It’s hard to believe it’s that time of year again — the Association of Photographers Awards are just around the corner and print orders are already flooding in from entrants who have successfully reached the second round.

When that much-anticipated email from the AoP lands in their inbox, I’m pleased that so many photographers around the country make Jack Lowe Studio their first port of call.

I take great pride and care in making the prints, many of which are shown in the Awards exhibition and book.  Below is a previous successful entry, Madagascar Sky by Kelvin Murray.

If you would like me to make your 2012 Awards prints, do let me know as soon as possible — Page 4 of my 2012 Price List should tell you all you need to know…

‘Madagascar Sky’ by Kelvin Murray

I love the Autumn, it feels like the next chapter.

With the ‘Summer’ over, the arrival of Autumn provides a brief chance for reflection on the year so far, before knuckling down to the winter months ahead.

In the lead up to a break at the end of August, I enjoyed a very busy time in the studio.

I was very excited to work with Andrew McConnell once again, this time for a show in Dubai (regular visitors may remember my previous post when printing Andrew’s Congo images).

Excited, not least now that Andrew has been crowned a winner of the hallowed World Press Photo contest.

Winning 1st prize in the Singles category, Andrew also won 1st Prize in the Stories category with his series The Last Colony.

Soldier of the Polisario Front | Tifariti | Polisario Controlled Western Sahara

Andrew describes the project in more detail:

“Having lived and worked in Africa for a number of years, I was intrigued by Western Sahara as it was always the country on that continent that I heard the least about. So I read the history and was shocked to learn that the conflict there had never been resolved and that tens of thousands of indigenous Saharawi were still languishing in Algerian refugee camps. I thought it was a story that simply had to be told.

The style of photography came about because I wanted the images to have a strong message: to relate to the outside world the Saharawi issue and the injustice. I wanted to give a sense that this is one long night for the Saharawis, one lasting 35 years. To show very little of the land emphasizes that they are landless, and very simply by lighting them in the darkness I was saying, “Look! These people are here!” Finally I wanted the viewer to see what I had seen; a people utterly forgotten, abandoned, out of the world’s consciousness: a people as ghosts.”

Bedouin Woman at Her Home | Tifariti | Polisario Controlled Western Sahara

The A1 and A2 prints looked stunning ahead of their shipment to Dubai, utilising one of my all-time favourite combinations—HP’s Vivera Pigment Ink on Hahnemühle Photo Rag 308gsm paper.

For now, I shall leave you with more images to enjoy from The Last Colony series…

Journalist | Tifariti | Polisario Controlled Western Sahara

Government Statistician | Smara Refugee Camp | Algeria

Camel Worker Near the Saharawi Refugee Camps

Friend of the Camel | The Desert Near Tifariti | Polisario Controlled Western Sahara

Print Detail | HP Vivera Pigment Inkset | Hahnemühle Photo Rag 308gsm

Simple is so often best…

Thus it is proven once again with Jonathan Knowles’ Chrome Water, recipient of a Gold Award in the Graphis 100 Best in Photography 2011.

As Jonathan writes:

“It’s always very exciting to be recognised in these awards, which appear in these beautifully printed books.

“It is particularly special this year, as the selection of works has been limited to 100. In our studio, we (me and all my very hard working helpers) have had three images chosen; to be listed alongside industry greats such as Albert Watson and Annie Leibowitz is a great honour. Thank you to all my team who help me make it happen!”

'Chrome Water' by Jonathan Knowles, System Work by Jack Lowe—Gold Award in the Graphis '100 Best in Photography 2011'

The publication carries quite a heritage, as described on their site:

“Graphis, The International Journal of Visual Communication, was first published in 1944 by Dr. Walter Amstutz and Walter Herdeg in Zurich, Switzerland. Graphis presented the work of fine artists and illustrators, as well as highlighting the formative years of graphic design as we know it today. Advertising and photography were also featured, and Walter selectively chose what he felt to be the best talent of the time.  In 1966, he introduced the Graphis Photo Annual, followed in 1973 by the Graphis Poster Annual.

“Graphis serves as a platform for outstanding work in Design, Advertising and Photography. To honor these professionals, we introduced the Graphis Platinum and Gold Awards.”

I have worked on hundreds of images with Jonathan over the years; it’s always a proud moment to pass one of our billboards or posters, stumble across an ad, spot another album cover or perhaps pick up an award or two along the way…