, their tutor, and the nine other shortlisted students will be flown to London to attend the 2019 Sony World Photography Awards ceremony. Here the students will receive expert portfolio reviews, a masterclass with world-renowned artist Nadav Kander (recipient of the Awards’ 2019 Outstanding Contribution to Photography prize) and have their work shown as part of the 2019 Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition. The images will be exhibited in London from April 18 until May 6, 2019, before touring globally to countries including Japan, Italy and Germany.

The winner of the coveted Student Photographer of the Year title will be announced April 17, with the winning student receiving €30000 (Euros) of Sony digital imaging equipment for their institution.

Students were first challenged to produce a series of 3-5 images responding to the brief, “Evolution”. From this, ten students were shortlisted and received Sony cameras with which they have created a second series of work inspired by the brief “Belong”.

Cassidy Power

Cassidy Power was shortlisted for their first series You’re so handsome, why does it feel so good?. Power has since created a striking second series titled I sit here now once; do you think it will be different to sit here again?, which addresses questions around sexuality and gender.

Power’s series reflects on an appointment at a sexuality clinic, where they posed the question to themself - will things be different if they sit there in future? The student aims to capture the “shifting landscape of gender”. Speaking of their body, Power explains “It is in flux and I am fully aware of its boundaries or limitations. This is a snapshot of my queer lived experience in images”.

Judging, Prizes and Exhibition

This year’s Student competition was judged by global photography experts who have strong insight into emerging photography practise. The panel comprised of Jason Baron (Creative Director of Photography, BBC Creative), Bruno Bayley (Managing Editor, Magnum Photos) and Jeff Hamada (Founder & Editor, BOOOOOOOM).

Judge Jason Baron commented “What’s been so interesting to see in this year’s Student competition is the range, variety and diversity of the images on show, not just in the subject matter, but in the genre of photography. It’s good to know that the future of all the different kinds of photography is safe in the hands of some great young talent.”

The full Professional and Student shortlist has been announced today.
For further details see https://press.worldphoto.org/

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