Call for entries: German Photographic Society (DGPh) and Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation offer awards for writing about photography

The German Photographic Society (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Photographie) and the Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation are again jointly offering the two prizes “Thinking Photography. DGPh Research Award” and the “Writing Photography. DGPh Award for Innovative Publication”. The awards are presented every two years. Manuscripts for both prizes can be submitted from 1 July to 31 October 2024.

The DGPh Research Award “Thinking Photography” recognises research projects in photographic theory and history as well as approaches in the humanities, cultural studies or social sciences constituting exceptional contributions to photography research. The prize is awarded to qualification theses (master’s theses, diploma theses or dissertations) or other independent publications connected to an expansion of research perspectives on the medium of photography. With no thematic restrictions or guidelines in terms of methods and approaches, special attention is given to works committed to venturing beyond disciplinary or methodological boundaries. Published or unpublished texts in German or English from the last two years can be submitted. The prize is endowed with €3,000.

Photography is no longer debated and reflected upon exclusively in scientific publications. A digital culture of discussion has developed that is innovatively dedicated to all facets of the medium. The DGPH Award for Innovative Publication “Writing Photography” therefore recognises pioneering publications on photography and awards journalistic, essayistic and other publications. This prize directs its particular focus on smaller publications such as selected blog posts, columns and reviews, online publications and formats which creatively combine texts and photographic material. Individual published content in German or English, either digital or analogue, from the last two years can be submitted. The prize is endowed with €1,000.

An international jury will select the awards’ recipients. The award ceremony will be held as part of a public event, jointly organised by the DGPh and the Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation in 2025.

The jury
The jury members for both awards are: Dr. Charlotte Bruns, postdoctoral researcher and lecturer, Erasmus University Rotterdam, award winner “Thinking Photography” 2022; Alexandra König, Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation; Nela Eggenberger, Chief Editor and Artistic Director, EIKON – International Magazine for Photography and Media Art; Miriam Zlobinski, Deputy Chair, Section History and Archives, German Photographic Society (DGPh).

Submission of the works
Application documents can be uploaded via the following links:

Upload Thinking Photography. DGPh-Research Award
Upload Writing Photography. DGPh-Preis for Innovative Publication

They must include the following documents:

• Abstract of the work in English (approx. 3,500 characters incl. spaces)
• Entire manuscript in German or English
• Curriculum vitae
• Publication list (optional)

The submission deadline is 31 October 2024. 

The promotion of academic research on photography
In cooperation with the Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation, the German Photographic Society (DGPh) is awarding the two prizes “Thinking Photography” and “Writing Photography” for the third time this year. The promotion of contemporary photography is one of the main objectives of the Foundation. Its commitment includes awards, scholarships and exhibitions for young artists, as well as events that promote academic dialogue and research on the medium of photography.

Note to Editors:

Media contacts:

German Photographic Society (DGPh)
Regina Plaar
presse@dgph.de
Tel. +49 221 9232069

Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation
Isabelle Hammer
isabelle.hammer@deutsche-boerse.com
Tel. +49 69 21117014