New Zealand Student Beats Photographers Worldwide

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New Zealand Student Beats Photographers Worldwide At 2013 Sony World Photography Awards Student Focus

© Kim Annan, New Zealand, Student Finalist, 2013 Sony World Photography Awards

• Competing for €35,000 worth of Sony photography equipment

AUCKAND, 19 February - A student from The University of Auckland is today named as a finalist for the prestigious Sony World Photography Awards Student Focus competition, the world’s largest student photography programme and award.

Kim Annan, aged 21, beat entries from over 230 universities worldwide to be named as one of 10 finalists for the Student Focus award. She will now compete against the nine other finalists from as far apart as Singapore to Argentina, to win the overall Student Focus title and €35,000 worth of Sony digital imaging equipment for her college.

Annan’s finalist image, ‘Welcome home’, was taken in response to an initial brief asking student photographers to capture the spirit of celebration in their country.

The image is a classical scene of celebration between two lovers reunited and features Annan’s sister and partner. It was shot with an 8x10 large format view camera, loaded with colour photographic paper instead of film, allowing for the vibrant and negative aesthetics. The 4-minute exposure gives the impression that the busy Britomart Train Station at Auckland is empty.

Annan began working in photography when she was sixteen and went to art school to major in photography. She has always had an interest in conceptual art and felt that photography was the best medium for conveying her concepts. Her recent work has focused on ecological landscapes, the politics of land use and the nature of public space.

On hearing that she has been named a finalist Annan said she “felt the hairs on my neck raise as the news sank in and I am now inspired for the final brief.”

University of Auckland tutor Joyce Campbell comments: “Kim is a very committed and talented photographer and I believe this experience will provide a good deal of momentum at a very important moment in her career. She has just finished her undergraduate study and is going on to postgraduate work. This is a moment of celebration, consolidation for her that is well deserved.”

The image will be shown as part of the 2013 Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition at the famous Somerset House, London from 26 April – 12 May. It will also be published in the 2013 edition of the annual Sony World Photography Awards book.

As a finalist, Annan receives a Sony 65 camera and will use it to complete the final brief of the competition to decide the winner. Each student photographer will shoot a set of 6-10 images exploring what the word ‘family’ means to them.

All finalists, including Annan, will be brought to London to find out who has won the 2013 Student Focus title which will be revealed at the glamorous Sony World Photography Awards Gala Ceremony on 25 April.

www.worldphoto.org/studentfocus


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