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2017 Judges - ZEISS Photography Award ‘Seeing Beyond’

"Meaningful Places" was the theme of the ZEISS Photography Award 2017 in which ZEISS supported the World Photography Organisation (WPO). 4,677 photographers from more than 130 different countries submitted over 30,000 photos. The choice was made by an international jury of independent experts from the photography industry. In its selection the jury is not bound by any stipulations from the sponsor, in this case ZEISS. The photos do not necessarily have to be taken with ZEISS camera lenses.  

Jürgen Schadeberg Dr.(h.c.) Photographer

Dr Jurgen Schadeberg, sometimes known as “The Father of South African Photography”, is a principle figure in South African and world photography. His major body of work, which spans 70 years and incorporates a collection of some 200,000 negatives, captures a wealth of timeless and iconic images.

Jurgen was born in Berlin in 1931 and, while still in his teens, worked as an apprentice photographer for the German Press Agency in Hamburg. In 1950 he emigrated to South Africa and became Chief Photographer, Picture Editor and Art Director on Drum Magazine.

In 2014 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the ICP in New York and in 2007 Jurgen was awarded the Officer’s Verdienst Kreuz First Class by the German President. 2014 saw Jurgen awarded a Doctorate, Doctor Honoris Causa, for his life work by Valencia Universitat Politecnica.

He met his future partner and wife, Claudia, in London in the seventies and they teamed up on a collaboration which has lasted over 30 years. With her help, he continues to actively work on new major photographic projects, books and exhibitions, to tour international shows and make his own silver investment archival hand prints. He now works in London, Berlin, Paris, South Africa and Spain. His autobiography will be published next year.

Claire Richardson - Picture Editor, Lonely Planet Traveller

Claire Richardson is the picture editor at Lonely Planet Traveller. She has commissioned and researched photography for one of the world's leading travel media companies since 2011, based in Lonely Planet’s UK magazine team while delivering imagery to a total of 11 editions around the world. Claire previously worked on British Airways’ High Life, produced by the creative agency Cedar, after studying history of art at the University of St Andrews. She developed her love of imaginative travel and understanding different cultures – values core to her work at Lonely Planet – while growing up in Thailand and South Korea.

Sarah Toplis - Commissioning Executive, ‎The Space

Sarah specialises in developing projects that lie at the intersection between art, design and technology. Her experience spans producing ambitious large-scale public arts, interactive installations, artists' films and a wide range of online/cross-platform projects. Formerly Digital Producer at Southbank Centre, Commissioning Editor at Tate and Editor for Getty Images Reportage, she has worked with range of museums, galleries, festivals and creatives. She has also worked independently as a freelance Producer working with artists, creative studios and commercial clients including Intel, Nike and Nissan.


Sarah also recently attended NYU’s Tisch Art School ITP programme so she could focus on exploring the imaginative use of new creative technologies across art, design and social change. She is interested in how technologies can bring creative disciplines together to create innovative work and bring new audiences to the arts.