Megan, a student on the BA (Hons) Photography course at Anglia Ruskin University, was the only British photographer to make the shortlist for the annual prize, which is organised by UNICEF Germany and GEO magazine.
The UNICEF Photo
of the Year Awards recognise photos and photo series that depict the
personality and living conditions of children worldwide in an outstanding
manner. The top prize was won by Georgi Licovski, a photographer with epa
(European Pressphoto Agency), for his images of young refugees on the
Greece-Macedonia border.
Megan, who is 20 and lives in Harlow, impressed the judges
with a series of photos of her eight-year-old sister Sophie – photos she
originally took for a module of her degree course.
She said: “The photos tell the story of my younger sister
trying to make sense of an over-commercialised childhood. Sophie is eight
years old and wants to grow up quickly, but is not ready. To receive such
an honour within the UNICEF awards is incredible – I’m almost speechless.”
As well as being the only British photographer, Megan is
also the youngest photographer to be honoured this year by UNICEF, who said:
“Although she has not finished her training yet, she already is a photographer
with a fine instinct and the talent to ‘read’ faces.”
Kerstin Hacker, Course Leader for Photography, said: “The photography department is proud that one of our students has been recognised in the UNICEF Photo of the Year award.
“Megan’s series is a very powerful reminder
on the pressures children are under and how important stories can sometimes be
found very close to home. Her work
manages to capture the difficult transition from child to adult and the
commercial pressure that makes this journey perilous.
“Megan photographed the series as part of
the Photographic Sequences module in her second year of study. The module is helping our students to develop
a narrative in a body of work.
“Being selected amongst seasoned photographers
for an Honourable Mention in a global, professional photographic competition is
an amazing achievement and a real testimony to the ambition and professionalism
of our students.”
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