10 Things to Know About James Barnor: Outstanding Contribution to Photography 2027
We’re delighted to announce James Barnor as the recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to Photography title at the Sony World Photography Awards 2027.
The award recognises Barnor’s pioneering contribution to photography, from documenting Ghana’s journey to independence to capturing the beauty, style and glamour of Black social life in Accra and London. Through photojournalism, studio portraiture and fashion photography, his work records the people and communities who lived through decades of profound transformation.
Barnor joins a distinguished list of previous recipients, including Joel Meyerowitz, Susan Meiselas and Sebastião Salgado, whose careers have shaped the history of the medium.
A retrospective of over 50 works will be presented at Somerset House, London, in April 2027 as part of the Sony World Photography Awards exhibition. Bringing together photographic prints and ephemera, the presentation follows his path from Accra to London, his exploration of colour photography and his return to Ghana. Be among the first to know when tickets go on sale.
To celebrate, we've put together a list of 10 facts from James Barnor’s extraordinary career.
1. He is recognised as Ghana’s first photojournalist
Born in 1929, Barnor trained under his cousin, portrait photographer J. P. D. Dodoo. In 1950, he became the first staff photographer at Ghana’s newly launched Daily Graphic, giving voice and representation to Ghanaians during a period of rapid social change.
2. He documented Ghana’s historic journey to independence
As a photojournalist, Barnor recorded a country in the act of defining itself. His lens captured the pivotal moments leading up to 1957, from political rallies and street parades to Kwame Nkrumah’s declaration of independence.
3. His Ever Young studio captured a changing society
In 1953, Barnor opened his renowned Ever Young studio in Accra’s Jamestown district. The studio became a vital visual archive of daily life, welcoming shop assistants, students, and traffic officers alongside judges and prominent political figures.
4. He pioneered colour photography in Ghana
After studying at Medway College of Art in Kent and working at Britain’s leading colour labs, Barnor underwent technical training with Agfa-Gevaert in Belgium and Germany. Returning to Ghana as Agfa-Gevaert’s technical representative, he established the country's very first colour processing laboratory, introducing colour photography to new audiences and inspiring generations of local photographers.
5. He brought Black style and glamour to international audiences
Moving to the UK in 1959, Barnor worked for Drum, the influential Black South African lifestyle magazine known for its anti-apartheid reporting. His studio and street portraits of Black models and celebrities gracing Drum’s covers and fashion pages celebrated the beauty, style, and glamour of Black social life across the African continent and its diaspora.
6. His work bridges two vibrant capitals across three decades
Spanning the 1950s through the 1970s, Barnor’s portraits seamlessly bridge continents and cultures. From downtown Accra to the streets of central London, his images capture Black communities living through decades of profound social transformation.
7. He is an internationally celebrated figure with global retrospectives
After resettling in London in the early 1990s, Barnor’s archive gained widespread international acclaim. Major exhibitions of his work have been shown worldwide, including a touring retrospective curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist (Serpentine London, MASI Lugano, Detroit Institute of Arts), LUMA Arles, FOMU Antwerp, MoMA (USA), and the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain (France).
8. He champions the next generation of African photographers
Barnor’s legacy extends far beyond his own portfolio. The launch of the James Barnor Prize - dedicated African photographers - ensures his lifelong commitment to representation and artistic opportunity continues for future generations.
9. He joins a legendary line of photographers
By receiving the Outstanding Contribution to Photography title at the Sony World Photography Awards 2027, Barnor joins a distinguished roster of previous honorees who have shaped the history of the medium, including Martin Parr, Graciela Iturbide, Edward Burtynsky, Sebastião Salgado, Susan Meiselas, and Joel Meyerowitz.
10. A major retrospective opens at Somerset House in April 2027
To celebrate his award, a special presentation of over 50 works by James Barnor will be featured at London’s Somerset House as part of the flagship Sony World Photography Awards 2027 exhibition. The retrospective brings together prints and ephemera tracing his journey from Accra to London, his mastery of colour, and his enduring global impact.
The Sony World Photography Awards 2027 exhibition opens at Somerset House, London from 16 April - 3 May 2027. James Barnor will receive his award at the annual gala ceremony on 15 April 2027.
Be among the first to know when tickets go on sale.
