This summer, Leica Camera USA is giving female photographers a louder voice through the inaugural Leica Women Foto Project Award.
The juried award program will empower and support female photographers who document important contemporary issues that affect society. As part of the Leica Women Foto Project Award, three winning photographers will receive gear and financial support to pursue their own personal projects relevant to today’s social and political climate.
“This importance of diversity in visual storytelling strengthens the integrity of our collective story,” says Kiran Karnani, Director of Marketing for Leica Camera North America, in a company announcement. “Visual expressions through myriad lenses challenge and embrace ideas that drive important conversations. We enable growth through an expansion of thought when we actively support inclusivity through the photographic medium. With the Leica Women Foto Project, we aim to embolden photographers to think outside one’s own point of view, support underrepresented voices to speak their visual languages, and celebrate new ways of seeing.”
The Leica Women Foto Project Award application is now open. Applicants will be evaluated by an esteemed panel of female photographers; judges are looking for three main criteria:
- Photography quality: Candidates must submit a series of 10 images from a personal or long-term project, with at least four images created between 2018 to 2019. (Photos from all camera makes, models, and brands are accepted.)
- Dedication to the medium of photography: The Leica Women Foto Project Award judges are renowned for their work promoting the art and field of photography. Candidates by no means need to be renowned, but it’s best to show your proven interest in the power of the female perspective.
- Sophistication of the project: Alongside the 10 images, candidates are required to submit a 500-word proposal describing their project and its relevance in today’s social climate, including details on how the funds will be allocated. Judges are paying close attention to how the project integrates the female perspective, with narratives that broaden the conversation surrounding today’s social climate.
Three winners will receive $10,000, a one-year loan of the Leica Q2 camera (or equivalent) and a replacement camera at the end of the one-year loan period. The Leica Q2, loved by many for its high-resolution images (thanks to massive 47.3 megapixel sensor) not to mention fast autofocus and durable build, will help photographers share their stories with sharp, captivating images. The compact camera is easy to pack for a one-day shoot at home or a three-month backpacking trip across the world.
The Leica Women Foto Project Award judges bring diverse perspectives to the challenge. Their unique commonality — promoting females in photography — guarantee applicants with sound photography skills and a dedication to the cause will rise to the top. Judges include:
- Karin Kaufmann, Art Director & Chief Representative, Leica Galleries International
- Maggie Steber, VII Agency photographer and Guggenheim fellow
- Elizabeth Avedon, photography book and exhibition designer, independent curator and writer
- Laura Roumanos, executive producer and co-founder, United Photo Industries
- Deborah Willis, university professor and Chair of the Department of Photography & Imaging at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University and author of Envisioning Emancipation: Black Americans and the End of Slavery
Applications, available at https://bit.ly/LeicaWomen, run now through August 29, 2019. Complete rules and requirements are also available online.
