The Marilyn Stafford FotoReportage Award facilitated by FotoDocument and supported by Olympus, is granted annually to a professional woman photographer towards the initiation or completion of a compelling and cohesive documentary photo essay which addresses an important social, environmental, economic or cultural issue, whether local or global. The work should, in part, showcase positive solutions to any issues it raises in order to contribute to constructive photojournalism, in line with the aims of FotoDocument and the wishes of Marilyn Stafford.

The Award is reserved solely for documentary photographers working on projects which are intended to make the world a better place and which may be unreported or under-reported. Women from any stage of their careers are welcome to apply, whether emerging, mid-career or established, but they must have completed at least one documentary photo essay to demonstrate track record. Entrants must be over 18, they may be any nationality and based anywhere in the world. It is free to submit your application to FotoDocument.

Submissions will be reviewed by an international panel of industry experts including: Dorothy Bohm, Donna de Cesare, Celia Davies, Nina Emett, Anna Fox, Melanie Friend, Marilyn Stafford, Helen Trompeteler. Georgina Pavelin, Head of Marketing UK from Olympus will join us on the panel and Marilyn Stafford’s daughter, Lina Clerke, will be an Honorary Judge.

There will be one overall winner who will receive The Marilyn Stafford FotoReportage Award of £2,000 towards their project. Their final photo essay will be exhibited at a central London gallery and will feature in the related exhibition catalogue. Their work will also be profiled on the FotoDocument website and publicised via social media. The winner will receive mentoring support from Marilyn Stafford and FotoDocument during the course of their project.

There will be two runners up who will each receive £500 and a selection of images from their final photo essay will be exhibited at a central London gallery and will feature in the related exhibition catalogue. Their work will also be profiled on the FotoDocument website and publicised via social media.

Short-listed applicants will have at least one of their images selected for a group show at a central London gallery and will feature in the related exhibition catalogue. At least one of their images will be profiled on the FotoDocument website and publicised via social media.

Submissions close on 18 May 2018.

The winner of the 2017 Award is Rebecca Conway – visit our news page here to read about her project and learn how the Award has helped to develop her project Valley of the Shadow in Kashmir.

For more details please visit the direct link.