From the IPA judging table: Lessons for your next project

I’ve just emerged from 3 days of judging the annual IPA awards. It’s a grueling but rewarding process, because the best projects drive me to tears, make me laugh out loud or evoke any emotion in between. They are beautifully captured, deeply human, believable (no matter how whacky), and have something original to say.

That said, there are – if I’m honest – more than a few entries that reveal not a lack of talent, but a lack of experience in communicating ideas. I saw technically impressive test shots presented as “series”, countless familiar themes executed well, but without a point of difference, and beautifully shot work undermined by clumsy or vague written descriptions that ruined my initial emotional response.

It felt particularly poignant to be judging this right on the heels of our Marrakech presentation.

Last week was spent helping our Series Project attendees fine-tune their final project edits so that they were clear and compelling.

At the end of the presentation we announced our next Series Project: 6-14th June, 2026 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. If you’re interested in learning more you can take a look here.

We’ll be working with 10 photographers to conceptualise, plan and – once we’re on location – shoot personal projects with opinion and direction.

This will be our eighth Series Project and it’s my twelfth year judging the IPA’s. I feel incredibly fortunate to live in this world: to be immersed in so much outstanding photography, and to have earned the trust of so many talented image makers.

Thank you for continually showing up and putting yourself out there. I know how daunting it is to enter competitions and share work that’s close to your heart. But if it moves even one person, you’ve done your job.