Back in June we ran a mammoth competition with Magnum Photos. The nine finalists (three each in Photojournalism, Environmental Photography and Conceptual Art)  recieved expert mentoring and their work will be shown in an exclusive exhibition at IdeasTap towers. To top it all off they’ll also get a book featuring their work.

And there’s more. Three catagory winners will be chosen and awarded £2,500 to produce their dream photo essay. An overall winner will then be selected and announced in March 2011. They’ll receive £5,000 cash a trip to Magnum’s New York studios plus a paid internship at Magnum studios in London.

We caught up with the nine finalists to chat about the first phase of mentoring and find out about their work.

Conceptual Art – Mentored by Magnum photographer Mark Power

Hayley Louisa Brown

We loved Hayley’s portraits of young people on the cusp of adulthood. Through her photographs Hayley highlights Britain’s fractured youth culture and the lack of a defining generational voice.

She said of the award, “Having been given the chance to share my work with established practitioners and getting their opinion on my photography has been a prize in itself.”

Max Downer

Max’s epic series of landscape photographs explores society’s increasing dislocation from the physical world. The uninhabited man-made scenes evoke an apocalyptic atmosphere. 

Max says the award has helped him keep focused on his work post-University. “The IdeasTap photographic award has given me a creative focus that has helped me maintain a fresh mindset and renewed my motivation.”

Nazare Soares

Nazare submitted a breathtaking series of shots, taken in the cities of Tokyo and Kyoto. She was interested in the high suicide rate of young adults in Tokyo and the loneliness a city can conjure.

 “I took The Photographic Award as I sign that I’m on the right path.”

Environmental Photography - Mentored by Magnum photographer Stuart Franklin

Sam Seager

Sam Seager's original submission explored the concept of London’s future after the 2012 Olympics by looking at the spaces built in Tokyo for the 1964 Olympics. In his words, “They now host a bewildering assortment of groups, from yoga enthusiasts to Goth Lolitas and the homeless.”

He says of the award, “It’s different to anything I’ve entered before. Having several stages to the process means there are more opportunities for exposure.”

Ed Thompson

Ed Thompson focused on the blight of the battery hen. In his Hen Rescue series, he is raising awareness for the 16 million caged hens in the UK.

“To be honest I was really surprised to be shortlisted; normally, environmental photography categories are filled with photo stories shot in jet-set exotic locations.”

Stuart Matthews

Stuart’s project on climate change in Bangladesh after Cyclone Aila hit seems very timely, considering the current situation in Pakistan. His black and white photographs are utterly stunning.

He says, “Being shortlisted has given me a great opportunity to have my work critiqued.”

Photojournalism - Mentored by Magnum photographer Ian Berry

Sarah Fishlock

Sarah’s series focuses on the Norfolk Court estate in The Gorbals, Glasgow. The area is due to be demolished and her pictures capture an eerie calm before the storm of destruction.

She said of the award, “My mentoring session with Magnum Photographer Ian Berry was a great opportunity to get advice.”

Nick Scaife

Nick’s sequence of surveillance-style photographs mirror a recent government interest in UK street photography.

Nick described his session with Ian Berry as; “A priceless mentoring session – it’s an experience I’ll remember for a while to come.”

Pierfrancesco Celada

This project – which is titled I Wish I Knew Your Name – was conducted in the Tokyo-Nagoya-Osaka megalopolis, which has a population of over 80 million. The photos feature anonymous citizens alone in the cities.

Pierfrancesco explains, “Despite the incredibly high chances to interact with people, it seems society is moving in the opposite direction.”

 Image courtesy of Stuart Matthews

Click on the picture to see the finalist's gallery