The World Photography Organisation announces printer and publisher Gerhard Steidl as the recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to Photography 2020 at the Sony World Photography Awards

​This is the first time in the Awards’ history that the Outstanding Contribution to Photography will be presented to someone other than a photographer. Steidl will be honoured at the Awards’ ceremony in London on 16 April for his work with photographers and the significant impact of his photobooks.

Established in 1968, Steidl’s publishing house launched its own photobook programme in 1996 and within a few years grew it to what is today; the largest list for contemporary photography worldwide. His remarkable catalogue of photobooks features renowned practitioners including Joel Sternfeld, Nan Goldin, Bruce Davidson, Robert Frank, Berenice Abbott, Robert Adams, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Karl Lagerfeld and Juergen Teller, to name a few. His publications encompass the entire history of photography, from early masters to today’s leading photographers, and represent the diverse spectrum of photographic expression – from art and fashion to documentary and street photography.

ONE LOVE, ONE BOOK: STEIDL BOOK CULTURE. THE PHOTOBOOK AS MULTIPLE

To celebrate his achievements, worldphoto.org/sony-world-photography-awards-exhibition

ABOUT WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY ORGANISATION

The World Photography Organisation is a global platform for photography initiatives. Working across up to 180 countries, our aim is to raise the level of conversation around photography by celebrating the best imagery and photographers on the planet. We pride ourselves on building lasting relationships with both individual photographers as well as our industry-leading partners around the world. The World Photography Organisation hosts a year-round portfolio of events including the Sony World Photography Awards, one of the world’s leading photography competitions, and PHOTOFAIRS, leading international art fairs dedicated to photography. For more details see worldphoto.org

SONY IMAGING PRODUCTS & SOLUTIONS INC.

is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation that is responsible for its imaging products and solutions businesses, from consumer camera, solutions with a focus on broadcast- and professional-use products, to medical business.

STEIDL PUBLISHERS

Steidl is a renowned publisher of literature, non-fiction and photobooks. Among photographers, artists and experts in the art of high-quality printing, Steidl Publishers enjoys an international standing. This is partially due to Steidl’s unique structure, whereby all steps of the production process take place under one roof—from conception to image editing, from design and pre-production, to marketing and printing on Steidl’s in-house press. This approach has fostered expertise in all aspects of bookmaking as well as a large degree of flexibility. Unique to this workflow is the intimate involvement of the photographers and artists in each step of the process. Every Steidl book is distinguished by its individual design and materials. Gerhard Steidl draws on his famous passion for paper to personally chose the paper stock and book cloth for each title, and he oversees all facets of production from layout to printing—each book literally passes through his hands.

Over the years, Steidl at Düstere Strasse 4 in Göttingen has become one of the most famous printers in the international publishing community. Regardless of literature, art or fashion, Steidl’s goal is always to realize the artists’ and authors’ dreams, and to create art in book form. Steidl Publishers has always been owned, run and shaped by Gerhard Steidl. He began his career printing posters and multiples (for Joseph Beuys and Klaus Staeck among others); in 1972 the first Steidl non-fiction book was published, and in the early 1980s followed literature and selected art and photography titles. In 1996 Steidl established his own photobook program, which within only a few years grew to the largest worldwide list specialized in photography. Steidl.de

VISITOR & LISTING INFORMATION

TITLE:Sony World Photography Awards 2020

VENUE:Somerset House, London, WC2R 1LA

DATES:April 17 – May 4, 2020

OPENING TIMES:Monday - Friday, 10am-9pm / Saturday - Sunday, 10am-8pm