Abbey Road Studios Reveals First-Ever Music Photography Award Winners
Abbey Road Studios has revealed the winners of the first-ever Music Photography Awards, which was held this weekend at the legendary studios.
The inaugural MPAs featured the best and most striking music photography from 2021, as voted for by a panel that included David Bowie photographer Rankin, Moses Sumney, Shygirl, and Rolling Stone’s deputy photo director Sacha Lecca.
Along with a number of closed categories, applications from photographers across the world were welcomed for the Studio, Live, Championing Scenes, and Undiscovered Photographer of the Year awards.
Rolling Stone received numerous nominations ahead of the event, winning the Editorial Photography Award for Samuel Trotter’s shot of rapper Polo G. Other nominations included Yana Yatsuk’s cover image of Billie Eilish, CJ Harvey’s backstage photos of Mannequin Pussy, David LaChapelle’s image of Dua Lipa and Josiah Rundles’ shot of Playboi Carti.
Polo G and his son
Samuel Trotter
Discussing the awards, Rankin, who leads the judging panel, said: “Throughout my career, it’s always been really important for me to support emerging and undiscovered talent in photography, so the opportunity to partner with one of music’s biggest and most prestigious brands in Abbey Road Studios for this year’s inaugural Music Photographer of the Year Awards, is massively exciting. “Music photography is an art form that doesn’t get the recognition it deserves, so it’s brilliant to celebrate those working in the field with these Awards. What I’m always looking for with photography is a connection with the subject matter and music has been one of my main passions for as long as I can remember, so this is a real thrill.”
See all the winners for the first Music Photography Awards below, with explanations on what they represent.
Chris Suspect
Zeitgeist Award “This category celebrates THE image that defines music in 2021.”
Winner: Chris Suspect
Championing Scenes Award “This award will shine a spotlight on the importance of the grassroots movements by celebrating the photographers documenting subcultural music scenes around the world.”
Winner: Megan Doherty
Live Music Photography Award
“Capturing the image that defined live music in 2021.”
Winner: John Lyons
Studio Photography Award
“Exploring the process of recording music.”
Winner: Jack McKain
Pink Siifu
Jack McKain
Undiscovered Photographer of the Year
“We want to expose the best upcoming photographers of all backgrounds forging a path in music photography. Do you have a body of work that is waiting to be discovered?”
Winner: Joe Puxley
INVITED CATEGORIES
Portrait Photography Award
“A photograph that captures the spirit, essence and personality of the artist. Stylized, conceptual or candid, it’s how the artist represents their work through visual imagery.”
Winner: Yana Yatsuk
Editorial Photography Award “Editorial photography tells a story with images. It can take the viewer on a journey, illuminate written text, set a tone or present a highly evolved creative concept.”
Winner: Samuel Trotter
Artist at Work Photography Award
“A defining photograph that captures a moment of creativity at work – in the studio, on stage, behind-the-scenes.”
Winner: Greg Noire
Icon Award
“A special honor in recognition of a person whose impact and contribution to the art of music photography is unparalleled.”
Winner: Eric Johnson
Eric Johnson
