Female in Focus is a new award from 1854 Media, running for the first time in 2019. The aim of the award is to highlight the exceptional quality of work by female photographers around the world.
Female in Focus is a way of addressing gender imbalance in the industry. While 80% of photography graduates are female¹, only 15% of professional photographers are women². On top of this, 8 out of 9 photography award winners are male³.
The mission is to open up the world of photography to diverse talent, and to empower women and those who identify as women to step behind the lens.
Equality in 1854 awards is improving but is not equal yet; just 38% of winners are female, they are determined to see this number rise. This is why they have created Female in Focus, to see more work by women at festivals and in galleries, and to elevate the work and careers of female photographers across the globe.
Female in Focus is inclusive of a multitude of feminine voices, including those who are trans and non-binary.
Neo Ntsoma is a South African photographer known for her photojournalism, portraiture, music and popular culture photography. She was born in Vryburg and brought up in the rural areas of Mafikeng in the North West Province.
