The Marilyn Stafford FotoReportage Award of £2,500, facilitated by FotoDocument and supported by Nikon, is granted annually to a professional female photographer towards the completion of a compelling and cohesive documentary photo essay which addresses an important social, environmental, economic, or cultural issue, whether local or global. The Award is reserved solely for documentary photographers working on projects which are intended to make the world a better place and which may be unreported / under-reported. The work should, in part, showcase positive solutions to any issue/s it raises as well as demonstrate impact through practical engagement on the ground.
Women from any stage of their careers are welcome to apply, whether emerging, mid-career or established. They must have already started the photo essay for which they are seeking funding and be able to show work in progress. They must have already completed at least one other documentary photo essay in their career to demonstrate track record. Entrants must be over 18, any nationality and based anywhere in the world. It is free to submit.
One overall winner will receive the Marilyn Stafford FotoReportage Award of £2,500 towards the completion of their project. The final work will be featured on FotoDocument's website and publicised via social media. We will endeavour to gain international media coverage, without any guarantees. Honourable Mentions will be awarded to exceptional runners up. Honourable Mentions and shortlisted applicants will have one at least one image profiled on FotoDocument's website and publicised via social media.
Andrea Bruce: Photojournalist, Co-owner NOOR Photo Agency, Nikon Ambassador. Donna De Cesare: Photojournalist, Associate Professor, University of Texas at Austin. Nina Emett: Director of FotoDocument, Documentary Photographer, Curator. Neo Ntsoma: Photojournalist, Founder of Neo Ntsoma Productions. Natalya Saprunova: Winner of Marilyn Stafford FotoReportage Award 2022, Photographer.
Marilyn Stafford's daughter, Lina Clerke, joins the panel as honorary judge.
The only way to submit to the Marilyn Stafford FotoReportage Award 2024 is through our online portal. You will need to create an account with a password so you can save your work and return to it later before final submission.
In the online application form, you will be required to answer questions and either upload photographs, captions, and a project summary of both your current and previous works, where indicated, or provide a specific web link, which leads directly to a designated slideshow that contains a project summary and individual captions. NB: please do not provide a general website, you need to give a URL address for a specific body of work.
All work supplied must be your own work.
Only work submitted in one of the ways described above will be considered for selection.
All online applications should be submitted by 5pm (GMT) on Friday 17 May 2024.
Applicants will receive automatic confirmation that their application has been received. If no confirmation has been received, applicants should contact us at info@fotodocument.org
Photographers will be assessed on the following five criteria:
- track record for completing at least one previous documentary photo essay to a high standard; - the quality of the proposed work / storyline for which funding is sought; - how the proposed project addresses solutions to the issue/s it raises; - how the proposed project creates impact through engagement with community / social / environmental organisations / NGOs - motivation for applying for this FotoAward.
The decision of the judging panel is final.Copyright of the photographs will remain with the selected photographer/s. The photographs must be free from copyright and usage restrictions from third parties. The selected photographer/s will license to FotoDocument and Nikon reproduction rights for an agreed selection of images which make up the final work in any media worldwide, in perpetuity, for the purposes of providing exposure for the photographer, for the body of work created and for the Award itself only. Neither FotoDocument nor Nikon will pass on these reproduction rights to any third parties, without the prior agreement of the photographer. Any usage of the photographs by FotoDocument or Nikon or licensed third parties will be credited to the selected photographer/s with the appropriate copyright symbol.
Friday 8 March: FotoAward launches and Call for Submissions opens Friday 17 May: FotoAward deadline for photographer submissions Monday 17 June: FotoAward shortlist announced Wednesday 26 June: FotoAward Winner & Honourable Mentions announced
Please email any questions or comments to info@fotodocument.org