I can’t begin to articulate how overwhelmed I am to be typing this press release having watched the 2021 Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year Awards ceremony that was streamed live in true global lockdown fashion this year on YouTube.
The Awards celebrate the very best in food photography and film from around the world.
Since 2011, over 80,000 images and films have been submitted from over 77 countries. Over 10,000 we submitted this year alone from across the globe.
The Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year competition is sponsored by giants in the food industry including Champagne Taittinger, M&S Food, and The United Nations World Food Programme. There is also sponsorship from world leaders in the photographic industry too including The Royal Photographic Society, One Vision Imaging, Production Paradise, and Fuji Film. And many more.
The categories cover the full cultural range of the depiction of food in society – there is something for everyone. From styled food for magazines to images of families eating together in celebration of religious festivals, from depictions of the realities of food production to food growing in its natural setting.
This is the first year I have entered this competition and as the Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year competition is a global competition with entries from all over the world, I wanted to see just how my work compared.
Brave? Maybe! Foolish and setting myself up for disappointment? Maybe! But you have to, and being brave makes you even braver. And it paid off!
I had entered an image I titled ‘Save The Last One For Me…’ into the Food For Celebration Category which is sponsored by Champagne Taittinger.
This image was taken at a large family celebration of 500+ people at The Hilton Hotel, T4, London.
I had been notified that I was a finalist however as the finalist images burst onto the screen and I wasn’t one of them I thought that there had been a mistake.
Then third place was announced and my heart sank. No way could I be any higher.
But oh yes… the fabulous Fred Sirieix who was hosting the awards said my name! I had come in 2nd place!!!!
My Husband scooped me up in his arms and danced me around the sitting room! After an incredibly tough year this has been the most joyous celebration.
Thank you to Champagne Taittinger for sponsoring this award. And thank you to Pink Lady® for creating this opportunity.
This gorgeous image will now be exhibited at the Royal Photographic Society in Bristol this winter.
You can watch the awards here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mO2mcjeqrZM
My section is about 13 minutes in, however I urge you to watch it all. I was blown away by the images.
I was also shortlisted for this stunning image in the ‘Marks & Spencer Food Portraiture’ category.
This image titled ‘Bite Sized Beauties’, was taken for Lords of the Manor with this exquisite canape stands at less than a tiny two inches in height in real life. It was created by super chef and winner of the Chef of the Year at the Cotswolds Life Food and Drink Awards 2019 – Charles Smith
