For the first time in the competition’s history, the best of the entries will be celebrated in a specially curated digital one-shot issue of NME, available worldwide to download for free.
NME and Nikon will host a guest-list only exhibition to display the award-winning work, offering the photographers exposure to illustrious members of the music photography industry. The exhibition also offers winners the chance to have their entries displayed alongside the work of this year’s Outstanding Contribution to Music Photography winner, Chalkie Davies and images by the Professional Photographer of the Year winner.
Mike Williams, NME editor, says: "The standard of entries in this competition continues to get better every year, and this year's winners have really raised the bar. Some of the work was truly mind-blowing, doing what great music photography always should; capturing a moment and making it feel important, vital and visceral. The competition creates a fantastic opportunity for photographers to get their work in front of the industry and has been the launch pad for previous winners’ careers, with some going on to become official NME photographers. I am thrilled we have been able to work with Nikon for another year and continue to celebrate this art.”
Jeremy Gilbert, Group Marketing Manager at Nikon UK, adds: “It’s been fantastic to work with NME again this year to celebrate and promote emerging talent and we are thrilled to see the standard of work improve once more. For Nikon, photography is about being ‘at the heart of the image’ and capturing the moment which has been reflected very clearly in the winning images.”
Now in its fifth year, the NME Music Photography Awards with Nikon aims to discover striking and iconic music imagery, with both amateur and professional photographers able to compete. The free to download issue will include all the winners, runners up and highly commended entries, along with an entire section dedicated to Outstanding Contribution To Music Photography accolade winner, Chalkie Davies.
This year’s competition was judged by NME editor Mike Williams, NME picture editor Zoe Capstick and NME art director Mark Neil. A readers’ choice category allowed readers to vote for their winners from a gallery of shortlisted entries on NME.COM.
Amateur photographers were eligible to enter images into the live, portrait, festivals and under-18s categories to win a 24.2 megapixel Nikon D5300. The winner of the readers’ choice category will also be awarded with a 24.2 megapixel Nikon D5300 and readers who voted online are in with the chance of winning a COOLPIX S9700.
Professional photographers were able to submit their work for the Photographer of the Year award to win a Nikon D610 camera with 24-85mm lens. Prizes will be awarded to the winners on the opening night of the exhibition.
The free digital one-shot is available to download from 21 October. The guest-list only exhibition will open on 22nd October and will run until 24th October.
Picture credits:
Top image: ©Kevin Bull
Bottom image: ©Jemma Dodd
