Oct
My photograph of a storm clearing in the Highlands, photographed with Vismedia during a recent assignment for Drax Group plc has been shortlisted in the Motif Collective “Storms” photography awards.
The photograph was taken as I waited for the low clouds to clear from the Cruachan Power station. I looked back down the valley and saw this incredible moment where the storm clouds still lingered but it was clear in the distance.
The Motif Collective was set up by photographers for photographers as an online gallery to host monthly contests devoted exclusively to fine art photography. Their ultimate goal is to present the finer works of talented Photographers from all over the world to help them become successful in one of the most dynamic and challenging times on the global art scene. The Motif Collective online suite of International Fine Art Photography contests gives artists the opportunity to both be recognised and present their best work to the world.
To see all the winners go to - https://www.motifcollective.com/winners-sep-2019.html
Oct
I was presented with 2 honourable mentions and 1 nomination in the 14th Annual B&W Spider Awards in the category's of “People”, "Portraits" and "Abstract", at a prestigious Nomination & Winners PhotoShow streamed Saturday, October 12, 2019. The photograph in the "People" category was taken for International Alert in Liberia; the photograph in the "Portrait" category was of Lenny Henry, comedian and co-founder of the charity, Comic relief; and the photograph in the "abstract" category was of the ICON Outlet ceiling at the O2 in London, commissioned by the architect and designers, CallisonRTKL.
The live online gala was attended by industry leaders and the photography community from around the globe who logged on to watch the climax of the world's premier event for black and white photography. 14th Annual Jury members included captains of the industry from Musee de l'Elysee, Lausanne; The Guardian, London; Contrasto Galleria, Milan; Travel/Discovery Channel, New York; Harper's Bazaar, UK; Portuguese Centre of Photography, Porto; Aeroplastics Contemporary, Brussels; Silvan Faessler Fine Art, Zurich; ADK Creative One Inc., Tokyo; Galerie Hubert Winter, Vienna; Conny Dietzschold Galleries, Sydney; and Pereira O'Dell in New York who honoured Spider Fellows with awards and nominees in 32 categories.
"It's an incredible achievement to be selected among the best from the 6,418 entries we received this year" said Basil O'Brien, the awards Creative Director. "Jonathan Banks's "Sharing," an exceptional image entered in the “People”, "Portraits" and "Abstract" category's, represents black and white photography at its finest, and we're pleased to present him with the awards."
BLACK AND WHITE SPIDER AWARDS is the leading international award honouring excellence in black and white photography. This celebrated event shines a spotlight on the best professional and amateur photographers worldwide and honours the finest images with the highest achievements in black and white photography. www.thespiderawards.com
Sep
I received notice that my long term project and collaboration with TASSC International (Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition) of portraits of “Survivors of Torture” was awarded with an Honorable Mention in the 2019 International Photography Awards.
The series is currently featured on the IPA winners page at http://www.photoawards.com/winner/zoom.php?eid=8-166473-19
The International Photography Awards conducts an annual competition for professional, amateur, and student photographers on a global scale, creating one of the most ambitious and comprehensive competitions in the photography world today.
The International Photography Awards is set up to recognise the achievements of the world’s finest photographers, to discover new and emerging talent, and to promote the appreciation of photography.
To read more about TASSC go to : https://www.tassc.org/
Sep
My photography recently featured in an article about the Art of Nando’s, published in the Financial Times.
The South African-owned chain has shown a long-running and deep-seated support for art and artists. Nando’s has the world’s largest collection of contemporary art from South Africa. Many of the twenty two thousand pieces of art hang in the group’s 1300 restaurants around the world. The collection has been managed since 2002 by the Spier Arts Trust.
There is a training programme to encourage creativity in up and coming artists whereby if approved the artists earn the right to work on small blank bocks and gradually work up to larger pieces. Some of these artists have gone on to be internationally renowned, including Kinshasa-born Patrick Bongoy.
Nando’s art is another element that makes the brand distinctly individual. It is part of the architects brief and consideration to feature art throughout the restaurants. To read the full article - Financial Times
