Previous DPOTY Finalists

from Documentary Photographer of the Year 2021 Competition

by Documentary Group, Royal Photographic Society

Prizes - DPOTY2021

The Documentary Photographer of the Year (DPOTY) competition is organised by the Royal Photographic Society’s Documentary Group. The competition has been running since 2012 and provides an opportunity to showcase documentary work and storytelling by members.

The 2019 competition was judged by Alys Tomlinson, Steve Kingswell and Mark Phillips. In January 2020 the Royal Photographic Society hosted the Documentary Photographer of the Year 2019 awards night at RPS HQ, Bristol. The shortlisted entries had been announced in November 2019 and all had been invited to the event where the five finalists and the overall winner were to be announced.

The afternoon opened with a few words of welcome from the Documentary Group Chair, Mark Phillips, followed by a drinks reception in the foyer where all images from the ten shortlisted entries were being displayed on the main screen.

**DPOTY 2019 Awards Evening**
Dave Thorp

The doors to the auditorium were opened to reveal the printed images from the five finalists. The attendees took their seats for the presentation of certificates to the shortlisted entrants, and the finalists (who also received a copy of Michelle Borge’s book Documentary Photography Reconsidered). Mark Phillips then announced Lina Geoushy as the overall winner. Mark and fellow judge Steve Kingswell discussed the judging process and the competition in more detail before bringing the formal part of the event to a close.

Mark, Steve and Peter Haynes FRPS (Chair, Royal Photographic Society Distinctions Committee) were on hand to discuss the projects in more detail.