Max Miechowski wins the Photo London x Nikon Emerging Photographer Award

Launched during the first edition of Photo London in 2015, the Emerging Photographer Award continues to spotlight new talents exhibiting at the fair in partnership with Nikon.

Visual artist Max Miechowski, represented by Open Doors Gallery, is the winner of the 2022 Award. The announcement was made on Wednesday 11 May during a special ceremony that took place in the Nikon Gallery, Somerset House during Photo London 2022.

Open Doors Gallery dedicated their booth to Max’s latest project Land Loss. The series focuses on the hypnotic beauty of the UK’s East Coast, the fastest eroding coastline in Europe. Captured over multiple trips to the area, the series tenderly charts the relentlessly changing scenery as well as intimately exploring the human stories of an area that will ultimately disappear into the sea.

Speaking about the series, Max says: “Families have lived on the cliffs for generations, never expecting the sea to finally reach their door. Others just moved there, fixing up a place that they knew would soon disappear. It was worth it, they’d say, to see the sunrise and hear the birds and the waves. If only for a few more years. There is something hypnotic about this place – rhythms seem to stand outside of human time. We’re as temporary as the cliffs. The thought unsettles me yet I can understand why, despite all precariousness, people would want to make a home here, between the land and sky, and watch as the sea edges closer.”

As the winner, Max will receive the ultimate Z Series kit suited to their photography style – including a Z 5, Z 6II or Z 7II camera and a choice of two NIKKOR Z lenses. He will also receive specialist Nikon training to help take advantage of the capabilities that Nikon’s Z range has to offer.

Selected by our curatorial committee, this year’s shortlisted photographers embrace a range of practices and subject matter, cementing the award’s reputation for celebrating those pushing the boundaries of photography. Besides Max, nominated for the Award were:

Andrej Lamut Galerija Fotografija

Elena Subach ILEX Photo

Gabriel Dia Fisheye Gallery

Hannah Hughes Robert Morat

Liz Calvi SEAGER Gallery

Max Miechowski Open Doors

Nana Yaw Oduro AFRIKARIS

Prince Gyasi Nil Gallery

Wendy Aldiss LA Noble

Launched in 2015 during Photo London’s first edition, the award is presented to an emerging artist exhibiting at the fair. The 2022 jury is composed of Photo London’s Curatorial Committee: Philippe Garner (Chair) – Former Director at Christie’s and International Head of Photographs and 20th Century Decorative Arts and Design; Simone Klein – Photography Specialist and Consultant and Former Global Director of Print Sales at Magnum Photos; Sofia Vollmer de Maduro – Director of Programs, Society of the Four Arts, Palm Beach, collector and Curator Emeritus of the Alberto Vollmer Foundation collection; Martin Barnes – Senior Curator, Photographs at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London; Tristan Lund – Art Consultant, Dealer and Collection Curator of The Incite Project, a UK based collection of photojournalism and documentary photography. Tristan also represents a select group of emerging photographic artists.

People’s Choice winner

This year’s People’s Choice winner is Nana Yaw Oduro from Afrikaris Gallery. Chosen by the public from the 2022 Emerging Photographer of the Year shortlist, we asked you to vote through our Instagram account. Nana wins a Nikon Z Fc Mirrorless camera plus a 28mm f/2.8 lens.

Inspired by his local environment and inner emotions, Accra-based photographer Nana Yaw Oduro has been blessing our lives (and feeds) with his bright and engaging imagery since 2015. Describing his aesthetic as “refreshing and real”, his photography explores boyhood, masculinity, acceptance, and self-awareness. These are topics that have gotten this up and coming artist a cult following, both at home and abroad, who are entirely in love with his abstract portraiture and bold use of colour and contrast. Represented by Parisian gallery Afikaris, he’s exhibited in Ghana, China and the US.