2010 Open Award Winners are Announced & Exhibition is Launched

The winners of the 2010 AOP Open Awards were announced on Thursday 19th August at the gala Presentation Evening & Private View at the AOP Gallery in Shoreditch.  The awards were presented by AOP President, Simon Leach.

The coveted Best in Show award went to Adrian Cook for his evocative black & white shot, ‘That Summer’.  This year’s Judging Panel included renowned photographer Martin Brent, who commented:

‘I chose this image as Best in Show because it has a genuine honesty.  It’s refreshing, it’s a caught moment, the kind of moment that photography is all about.  Emotion is conveyed, the kids are clearly having a great time, Mom (?) is relaxed and it’s an intimate family moment that we are allowed to share without feeling voyeuristic.  When Kodak came up with the trademark catch phrase “a Kodak moment” I think this is what they had in mind.

On a higher, more formal level Bresson talks of the decisive moment.  This image was captured at that moment, everything is in balance and in tune, you need not see any further beyond, everything the viewer needs is there.  The scene is well-composed given its spontaneity, technically it’s well-handled, I liked everything about this image, maybe it was constructed?  If so then it fooled me but still deserves the honour because it signals a breath of fresh air.’

The Public Vote closed at 1pm on the day of the the presentation and the Public Choice Award went to Luc Coiffait for his beautiful black and white image, ‘Enchanted’.  There were approximately 2,500 votes cast in this year’s Public Choice and Luc was a clear winner with 462 votes.

The Best in Show and Public Choice winners both received a Wacom Intuous 4 tablet.  Wacom Europe GmbH is the market leader in pen based digital imaging.  For more information please visit www.wacom.eu.

The judges also each selected a personal Judge’s Choice Award:

‘Ashdown Brickworks East Sussex, Ashdown Beds 2009’ by Richard Chivers - chosen by Daniel Campbell Blight, Director of HotShoe Gallery

‘Pierre’ by Ben Millar Cole - chosen by renowned music & fashion photographer, Peter Ashworth

‘Red Splash’ by Iain Crawford - chosen by Grant Scott, Group Brand Editor Imaging, Professional Photographer & Photography Monthly

‘Young Shepherd, Tanzania’ by Zoe Korda, chosen by Karin Berndl, 2009 AOP Photographer of the Year

‘IBG’ by Ronald Tilleman, chosen by Martin Brent, award-winning photographer & AOP President 2008-9

The 2010 Open Exhibition was launched on Tuesday 17th August and will run at the AOP Gallery in Shoreditch until Thursday 9th September.  You can also click here to see the exhibition in full. 

The exhibition catalogue is printed by Blurb and can be ordered from the AOP Gallery or from www.blurb.com.  To order the catalogue direct from Blurb please click here.  Please allow 10 days for delivery.