Social History / Documentary photography
Bristol photographer Fergus Coyle wins Global SinoPhoto Awards
Now in their third year, the Global SinoPhoto Awards are an independent open submission photography competition inviting contributors of any background, location or nationality to ‘tell their Chinese story’, and celebrate Chinese culture, through a single image.
From over 2,000 entries, Bristol-based photographer Fergus Coyle has been announced as the winner of the 2022/23 competition in the Environment category, and the recipient of the Betser Prize, for his image of Hankou Bund in Wuhan, China.
Inevitably seen through the contemporary prism of Covid-19 – with which the city will forever be synonymous, this image is something of a time capsule.
is needed now More than ever
Hankou Bund, Wuhan 2017 – photo: Fergus Coyle
It captures a four-kilometre stretch of the park, which runs alongside the Yangtze River, and is a popular spot for people to meet, exercise together, dance, play games, or pose for photographs.
The other winners were: Xueya Wang in the portraiture category, for her hidden facial expressions during lockdown; Peihong Hu in the food category, for capturing three generations of a family making dumplings in rural village in Xingxian County, Shanxi Province; and Sarah Mei Herman in the series category, for her images of Chinese LGBTQ+ couples in China, Germany, France and The Netherlands.
“I have been incredibly impressed with the quality of this year’s submissions as well as the truly international response from photographers across the world,” reflects the awards art director, Gemma Barnett.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CmGdM9coqeB/?hl=en
“The new series category offered photographers the chance to express deeper narratives and some very brave and personal Chinese stories were explored; from the loneliness experienced during Covid lockdowns to the reality of those living in Chinese LGBTQ+ communities.
“Another noticeable change is that a particular theme emerged this year, with several of the winning and commended photographers taking performative and playful self-portraits, often with their gaze turned away from the camera to create anonymous portraits.”
The prizes were presented to the winners at the British Library, and the winning images will be exhibited at FUJIFILM House of Photography in London until February 10.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CnkL-x2ogus/
For more information on the Global SinoPhoto Awards 2022/23, visit www.sinophoto-awards.com. Follow Fergus Coyle @fergus_coyle on Insta.
Main photo: Fergus Coyle
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