subscribe 0330 333 1113 I http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk I 29 February 2020 37
Judges’ comments
In January a panel of judges sat down to
discuss all of the submitted entries to the
bursary. It quickly became apparent that two
particular project ideas needed the most
debate, with the judges deliberating for several
hours over who should be awarded the final
prize – turn the page to read more about the
fantastic runner-up, Matt Walkley.
The judging panel consisted of
representatives from Amateur Photographer,
MPB and the highly respected photographer
Peter Dench, who is no stranger to
completing a project and is a regular
contributor to the magazine.
Here’s what the judges had to say about
Graeme’s winning proposal:Peter Dench, photographer
‘Photography is as much about access and
ideas as it is about taking good pictures.
Fortunately, Graeme Chesters’ bursary
application delivered all three. If there was a
template for submitting a brief, his wouldn’t be
a bad place to start. Graeme’s project
documenting the ecological impacts of climate
change on the unique community that live in
Longyearbyen, the northernmost town in the
world, does what photography should - show
the viewer what they think they know about
in a different way, to inform and engage
debate. It’s also very exciting and I’m excited
to help mentor Graeme as he embarks on
his photographic journey to document the
end of the earth.’M a t t B a rke r,
CEO and Founder, MPB
‘When we reviewed Graeme’s work, it was our
clear winner in both meeting the brief of
‘Change’ head-on whilst also demonstrating his
photographic pedigree and potential to become
a real talent in the industry. We’re really excited
about working closely with Graeme on his
project, and providing the camera gear that he
will use to capture his chosen topic: the rapidly
evolving landscape of Svalbard.’Amy Davies,
Features Editor,
Amateur Photographer
‘Picking a winner for any competition is hard,
but especially so when the prize is such a
fantastic and special opportunity. We wanted to
make sure that the recipient would put the
funds, and the kit loan, to the best use possible,
facilitating a piece of work that might not be
possible without it. Many of the applications
were brilliant, but Graeme’s in particular stood
out for its detailed plan and clear editorially
minded structure. We were impressed by the
level of research that had already been
carried out and we felt confident that there
would be lots to say (and to photograph!) over
the coming year.’polar night and the equivalent ever-present
daylight of summertime.
Having already made preliminary trips to
nearby locations, Graeme needed the
bursary money to facilitate the next phase of
his project. He has plans to visit the town on
four separate occasions over the next year,
and we’ll be bringing you news of his progress- as well as sharing the images he creates
here in the magazine, online and through our
social media channels.
An honour
Speaking about winning the bursary, Graeme
said, ‘I’m extremely pleased and honoured to
receive the bursary, and excited about
undertaking this project, which will enable me
to document social and environmental
change in the High Arctic. Longyearbyen is a
unique place and community and it will be a
great pleasure to engage deeply with its
people, industries and landscapes. As
someone who is still very much an amateur
photographer it is also a privilege to be
supported and mentored by the staff at AP
and MPB and I very much welcome this
opportunity to deepen my understanding of
different photographic practices.’
Graeme is currently working as a professor
of peace and conflict studies at the University
of Bradford. His well-thought-out and
detailed proposal showed clear vision for how
he will spend the year, and the different
stories he will produce. We can’t wait to work
with Graeme on this exciting project, and
show you the results!Graeme has already visited the
High Arctic in preparation for
the project