The Tom Stoddart Award for Excellence

Established by the team behind the Ian Parry Photojournalism Grant, the award offers established photographers working in long-form documentary photography a photo book produced by GOST Books.

Overview

GOST books will collaborate with the recipient of the Tom Stoddart Award for Excellence to create a book of their work. The recipient must have an in-depth project which is nearing completion and extensive enough to warrant a book. They will receive £5,000 towards completion of their chosen project and working closely with GOST’s Director Stu Smith, they will produce an edit of both photography and text. The recipient will have the opportunity to visit Italy to view the book proofs and amend any changes. The book will be clothbound in hardback and distributed Worldwide by GOST books and their partners.

Practical Info

Entrants will need to provide a short biography, the book project description, and up to 40 images total. No AI-generated imagery is allowed. Photographic work that has been staged or digitally manipulated are not accepted.

The recipient receives a photo book published by publisher GOST Books, £5,000 towards completion of their chosen project, expenses paid trip to oversee printing in Verona, and work published by their media partner The Guardian. The prize money must be used towards making new work or progressing an existing project. The Grant of £5,000 will be paid in two equal installments of £2,500, the first to be paid on the announcement of the grant and the second to be paid following a six-month review of the progress of the project.

About GOST Books

Founded in 2012, GOST Books is an independent visual arts and photography publisher based in London. They pride themselves on an uncategorisable output of diverse subject matter and design: from a chronicle of seven men claiming to be the Messiah; a study of Turkish soap operas; art works inspired by the largest breeding grounds for flamingos in the Southern Hemisphere; archive photographs from the Mexico City police department; to portraits of winners of state-run competitions in Belarus. GOST aims to not only provide a platform for the work of emerging artists but contribute to print legacies of masters in the medium.

About Ian Parry Photojournalism Grant

The Ian Parry Photojournalism Grant supports young and emerging photographers as they embark on their career in the world of photojournalism. They offer financial support, mentorship and ongoing assistance for the promotion of their work. Importantly, the recipient becomes part of a network of past recipients and an extended family of people who care deeply about the grant and believe in the importance of photojournalism. The grant started over three decades ago in honour of photojournalist Ian Parry who died while on assignment for The Sunday Times during the Romanian revolution in 1989 at the age of 24. Each year they hold a free and globally reaching open call and award The Ian Parry Photojournalism Grant which strives to spotlight new talent in photojournalism.