The Africa Photo Awards 2022 recently took place in Johannesburg, South Africa, with the winners announced at an exhibition held at the Keyes Art Mile. The competition, sponsored by Fujifilm South Africa and QPhoto ProLAB, showcases the best photography from the African continent, with a focus on community building and collaboration between African photographers.
The overall winner of Photographer of the Year was Leon Pelser, whose winning image ‘Guinea Fowl Abstract’ topped the Abstract category. Pelser captured the striking image during a holiday in Marloth Park, a wildlife sanctuary bordering the Kruger National Park in South Africa. The image features a single blue guinea fowl head popping up amongst the speckled bodies of the rest of the flock.
Pelser’s win earned him a Fujifilm X-S10 mirrorless camera with a Fujinon XF18-55mm lens, a R5 000 printing voucher from QPhoto, and an Instax Square SQ20 instant camera from Fujifilm.
The adjudicator of the judging panel, Dennis da Silva, commented on the high standard of entries and noted a decline in the use of photo editing software. Speaking of Pelser’s winning image, da Silva noted that it was “African, simple, completely different, and it stood out on its own. The image is almost too perfect.”
Deon Brits, General Manager of the Photo Imaging Division at Fujifilm South Africa, praised the standard of entries, stating that the competition provides a platform for African photographers to showcase their best. Brits also expressed his privilege to be a part of the competition.
The other category winners in the 2022 Africa Photo Awards included Pieter Pieters for Conceptual, David Forbes for Editorial, Ashley Marié for Fashion, Martini Coetzee for Fine Art, Kim Stevens for Land & Urban Scapes, Emma O’Brien for Portraiture, JCclick Photography for Weddings, and Devon Jenkin for Wildlife.
The judging panel for the Africa Photo Awards consisted of 12 of the top photographers on the continent, including Sarah Waisa, Mauro Pinto, Neo Ntsoma, and Héla Ammar. The Africa Photo Awards 2022 was the fourth edition of the event.
The Africa Photo Awards provides an excellent opportunity for African photographers to showcase their talent and creativity. With a focus on community building and collaboration, the competition highlights the best of African photography and promotes a sense of pride and appreciation for the beauty and diversity of the continent.
