ISSUE 125
20 / CLUB ZONE
Beyond the camera An image maker who doesn’t use a camera has been named as the recipient of the highest accolade in the world’s longest-running and most prestigious honours dedicated to photographic excellence. Susan Derges scooped up the Centenary Medal in the Royal Photographic Society’s annual awards, recognising her extraordinary contribution to the art of photography. Devon-based Derges is celebrated for her experimental, camera-less approach as she uses the landscape, water and natural processes to create atmospheric photographic artworks. The RPS award for achievement in the art of photography went to Senegalese artist Omar Victor Diop, whose work spans fine-art portraiture, fashion and conceptual storytelling. Diop’s internationally-exhibited practice often features self-portraiture and blends African histories, identity and visual performance. Reflecting the scientific foundations of photography, the Progress Medal was presented to astronomer and photographic innovator David Malin FRPS, whose techniques revealed new celestial detail and helped transform modern astrophotography. Charlotte Cotton received the RPS award for photography curatorship, criticism or research. Through her influential exhibitions and writing, Cotton has played a defining role in championing photography as a major contemporary art form. Among the new honorary fellows is British photographer and educator Richard Billingham, celebrated for Ray’s A Laugh , his groundbreaking 1996 study of family, class and poverty, now one of the most important works of British documentary photography. Other honourees include Tami Aftab in the under-30 class, Raghu Rai for editorial or documentary photography, Amak Mahmoodian for photojournalism and Janice McLaren for education. Additional honorary fellows included Rhiannon Adam, Martin Oeggerli, Eileen Perrier and Marc Wilson, among others. rps.org
ABSTRACT ART Impressionistic images like the one above won Susan Derges the prestigious RPS Centenary Medal
RPS WINNERS The work of Richard Billingham (far left) and Omar Victor Diop (left) was honoured
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