RPS Awards Talks... Jason Bell HonFRPS with Mike Trow

Our Awards Talks Series welcomes leading individuals to talk about how they use photography as artists, scientists, educators, publishers and curators. All our speakers are recent RPS Award recipients who have been recognised for their contribution to photography. 

Recordings from the series can be seen here: https://rps.org/awardstalks

Jason Bell was given his first camera at the age of 5 and decided on a career as a portrait photographer whilst studying Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Oxford University, from which he graduated in 1990. His work has since appeared in many of the world’s foremost publications including Vanity Fair and Vogue US & UK, featuring leading celebrities such as Angelina Jolie, Leonardo DiCaprio, Scarlett Johansson, Johnny Depp, Emily Blunt, Natalie Portman, David Beckham, Nicole Kidman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tilda Swinton, Eddie Redmayne, John Malkovich, Kate Winslet and Daniel Craig.

He has shot numerous film, theatre and TV campaigns and many of Jason’s photographs have been acquired by the National Portrait Gallery for their permanent collection. His work has received much critical acclaim and he has been the recipient of many awards including the Royal Photographic Society’s Terence Donovan Award and the Society’s Honorary Fellowship in 2011. the New York Photo Awards’ Best Advertising Image and the Best British Black & White Photographer at the British Picture Editors’ Awards. His Out 100 Portfolio was one of five finalists in the American Society of Magazine Editors’ 2010 National Magazine Awards, the magazine industry’s highest honour. On 23 October 2013, he took the official christening photographs of Prince George

He has published four books of his work, the most recent being An Englishman in New York. A selection of photographs from the book was exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery in London.

Mike Trow began his career as an editor and reportage agent for the major agency Colorific before working as Picture Editor on magazines including Bizarre and Jack magazine. He was Picture Editor at British Vogue for 13 years, where he led a team that commissioned, produced and art directed all portrait and feature shoots. As a photographer, he's shot for Vogue and other titles. He now works as a curator, consultant, freelance editor and photographer. 

Mike has also chaired the judging panel for the Sony World Photography Awards. Since the 2018 competition, he’s guided the most credible curators, museum directors and picture editors to decide who has created the most exciting work entered into the Professional competition. Mike has curated the Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition, held annually each Spring at Somerset House before embarking on a worldwide tour.

Mike also served for a number of years on the Royal Photographic Society’s Awards Committee.

The 'in conversation' will be followed by a public Q+A. Questions will be taken by Zoom chat or can be emailed in advance. Your Zoom link will be sent in PDF with your booking confirmation. 

Image © Jason Bell / Michael Caine.