Record numbers of competition entries and guests attended this year’s Event Photography Awards, celebrated at The British Museum, 3 May.
The sold-out event saw some 300 guests viewing 80 shortlisted photographs across 12 categories.
The awards ceremony element of the event was held in the museum’s BP Lecture Theatre, with organiser Graham Hill acting as emcee.
A highlight of the ceremony was the Music Events award, which in the absence of winner Danny North, who was on tour with U2, was amusingly presented on video by guitarist The Edge.
The overall winning photo came from the Cultural Events category: Rituals of the Water at the Lost Village by Andrew Whitton (pictured). Whitton also won the Venues category award for Hampton Court Palace.
The 5th anniversary of the EPAs saw over 1,000 photographs entered by some 100 professional event photographers, as well as many industry amateurs.
The competition featured two new categories Food & Drink (Catering) and Venues.
Judges were mostly editors of magazines appropriate to each category and included Simon Hughes, editor of The Cricketer who oversaw the Sporting Events category.
The photographs were printed by exhibition industry stalwarts, Pertons Signs, and guests got to vote on the night for a ‘People’s Choice’ award.
Overall Winner 2018 Andrew Whitton said: “Thank you for a wonderful evening and to EPAs for giving our work in events the exposure and credit I think all the photographers deserve. I’m thrilled to win both my categories, the shortlisted images were all strong so to be consider a winner in each is very special to me…Events, whatever size or budget, rely on strong imagery and these awards prove that everyone involved in putting on a show is as important as the rest. Many things and people go unnoticed, but our photographs wouldn’t be the same without them.”
The EPAs were founded by Off To Work staffing agency whose MD Philip Atkins, added: “The events industry sells itself through photography, while great photos amplify the impact and thereby the validity of events. As such, it’s important that we celebrate the wonderful work of the photographers that capture the energy and essence of events, as well as the venues where they are held and the food that’s served at them, hence this year’s exciting new categories.”
Paul Clarke, who was shortlisted in record seven categories this year – and the 2014 Overall Winner, said: “Being an EPA winner made a huge difference to my profile and success as an event photographer. It’s great to see such a celebration of the visual side of the events industry.”
The awards celebrated their 5th anniversary this year, and supported two charities: Meeting Needs and PhotoVoice.
The awards are open to event photographers of all levels.
The Behind the Scenes Award was sponsored by International Confex and presented by CN managing editor Paul Colston to Deb Porter for Stand at your Stations.
For full list of winners and more information, visit the EPA website: www.eventphotographyawards.com
