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\t\t\tProtestors, by Virginia Hines \u2013 San Francisco, California, USA
“I encountered this young man at a Black Lives Matter demonstration, less than two weeks after the tragic death of George Floyd and during the height of the pandemic. I live near the station and wanted to document the confluence of historic events as they played out in my neighbourhood. This being San Francisco, protestors were passionate but socially responsible \u2013 everyone wore a mask.”<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n
Portrait of Humanity is a collaboration between 1854 (publisher of the British Journal of Photography) together with Magnum Photos. It evolved from the already popular and impressive Portrait of Britain. One of the founders of the Portrait of Humanity photography awards explains, \u2018Portrait of Humanity shows how our differences unite us on a global scale \u2013 celebrating all that makes us human at a tumultuous time in our history.<\/p>\n
\u2018The reason for creating both awards [Portrait of Humanity award and Portrait of Britain photography award] lies in the importance of human connection through portrait photography, and their power to reveal a window into another\u2019s life and experience. This is evident from the selection of images you see in the collection. \u2018Each portrait documents an entirely different life, from tales of love in Lidia Sharapova\u2019s image, and realisations of our mortality through Hannah Maule-Ffinch\u2019s moving portrait, to powerful images of protest in Virginia Hine\u2019s work. Portrait photography helps us to understand others around us, and to bring the global community closer together.\u2019<\/p>\n\t\t
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\t\t\tBraveheart, by Hossein Fardinfard \u2013 Pankisi, Georgia
“Thirteen-year-old Rizvan is Chechen; he lives near the Alazani River in Georgia, where most of the inhabitants are Chechen migrants. When I asked to take his picture, he struck this confident pose without me directing him.”<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n
You might expect the judges of the competition to be looking for something in particular, or have a theme to focus on as each year comes around. Apparently, nothing could be further from the truth. \u2018We want to encourage a natural and diverse response to the world within a certain period of time. The eclectic selection which forms the book and the exhibition reflects the vast mosaic of human experiences from around the world, each captured by a photographer\u2019s unique style.\u2019<\/p>\n
It might also seem obvious that different countries would have unique identifying themes running throughout \u2013 but evidently that is also not the case. \u2018It\u2019s interesting to note that there is no discerning style from each geographic location. Although each artist has led separate lives, it goes to show how inspired we are by individuals from all over the world. In many ways the pandemic has helped shape this, as we turned to online international communities for inspiration and reflection.\u2019<\/p>\n\t\t
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Untitled.jpg\")
\t\t\tUntitled by Dave Imms \u2013 Dakar, Senegal
“In February 2020, I was commissioned by a travel magazine to go to Senegal and shoot Dakar\u2019s growing surf scene. Dekumba was one of a number of young people being taught by Rhonda Harper, founder of Black Girls Surf. I was only supposed to be at the surf school for an hour or so, meeting the students and photographing them, but I ended up spending my whole morning there. It was amazing to see so many happy, confident kids take to the water.”<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n
Diversity across the judging panel is incredibly important for 1854. That also includes diversity across professions, with representatives from multiple sectors within the industry. Previous judges have included Fiona Shields, head of photography at The Guardian, Magnum photographers Alessandra Sanguinetti and Newsha Tavakolian, and Mallory Benedict, photo editor at National Geographic. Those who enter the competition should feel as though their work is being seen by some of the most important and most influential people working in photography today.<\/p>\n
Although Covid is obviously going to be the overwhelming theme of any such contemporary volume \u2013 indeed, the cover shows a couple embracing while wearing the now-familiar sight of face masks \u2013 it was also important to show other events. Some of those may have happened regardless, while others have continued through disruption and with differences despite what was going on.<\/p>\n\t\t
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Angel.jpg\")
\t\t\tAngel by Nichole Murray-Fink \u2013 Atlanta, Georgia, USA
“I interviewed Angel for a project I was working on about the emotional and mental impact of the pandemic. She shared how isolation had freed her from comparing her life to other people\u2019s. As a musician, she had become overwhelmed by the idea of keeping up, and felt relief when the world briefly shut down. She found time to invest in herself and show herself the kindness that she had previously relied on others for.”<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n
1854\u2019s representative continues, \u2018Although Covid-19 has been a formative part of the last 18 months, we were also interested in finding the glimmers of normalcy that resided in local communities, uncovering those narratives that document all experiences during
\nthe past year.<\/p>\n
\u2018Images like Rhombie Sandoval\u2019s portrait of Mohammed in Morocco show how normal life continued despite the chaos that the pandemic brought. This being said, it was also interesting to show how \u201cnormal\u201d events of life were transformed, such as Davide Bertuccio\u2019s portrait of the couple formalising their union. Once everyday and traditional scenes were, and continue to be, disrupted, but still maintain their familiarity.\u2019<\/p>\n\t\t
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/KayayeiSisters.jpg\")
\t\t\tKayayei Sisters by Natalija Gormalova \u2013 Accra, Ghana
“Rahina\u2019s 11-year-old sister Rafia started working with her as a kayayei last year, carrying goods at the biggest second-hand clothes market in Accra. They live together in the Agbogbloshie slum. Rahina understands the dangers of where they live but doesn\u2019t have another choice; it\u2019s the cheapest place to rent and is very close to the market. She is grateful that her younger sister has joined her as they can eat and spend time together after work.”<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n
Although always a fascinating collection, this year\u2019s Portrait of Humanity perhaps strikes a louder chord than usual. The portraits found within are shown around the world at a number of key locations, including Photo 2021 in Australia, the Belfast Photo Festival which took place in June and it will travel to the Indian Photo Festival later this year. That means that millions of people will see these images as it makes its way around the globe.<\/p>\n
That also means it\u2019s a very appealing prospect to enter your own work, and those with a penchant for portrait photography should already be considering entering next year\u2019s contest, which is now open for pre-registration. It\u2019s clear that the competition judges don\u2019t have a set definition of what makes a good portrait, but it\u2019s safe to say that anything with heart and soul will likely do well.<\/p>\n\t\t
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\t\t\tThe Best Day of My Life, by Davide Bertuccio \u2013 Barzan\u00f2, Italy
“My friends, Marta and Alessio, sign the documents that will make them husband and wife. Between March and April 2020, 17,000 ceremonies were cancelled in Italy. This was one of the first post-lockdown weddings to take place.”<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n
\u2018Submit work that has an emotional connection to you. Whether that\u2019s a fleeting street portrait, a moment suspended, or part of an ongoing project. The judges are looking for work that shows humanity, individuality and the strength of our global community.\u2019<\/p>\n\t\t
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/other.kelsey.host\/amateurphotographer\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Curiosity.jpg\")
\t\t\tCuriosity by Joe Habben \u2013 Toronto, Canada
“My partner Polly at the Toronto aquarium. She had come to visit me while I was studying a semester abroad in Canada. This photograph was taken on one of the last and most memorable days that we spent together before she returned home to the UK.”<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n
Worth noting also is the fact that any format of photography is permitted \u2013 whether film or digital, and from any device, including smartphones.<\/p>\n
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Further reading<\/strong><\/p>\n Photojournalism in the age of social media<\/a><\/p>\n