The 12th edition of the Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year awards ceremony was held at BAFTA’s London headquarters
An intensely powerful portrait, The Candy Man, by UK photographer Jon Enoch, has won the overall prize of Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year 2023, the world’s leading celebration of the art of food photography and film.
The photograph was taken in the streets of western Mumbai near the candy floss-selling grounds of the beaches and fairs. It is part of a wider series of images of the sellers, which capture the unique ways used to display the candy goods in the hope of attracting a buyer.
“This is a magnificent picture,” says Caroline Kenyon, who founded the Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year competition in 2011. “For me, it evokes the great late 18th and early 19th century portraits of Reynolds and Gainsborough - the gaze, the full-length figure, the subject’s position in the frame.
“The man in the picture may have a humble way of life, touting his wares of toxically-coloured candy floss, but he himself is splendid. Dignified, confident, direct, he is anyone’s equal in a society riven with division and caste differences. This image shows us beautifully the universal truth, we are all the same.”
Enoch said it was an honour to be recognised by such a prestigious competition. “The winning image was part of a personal project – a huge amount of time and thought went into capturing it so it’s great to be recognised by such an esteemed panel of judges,” he said.
“Ever since I first saw the candy floss sellers I was drawn to the shapes, colours and juxtaposition of the candy and the urban environment.”
The winners of the 36 categories were announced by chef, author and television presenter, Nadiya Hussain, at an awards ceremony at the London headquarters of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) on Tuesday that was streamed on the competition’s YouTube channel and was watched by an audience across the globe.
“Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year continues to tell the world’s most important food stories as we adjust again to a new normal. War in Europe, climate change, soaring inflation all to be grappled with,” said Phil Turnbull, CEO of APAL, owner of the Pink Lady brand and headline sponsor of the Awards since 2011.
“But at the same time, we continue to grow, forage, cook, eat, celebrate, gather together, feast. Every year, the incredible winning images act as witness to the centrality of food in every culture and every people across the globe.”
This year’s global judging panel, tasked with assessing the thousands of entries submitted from over 65 countries across the world, was chaired by renowned food photographer, David Loftus.
The exhibition of the 2023 Finalists will be premiering at the Royal Photographic Society in Bristol. The exhibition runs from 20 May to 11 June and forms part of Bristol’s World Photography in Focus event, during which a number of top international photography competitions, including Wildlife Photographer of the Year and Travel Photographer of the Year, will be exhibiting in the city.
To view the online gallery of all the 2023 finalists, visit www.pinkladyfoodphotographeroftheyear.com
