Dame Judi Dench is one of the expert judges who will reveal the winners of the international ‘My Perspective’ competition at a prestigious ceremony in London later this month.
Other judges on the panel include actress and writer Sally Phillips and director of global brand and visual identity at GlaxosmithKline – which sponsors the event – Phillipa Proctor. The 25 shortlisted photographers will attend the gala event which is hosted by the Down’s Syndrome Association (DSA).
In years gone by, people with Down’s syndrome were photographed as exhibits; the viewer was not supposed to see the person, just the difference. My Perspective turns the camera around and gives people with Down’s syndrome the chance to show the world from their point of view.
Since its creation in 2010, the competition has attracted entries from across the world and this year the shortlisted photographers come from the UK, Greece, Holland and New Zealand.
The awards ceremony, which will be held on June 16, will also honour the life of Stephen Thomas who, along with his father David, died in a boating accident in Canada last year. Stephen won My Perspectives in 2014 with his photograph ‘Moraine Lake’.
As Stephen travelled extensively with his family, the DSA has created the Stephen Thomas Award in his memory to enable one of the shortlisted international photographers to travel to the UK for the ceremony. Stephen’s mother, Julie, will present the award.
You can find a list of all the shortlisted photographers in this year’s competition here.
