Joshua Thomas from Wagga Wagga, a student at Charles Sturt University, was today announced on the shortlist for the Student Focus programme of the 2016 Sony World Photography Awards.
‘Irezumi (Insertion of Ink)’, the image by Joshua Thomas that has been shortlisted for this year’s Student Focus programme in the Sony World Photography Awards. © Joshua Thomas.
Thomas’ shortlisted image shows a young 18 year old receiving his first tattoo at a local tattooist in Wagga Wagga. It was during an annual “Flash Day” where tattoo artists create a number of original designs and allow the public to pick and choose the artwork they’d like. Titled, ‘Irezumi (Insertion of Ink)’ it beat entries from more than 400 educational institutions across five continents. Thomas becomes one of ten shortlisted photographers from around the world who will be flown to London to compete to win the Student Focus Photographer of the Year title and a grand prize of €30,000 worth of Sony photography equipment.
Talking about being shortlisted ,Thomas comments: “To be involved in such a prestigious photography competition will be an opportunity like no other I’ve had in my photographic career so far. It was a complete surprise I’d been picked to be a selected finalist. I’ve been overwhelmed with inspiration and confidence to push my photographic endeavours even further. I can’t imagine the opportunities that lay ahead but I’m excited to tackle them whatever they may be.“
Thomas, and the other shortlisted photographers, will now shoot a new series of images using the highly acclaimed ?7 ILCE-7K full frame camera from Sony – given to each shortlisted student as part of their prize. The student’ shortlisted images will all be shown at Somerset House, London from 22nd April – 8th May as part of the 2016 Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition and will be published in the annual Sony World Photography Awards book.
