Sheyi Bankale, Curator, Next Level Projects

Next Level is an independent photography publication that focuses on the promotion and development of contemporary photography. The Next Level Photography Awards sponsored by Audi is designed to attract a diverse spectrum of passionate and innovative photographic image-makers, with the aim of bringing their work to a wider audience. We have chosen to work with Audi because of their progressive spirit for photography, design and quality.

Forward by Mark Bowles, Loyalty Communications Manager

The standard of the open awards was extremely high, and while the deliberations were difficult, the judges selected in their opinion, work that demonstrated the challenging spirit of contemporary documentary photography that informs, engages and takes an interesting look at the ordinary. Innovative, dynamic and compelling ways of creating portrait photography and art photography looking at the interpretation of modern society.

Judging panel 2005

Jeremy Deller Artist and Turner prize 2004 winner, Paul Wombell Former Director of the Photographers’ Gallery, Sophie Wright Head of Exhibitions of Magnum Photos, John Hegarty Worldwide Creative Director of BBH and Mike Figgis Film Director.

The Shortlist

The number of entries for the 2005 awards far exceeded last year’s competition. In total, nine entries were shortlisted shown here in alphabetical order;

Documentary Photography

David Blackmore / Hee Jin Kang / Penny Klepuszewska

Portrait Photography

Artlene Gottfried / Misha Milovanovich / Luke Stephenson

Art Photography

K.Bayer & F.Varga / Neil Shirreff / Greg White

The Winners

Documentary Photography

Penny Klepuszewska; Intrinsic to my photography work are the details and scenes of contemporary human existence, whether actual or fictitious. The worlds I create for the camera are both self-contained fictions and accounts of the real world. ‘End Part’, 2004-05 is about the work of the council’s ‘Protection of property department’ which deals with the possessions of those who die alone. With no obvious next of kin to take care of their belongings, it is left to this department to be their caretaker, their final witness, to deal with the evidence of their unclaimed lives, the traces of their human existence. ‘End Part’ is a contemporary portrait that evokes human presence but actually depicts human absence.

Portrait Photography

Misha Milovanovich; My photographs are part of my studies of beauty and ugliness. They are taken on location, in and around extreme boxing scenes. They are influenced by 17th C Flemish paintings.

Art Photography

K.Bayer & F.Varga; Exploring the ever-changing relationship between our environment and us. Can we keep the balance?

The Prizes

The three winners received £3,000 worth of Leica photographic equipment the very pinnacle of German camera technology. A selection of the winners’ images has been reproduced in edition 08 of Next Level with an introduction by Mark Bowles, Loyalty Communications Manager of Audi UK.