The Syngenta Photography Award 2015

Thought provoking and cleverly curated pieces of photography have expressed world issues of today from air pollution to waste to increasing demand on natural resources in a truly amazing exhibition. It seems that we are often presented with current problems of rising CO2 levels and growing population but it is very different when we are confronted with visual evidence that isn't an advert or campaign. And don't get me wrong, we need these broadcasted messages to reach out to people all over the globe whether this is through social media or the TV, but when we do witness them we are shown the negative impact of what is happening but they are often shadowed with presenting the temporary 'solutions' they have found. What we see make us perceive the issue as solved but the Scarcity-Waste exhibition does not glorify the minor positive changes and that's what makes it so eye-opening and inspiring.

The exhibition flows incredibly well, starting with the first place of the professional commission then working through to third which each room leading onto the next. The collection of work that did not win are still presented clearly, with thought and precision into where they would be placed just as much as it was with the winners.

Mustafah Abdulaziz - photo by me

Mustafah Abdulaziz - photo by me

Richard Allenby-Pratt - photo by me

Photo by me

I think what I found most inspiring throughout the exhibition is not only the depiction of the suffering and struggle of many countries but the collection of facts written over the walls. Information about the destruction of our planet clung to the top of the walls, emphasising the impact it was having in the photographs below. The curator of this exhibition has got it just right - a visually compelling and intriguing set of rooms that work very well together.

I thought to finish off this post I would include the collection of photos from the winners all of which are viewable at the exhibition.

1st Prize - Professional Commission - Mustafah Abdulaziz

2nd Prize - Professional Commission - Rasel Chowdhury

3rd Prize - Professional Commission - Richard Allenby-Pratt

1st Prize - Open Competition - Benedikt Partenheimer

2nd Prize - Open Competition - Camille Michel

3rd Prize - Open Competition - Stefano De Luigi