Gomma Photography Grant 2024 Winners and Their Inspiring Works

Each year, the Gomma Photography Grant recognizes photographers from around the globe whose works push boundaries, provoke thought, and inspire conversation. The Gomma Photography Grant 2024 winners have once again shone a light on powerful storytelling through the photographic medium. This article celebrates the outstanding winners, highlighting their profound narratives, distinct artistic voices, and the powerful images they’ve created.

If you’re a photographer looking for a new challenge, be sure to check our list of photography contests.

First Prize Winner: Lê Chau Cuong – Prayer for Lovers with Broken Hands

The top award at the Gomma Photography Grant 2024 went to the talented Lê Chau Cuong for his evocative series “Prayer for Lovers with Broken Hands”. Cuong’s work transports viewers to Wilson, North Carolina, where he skillfully merges documentary realism with cinematic aesthetics. His images, influenced by David Lynch, Daniel Clowes, and Charles Bukowski, explore themes of isolation, forgotten lives, and social fracture.

Cuong himself describes the series as a hybrid between subjective narration and stark reality, emphasizing the underlying tragedy and resilience of small-town America.

About Lê Chau Cuong

Lê Chau Cuong is a renowned French-Vietnamese photographer whose projects often revolve around themes of territory, intimacy, and transitory expectation. His previous accolades include awards from Festival Planche(s) Contact and recognition from prominent cultural institutions in France.

Second Prize Winner: Paul Carroll – Redd

Irish photographer Paul Carroll secured second place in this Gomma Photography Grant 2024 with his profound series “Redd,” which documents Ireland’s endangered waterways. Captured during a severe drought in 2018, Carroll’s grainy black-and-white photographs expose submerged relics of human activity, creating a poignant statement on environmental decline and cultural memory.

“Redd” evokes powerful emotional and ecological messages, urging viewers to reflect on the delicate balance between human activity and nature’s fragility.

About Paul Carroll

Paul Carroll, an acclaimed documentarian, is known for exploring relationships between communities and their landscapes. His previous work “Gaelic Fields” was widely celebrated, demonstrating his ability to merge narrative documentary with striking visual storytelling.

Third Prize Winner: Jesús Umbría Brito – Retaguardia

Spanish photographer Jesús Umbría Brito won third place with “Retaguardia,” an immersive exploration of Madrid’s underground subcultures. Brito masterfully captures the vibrant rebirth of counterculture aesthetics and attitudes among post-pandemic youth, evoking timeless themes of identity, rebellion, and belonging.

Drawing inspiration from legendary photographers like Bruce Davidson and Larry Clark, Brito’s sensitive portrayal of youth culture bridges personal memory and contemporary observation.

About Jesús Umbría Brito

Jesús Umbría Brito focuses his lens on marginalized communities, identity, and social diversity. His work has garnered multiple accolades and has been exhibited widely, including prestigious venues like PHotoESPAÑA.

Gomma Photography Grant 2024 Honorable Mentions: Highlighting Noteworthy Talent

Ohad Matalon – The Zone

Exiled Israeli photographer Ohad Matalon received an honorable mention for his compelling work on the complex realities of the Israeli-Palestinian border. His series navigates geographic, social, and historical tensions with striking clarity.

Uta Genilke – LOOP

German photographer Uta Genilke was recognized for her introspective photographic journey through London, capturing the city’s essence through deeply personal imagery.

Best Documentary Award: Vladimir Karamazov – In Their Place

Bulgarian photographer Vladimir Karamazov won the Documentary Prize for “In Their Place,” a harrowing exploration of life inside Belene prison in Bulgaria. His intimate portrayal humanizes inmates serving life sentences, offering a rare and empathetic insight into confinement and isolation.

About Vladimir Karamazov

Formerly a celebrated actor, Karamazov transitioned to photography to tell deeper, personal narratives. His work critically explores the complexities of justice, humanity, and violence.

Best Black & White Award: Antoine Lecharny – Sous Terre

Antoine Lecharny received the Black & White Award for his poignant project “Sous Terre.” Lecharny’s monochrome images delve into hidden histories, uncovering forgotten tragedies beneath seemingly peaceful urban landscapes.

About Antoine Lecharny

Lecharny’s photographic practice often centers around themes of memory and erasure. His images provide contemplative reflections on history’s quiet yet profound impact on contemporary society.

Gomma Photography Grant 2024 New Flavour Award: Diana Ridaf – Come on Baby, Light my Fire

Uzbekistan-born Diana Ridaf earned the Gomma New Flavour Award with a witty, provocative critique of the sexualization of women in mass media. Ridaf’s bold self-portraits and conceptual photography challenge stereotypes, skillfully blending humor and incisive cultural commentary.

About Diana Ridaf

Based in Russia, Diana Ridaf consistently explores gender, sexuality, and body politics. Her award-winning photography has been exhibited internationally, solidifying her as a notable emerging voice in contemporary visual art.

The other stars of this edition of the Gomma Photography Grants 2024

The Gomma Photography Grant 2024 winners each offer a profound lens into different aspects of contemporary life, from social fractures to environmental crises and explorations of identity. Their work serves as both artistic achievement and powerful societal commentary, reminding us of photography’s ability to connect, challenge, and inspire.

If these winning projects have inspired you, you should visit the official website, where you can enjoy all the photographs of the winners and finalists.