Simon Devitt Prize for Photography Winner 2020

The Prize this year is different because the world is different. And this beckoned the theme ‘Isolation’ for its entrants to interpret. No shortage of material for us to draw on and so we have this year a record number of entries.

The shared experience of lock down was a time for reflection, creation and new ways of doing things. These experiences are reflected in the quality of the work entered this year. Which, made the process of choosing a winner very, very challenging. Which is why this year I have a runner up and a number of commended finalists.

The winner of this year’s prize has created a photograph that I think we can all relate to. And paired with good humour, it allows us in and in a way, many photographs can’t or don’t. But there is a seriousness as well…. ironically the humour has company. So, sometimes we get to know what something is by also seeing what it is not. And so, the winning photograph has created an atmosphere. We are caused to look and look again and again.

The winner of this year’s Simon Devitt prize for photography is John Golena with his work ‘It’s just me, myself and I, solo ride until I die’.