The first winner of the Guardian Royal Photographic Society Joan Wakelin Photographic Bursary is City of Westminster College Photography student, Michael Nott.

Michael, aged 32 years, from Streatham will use the Bursary money of £3,000 to travel to SE Asia to continue his work documenting people living with HIV/Aids in Cambodia. His commitment to documentary photography took hold during a two-month visit to SE Asia in 2003, where, he comments, “I couldn’t stop taking pictures and got completely hooked”. He joined several photography classes before undertaking the BTEC National Certificate in Photography at City of Westminster College, where he is now completing his second year.

The jury, who included photographer Don McCullin and the Guardian Picture Editor, Roger Tooth, were very impressed with Michael’s work. Don McCullin commented,
“Michael’s work stood out. For someone so new to documentary photography his HIV/Aids work shows a determined commitment to this difficult subject, along with a clear compassion for the people he photographs”.

Michael, who now intends to make a career out of documentary photography, praised the College in helping him to realise his ambition. He enthused “The facilities are fantastic, the teaching is good and the course is really well-organised”,

His essay and work for the Bursary will appear in the Guardian and Royal Photographic Society Journal in Spring 2006.

Wednesday, November 23, 2005