Being shortlisted for the Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize 2024 is an incredible honour.
The competition is a high bar, and I didn’t expect to even get pass the doors of the National Portrait Gallery, so the shortlist notification was a very big surprise. Yes, I was disappointed it didn’t win, but there is always next year and the year after. Being shortlisted is more than I expected and I’m greatfull.
I’m told by the NPG team that this year there were approximately 4,847 entries from 1,713 photographers from 50 countries and only 380 of those made it through to the second round of judging so the competition was very strong.
I’m not a professional photographer and only take portraits as part of the studies I do to further quench my curiosity of humankind and the world we live in. It’s a hobby that I love and it keeps my ADHD in check and allows me to create my own briefs – so to get shortlisted was a big surprise and a very humbling moment that will last a lifetime.
Thank you to the team and judges at Taylor Wessing and The National Portrait Gallery. You really made my day.
This portrait of Michael was also selected for the Portrait of Britain Award 2023 and published in the PoB book.
“I met Michael some years ago while out walking my dogs. An accidental friendship grew, despite his angry and mostly bleak outlook on life. When he was diagnosed with terminal cancer, I went to see him and his demeanour had transformed, expressing humour and gratitude for what he had. I asked if I could photograph him as he sat on his new NHS bed and looked out into the evening sunset. He was peaceful and resolved.”
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