[© Mark Benham]
Mark’s photograph ‘Flour Fenzy’ triumphed over more than 7,000 images and films to make him the second Briton to take the Food Photographer of the Year title in the competition’s five-year history.
His winning photo also topped The Philip Harben Award for Food in Action category.
This is Mark’s second success in the competition since he won the Food for Celebration category last year. Mark says he uses natural light where he can.
Restaurant critic Jay Rayner who chaired the judging panel said Mark’s shot of a baker kneading dough has ‘a lovely structural element to it’.
He added: ‘In the end, it normally comes down to three or four photos which particularly arouse opinion.
‘It’s down to the content – do they speak to the question of food?
‘And how well do they tell their own stories?’
Mark, who switched to photography after a career as a graphic designer, received his award at a ceremony held at the Mall Galleries in London attended by 400 guests.
This year’s judging panel included Amateur Photographer Editor Nigel Atherton and photography dealer Chris Beetles.
[© Isaac Callis]
During his previous life as a graphic designer, Mark worked with studio-based photographers where he art-directed and sometimes styled shoots.
On his website Mark adds: ‘I search for images that tell engaging stories and capture the essence of what I see, whether it’s documenting the work of the charity People Against Poverty, olive harvesting in Tuscany or covering events in the UK and abroad.’
Food Photographer of the Year was launched in 2011 by Caroline Kenyon after two decades of commissioning photography and a desire to see ‘this wonderful and vibrant sector of photography given the recognition it deserves’.
For further details visit pinkladyfoodphotographeroftheyear.com
[© Robin Goodlad]
[© Janelle Bonifield]
[© Lucy Pope]
[© Robert Holmes]
[© Will Jenkins]
Category Winners:
10 Years and Under: Isaac Callis (UK) Planets
11-14 Years: Will Jenkins (UK) Bear’s Delight
15-17 Years: Emma Franklin (UK) The Beauty of Fruit
Cream of the Crop: Petra Novotna (Czech Republic) Octopus on Ice
Food in the Field: Robin Goodlad (UK) The Carpet of Wild Garlic
Partridges Food for Sale: Paula Watts (USA) Floating Vegetable Market
Food Bloggers (supported by Aspire Photography Training): Olimpia Davies (UK) Treasure of the Sea
The Philip Harben Award for Food in Action: Mark Benham (UK) Flour Frenzy
Food for Celebration, sponsored by Champagne Taittinger: Shoeb Faruquee (Bangladesh) The Grand Kitchen
Marks & Spencer Food Portraiture: Jean Cazals (UK) Chicken Cheese Toasty
Marks & Spencer Food Adventures: Robert Holmes (USA) Puno, Lake Titicaca
Food for the Family: Maja Danica Pecanic (Croatia) Picnic
Pink Lady® Apple a Day: Polina Plotnikova (UK) Unstill Life
Production Paradise Food off the Press: Susan Bell (UK) Salmon Tail Still Life
Bring Home the Harvest: Viktoriia Moskalenko (Ukraine) Go Home
Food Sn-apping: Lucy Pope (UK) Kid’s Table
unearthed® Food in Film – Documentary: Carl Pendle (UK) Chilli Festival
unearthed® Food in Film – Non-Documentary: Mandy Mortimer (Ireland) Carrot Cake From Scratch
unearthed® Food in Film Overall Winner: Carl Pendle (UK) Chilli Festival
Errazuriz Wine Photographer of the Year (Produce): Jenelle Bonifeld (USA) Press 2
Errazuriz Wine Photographer of the Year (People): Matt Wilson (Chile) Skin Contact
Errazuriz Wine Photographer of the Year (Places): Robert Holmes (USA) Mayasara Winery
Errazuriz Wine Photographer of the Year Overall Winner: Robert Holmes (USA) Mayasara Winery
People’s Choice – Food Photography: Alejandro Osses Saenz (UK) The Local Friendly Store
People’s Choice – unearthed® Food in Film: Jignesh Jhaveri (India) The Chocolatier
People’s Choice – Errazuriz Wine Photography: Anne Watson (USA) Flight in the Kitchen
Politics of Food: Marcin Jucha (UK) Appreciate Every Piece
Lifetime Achievement Award: Pat Llewellyn
