Hasselblad Master Awards 2009 photography competition

Following the success of the 2008 awards which attracted a record number of entries, Hasselblad have today launched the 2009 Masters Awards and are now accepting entries for the contest.

Launched eight years ago in 2001, the awards are given in recognition of a photographer’s contribution to the art of photography and are judged on the photographer's "photographic ability, creativity, composition, conceptual strength and technical skill."

The 2009 contest will encompass ten categories including: architecture, editorial, fashion/beauty, fine art, general photography, nature/landscape, portrait, product, up and coming, and wedding/social. Submissions for all categories will be accepted from any established professional photographer, using any large and medium format camera.

“The high level of entries for 2008 demonstrates the excellent reputation these coveted awards have developed over the years for celebrating the best in both established and rising photographic talent,” says Christian Nørgaard, Photographer Relations Manager for Hasselblad. “To accommodate our anticipated level of entries for 2009, we are increasing the judging panel to twice the size of last year’s.”

Judging of the contest will take place in two stages. Firstly, an internal jury will perform the first round and the panel of independent, external judges will make the final selections.

The ten winners of each category will each receive the free use of Hasselblad’s H3DII DSLR flagship camera, have their work and Masters’ project marketed via Hasselblad’s websites and receive an exclusive framed diploma certifying their Masters status.

Winners will also have the chance to use the camera to capture images to be included in the production of a unique, commemorative collection, photographic book, to be published later in the year. The book will feature pictorials wherein each winning photographer freely interprets a given theme. The 2008 Masters, picked from over 1,700 entries, were given the theme passion and have already produced some breathtaking shots.

Christian Nørgaard adds “The aim of this project is to challenge and reward exceptional photographers by enabling them to interpret a given theme using what are widely accepted as the best cameras in the world. Being able to produce a high quality book, featuring their own creative work, fulfils a dream that almost every photographer has.”

Each winner will receive 50 copies of the Hasselblad Masters book, which will be available worldwide. A further 90 finalists and 400 runners-up will receive Masters Award diplomas.

Andrej Kopack, winner of the Masters Award 2008 fashion/beauty category says “It is a deeply felt honour to receive this recognition, as the list of previous winners includes some of my commercial heroes.”

The closing date for entries is the 1^st January 2009. For further details on how to enter please visit the website.

Entering this competition? Let us know how you get on here.