Nikon has announced the winners of the Nikon Photo Contest 2014-2015.
The Nikon Photo Contest International has been held by Nikon Corporation since 1969 to provide an opportunity for photographers around the world to communicate and to enrich image-making culture for professionals and amateurs alike.
“Fukushima Flowers” by Katsuhiro Noguchi of Japan has won the Grand Prize in the photograph category and “One” by Chris Rudz of Poland has received the Grand Prize in the video category. A further 107 winners will be announced on the Nikon Photo Contest website and all award-winning works will be exhibited in Japan.
Nikon Photo Contest 2014-2015 Winners Announced
London, UK, 10th July 2015 – Nikon today announces the winners of the Nikon Photo Contest 2014-2015. Beating 89,000 other submissions from 164 different regions, “Fukushima Flowers” by Katsuhiro Noguchi of Japan wins the Grand Prize (photograph category) and “One” by Chris Rudz of Poland wins the Grand Prize (video category). From today, all winning images will be exhibited on the Judging Results page (http://www.nikon-photocontest.com).
This year’s contest was judged by a globally diverse panel of 17 judges, representing prominent current photographers, film directors, creative directors and imaging experts. Speaking about the Grand Prize winner for the photograph category, judge Stephen Mayes comments:
“The winning images might have been overlooked as they speak so quietly about one of the colossal events of the last decade. But their intricate beauty pulls the viewer closer, demanding deeper study. Using the descriptive detail of the photographic process, the images describe nothing, but instead offer a meditation, first visually and then intellectually and finally emotionally as their significance emerges. And the lasting emotion is of hope plucked from the very earth that betrayed its inhabitants in 2011.”
Describing the Grand Prize winner in the video category, judge John C Jay says:
“The art of storytelling has never been so important or relevant. Giving ideas context, creating emotions based on personal insight and raising the consciousness of our imagination in surprising ways is a necessity in our age of information overload and when popularity has become substance. The narrative style of Chris Rudz is non-linear, challenging the viewer to think about his identity. There is beauty in his video that borders on the ugly, which only makes it more seductive. His video was in the minority of entries, one with a voice, both written and spoken. The power of the female voice was inviting and visually expressive, with her comment “I see what others cannot see.” The 2015 Nikon competition brought out an extraordinary group of visual storytellers but Chris Rudz clearly was the ‘One’.”
Held annually since 1969, the prestigious Nikon Photo Contest (NPC) provides photographers with the opportunity to communicate and enrich global photographic culture for professionals and amateurs alike. To date, more than 390,000 photographers have submitted over 1,540,000 photographic works. For the first time, this year’s contest accepted entries from any digital device, including smart devices, and added new challenges:
A new additional ‘Home’ theme was introduced across all photography and video categories, open to the unique interpretation of each entrant of the concept of ‘Home’
Video entries between 6-180 seconds long were accepted in the video categories
A new ‘Generation N’ Award for entrants aged 19 and under across all categories
A further 107 winners will be announced on the Nikon Photo Contest website and all award-winning works will be exhibited. Details of planned exhibitions can be found at http://www.nikon-image.com/activity/salon/
