Judges for the Nikon Photo Contest 2014-2015
July 31, 2014
TOKYO - Nikon Corporation is pleased to announce that judges and chief judges have been selected for Nikon Photo Contest 2014-2015 photography and video categories.
Nikon Photo Contest (NPC) is one of the world's most prestigious international photo contests. Held since 1969, the goal behind the contest is to provide an opportunity for photographers around the world to communicate and to enrich photographic culture for professionals and amateurs alike.
With Nikon Photo Contest 2014-2015, we expect to see great expansion in the variety of forms of imaging expression and possibilities. New measures have been adopted with this contest, including acceptance of entries captured by any digital imaging device, such as smart devices, in each of the photography and video categories, as well as the establishment of a new Generation N Award, for works that best express the viewpoint of those aged 19 or younger.
In addition, Stephen Mayes and John C Jay, both world-renowned creative directors with great and varied experience, have been invited to act as chief judges in the photography and video categories.
Stephen Mayes
John C Jay
Stephen Mayes, who will serve as chief judge for the photography category, is currently Executive Director of the Tim Hetherington Trust*1. He has managed the work and careers of top-level photographers and artists in areas as diverse as art, fashion, photojournalism, and commercial photography for over 25 years.
In addition to serving as Secretary to the World Press Photo competition from 2004 to 2012, he has written successful business plans and reshaped operations for a number of imaging companies around the world.
John C Jay, who will serve as chief judge for the video category, plays an active role as President and Executive Creative Director of a strategic and creative consultancy developing new companies, products, and services.
He has been named one of the Top Ten Most Influential Art Directors in the Past 50 Years by readers of Graphic Design USA, and he has been inducted into the prestigious Art Directors Club of New York's*2 Hall of Fame.
- *1Tim Hetherington was a British photojournalist. His work focused on the documentation of conflict, and one of his photos was selected as the World Press Photo of the Year in 2007. The Tim Hetherington Trust exists to preserve the legacy of Hetherington's professional life, including the safe archiving of all physical materials, and the management of the intellectual and artistic use of his work.
- *2The oldest organization for art directors in the world (headquartered in New York, the ADC was founded in 1920). The Art Directors Club of New York recognizes excellence in art direction in fields such as advertising and graphic design with their international ADC Annual Awards.
In addition to chief judges, 10* judges, all active on the world stage, have been selected from a diverse range of fields and include photographers, curators, creative directors, editors, and film directors. One of the judges in the photography category, Swapan Parekh, was the recipient of the 2nd-place award in the B/W Photograph Section of the Nikon Photo Contest International 1986-1987 (as the contest was then known).
- *As of July 31. Subject to change.
As with the previous contest, Dell Japan Inc., a collaborating partner in the contest, has established the Dell Graphic Pro Award with an additional prize* for 1st-place winners in the video category ("Home" theme and open theme). In addition, Western Digital Technologies, Inc., a first-time collaborating partner in the contest, has established the Western Digital Technologies Award with additional prizes for Grand Prize, 1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-place winners in photography and video categories.
Seiko Epson Corporation is participating as a collaborating partner in the Nikon Photo Contest for the first time this year. Their cooperation in the printing of entries is planned.
- *A cash prize of equal value will be awarded to winners residing outside of Japan.
The objectives behind Nikon Photo Contest are to tell valuable stories through the global language known as imaging with great creativity, and to nurture a community full of aspiration for photographers striving to influence the way people think.
Those who make up this community love imaging. While working hard to offer a place where people from around the world who take imaging expression seriously can be stimulated by each other's points of view, this community also stimulates Nikon in its development of products, including cameras and lenses, that utilize even better technologies and offer new forms of value, as well as in our promotion of new possibilities in imaging expression through photo culture activities in all corners of the world.
List of judges (titles omitted, order random)
Photography category
| Chief judge : | Stephen Mayes |
|---|---|
| Judges : | Stefen Chow, Yue Ren, Thyago Nogueira, Kisei Kobayashi, Chris Rainier, Swapan Parekh |
Video category
| Chief judge : | John C Jay |
|---|---|
| Judges : | Wang Lei, Sandro |
- See the Nikon Photo Contest 2014-2015 for information about judges.
Additional prizes to be awarded by Nikon Photo Contest 2014-2015 collaborating partners
Dell Graphic Pro Award (Dell Japan Inc.)
1st-place winners in the video category ("Home" theme, open theme):
Dell Graphic Pro (¥150,000 value)
Western Digital Technologies Award (Western Digital Technologies, Inc.)
Grand Prize winner: My Cloud EX 4 (24 TB model) with four 6 TB WD Red drives
1st-place winners in photography and video categories: My Cloud EX2 (8-TB model) equipped with 2 WD Red (4 TB) drives
2nd-place winners in photography and video categories: My Passport (1-TB model)
3rd-place winners in photography and video categories: WD TV Media Player
- *Prizes to be awarded are subject to change without notice.
- *Trade names (companies, products, services, etc.) are registered trademarks of their respective holders.
The information is current as of the date of publication. It is subject to change without notice.