A Newcastle College student has been announced as the first winner of a new Sony World Photography Award which celebrates the strength of female photographers.
19-year-old Lily Dawson-Punshon from Birtley in Gateshead, is about to complete her Extended Diploma in Photography and has now been named as the first ever recipient of Sony’s Alpha Female Award.
Sony’s World Photography Awards has been one of the biggest and most prestigious annual competitions for photographers across the world since it was established 13 years ago. It recognises the best contemporary photography in the world and aims to help established photographers take the next step in their career while promoting undiscovered talent.
This year’s imagery celebrates our individual ways of seeing the world and launches the Alpha Female Award. All female photographers entering any of the ten award categories were considered for the new award and Lily's untitled recreation of The Girl with the Pearl Earring, which she originally entered into the Open Awards, beat stiff competition from amateur and professional photographers from across the globe to be announced the winner.
“To be shortlisted for this award was quite possibly the proudest moment in my life so far,” said Lily. “To have even been considered for such an empowering award is absolutely astonishing to me, but actually winning it has really made me feel like any of my dreams can become a reality. Surreal is the only word I can use. I feel euphoric.
“Engaging with Sony and seeing the work of all of the shortlisted participants brought me a sense of female togetherness and empowerment and it feels incredible to be a part of something which makes a difference to women's lives and careers.”
Catherine Shield, Lily’s photography lecturer at Newcastle College added: “Lily has accomplished so much during her time at Newcastle College and I am so proud of her.
“To even reach the final of such a prestigious competition was an amazing achievement. She is very talented and fully deserved to win, I have no doubt she is going to go far in her career as a photographer.”
Lily was expecting to receive her award at a formal awards evening in April but in its place, Sony has instead created a digital showcase of the best images entered into this year’s competition. The image will also be exhibited in Somerset House in London as part of the Sony World Photography Awards 2020 Exhibition. Originally due to go on display from 17 April - 4 May 2020, the exhibition will now be rescheduled to a date it is deemed safe to go ahead.
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