Brent Stirton
PhotograPhy has the power to move us, to make us think differently about the world and perhaps even to change it. the Power of Photography award recognises photographers who have produced outstanding bodies of work that are both phenomenal on a technical level and, most importantly, highlight issues affecting our world on a cultural, political or environmental level. Many past winners have a history of tackling difficult and sometimes harrowing subjects, but even by those standards some of the images created by this year’s winner make for tough viewing. But we make no apologies for this. these pictures need to be seen.
this year, our Power of Photography award goes to Brent Stirton, primarily for his project ‘rhino horn: the ongoing atrocity’ and the picture, ‘Memorial to a Species’, which won him the title of Wildlife Photographer of the year 2017. Judge and former winner Jasper Doest confessed that there were tears in the judges’ chamber as they considered Brent’s work. ‘It was a unanimous decision,’ he says. ‘I think all the jury members saw it as their responsibility to fight for positive change in this world.’
Brent spends most of his time working on long-term investigative projects for National Geographic, and what’s left of his time on more conventional photojournalism. he has been recognised by the United Nations for his work in the field of hIV/aIDS, and has received a Peabody award for his work with human rights Watch. Issues relating to conservation, global health, diminishing
cultures, sustainability and the environment are firmly on his radar. He has worked for WWF, CNN and the Ford, Clinton and Gates Foundations.
Some of his images are difficult to look at and it’s tempting to turn away, but we must look at them; we must face up to our responsibilities and act. Brent is a straight talker, and his images are equally direct. They shock us, and they often make us feel ashamed, but crucially, they are a call to action. Brent likes to create images that trigger debate and encourage discussion. In short, he believes in the power of photography.