Nominations for Street Photography award

From Girls UnScene, 2009 by Heather Shuker

Two Faculty of Arts, Photography MA students are finalists in the prestigious Student Street Photography Award at this year's London Festival of Photography.

Following their short-listing by judges with only four other finalists, Heather Shuker and Paul Walsh took part in a one-day workshop with celebrated street photographer Peter Dench. They and are now working together with the festival team to produce an all-expenses-paid group show at the Orange Dot Gallery in Bloomsbury, London, which runs from 15-29 June, 2012. 

The overall winner, will be announced later this month, and will receive a special £1,000 grant to help further their photographic career.

Commenting on the finalists’ portfolios, Peter Dench said "They had a visual maturity that surprised me and approached the workshop brief with thoughtfulness, enthusiasm, diligence and good humour.”

Talking about her work, Heather Shuker said: “During my MA course I have taken any form of commissioned work available and my plans to become a photographer have taken shape.

“I am particularly partial to the street, an environment where things are constantly changing and every photograph is unique, a brief moment in time when all the necessary elements come together. It is extremely challenging, both technically and physically, and requires determination and confidence. My work has required me to question boundaries between what is considered public versus private, as in my series focusing on girls in nightclub toilets Girls UnScene. It has been great working with Peter Dench, as I have been an admirer of his work for some time.”

Paul Walsh said: “I am incredibly busy as I am coming to the end of my studies at University of Brighton and am currently involved in a number of walking photographic projects. I soon hope to be able to publish the completed work in an artist monograph. I also hope to continue exhibiting and gain photographic commissions.  I am incredibly excited to be part of the London Festival of Photography.

Viñales, Cuba, from Street Walk, 2008 by Paul Walsh 

The festival returns for its second year, comprising 18 main exhibitions with further shows, workshops and talks going on throughout the month. Each year three photographic competitions are organised of which the Student Street Award is one. 

The festival is taking place in London throughout June, 2012.