Imagining New Perspectives and Diverse Aesthetics | Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize 2023 | Release #45
New Talents and Creativity in Portrait Photography
The Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize is an annual photo contest aimed at discovering exceptional talent and creativity in the field of portrait photography. It attracts a wide range of participants from around the world, including professionals, amateurs, and students. The winning works are exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery in London.
The contest is sponsored by Taylor Wessing, an international law firm with 28 offices worldwide, providing legal services in various fields such as commercial law, corporate law, intellectual property, and litigation.
This year, there were a total of 5,020 entries from 1,785 photographers across 59 countries. The organizers selected a total of 58 works, including the newly established 'Taylor Wessing Photographic Commission'.
Introduction to the Winning Works
Alexandre Silberman 'Diena'
© Alexandre Silberman 'Diena'
Gelatin silver print, July 2022 From the series NATURE
Photographed in Paris, 'Diena' by French photographer Alexandre Silberman, taken in a park in Seine-Saint-Denis, won the First Prize. Silberman captures the suburbs of Paris as part of his series 'NATURE', with this portrait showcasing a figure illuminated by sunlight.
Gilleam Trapenberg 'Kisha and LaDarayon'
© Gilleam Trapenberg 'Kisha and LaDarayon'
Inkjet print, March 2023 From the series Currents
'Kisha and LaDarayon', captured by Dutch-Curaçaoan photographer Gilleam Trapenberg on the Caribbean island of Saint Martin, won the Second Prize. The work captures a quiet and affectionate moment between a mother, Kisha, and her son, LaDarayon.
Jake Green 'Shaun Ryder'
© Jake Green 'Shaun Ryder'
Inkjet print, May 2023
'Shaun Ryder' by London-based British documentary photographer Jake Green won the Third Prize. This unique celebrity portrait features Shaun Ryder, the lead singer of Happy Mondays, with his face completely enveloped in steam.
Carl Francois van der Linde 'Chotu Lal Upside-down'
© Carl Francois van der Linde 'Chotu Lal Upside-down'
Inkjet print, February 2023 From the series Our Leader
'Chotu Lal Upside-down' by South African photographer Carl Francois van der Linde also won the Third Prize. The work depicts Chotu Lal, a wrestler from Punjab, with a unique and captivating composition that drew the judges' attention.
Serena Brown 'me nana fie'
© Serena Brown 'me nana fie'
Chromogenic print, March 2022
'me nana fie' by London-based photographer Serena Brown won the Taylor Wessing Photographic Commission. The work captures her sister's first visit to their family home in Accra, Ghana.
Through these award-winning works, we are reminded that the visuals and aesthetics we encounter can be vastly different across countries. Insights from diverse backgrounds and cultures are deepened through the power of art, making it a valuable experience to engage with slightly extraordinary visuals.
