The majority of the issue is devoted to the nine selected projects from the 2025 Documentary Photography Awards, which will be presented in a touring exhibition throughout the year.
You can read The Decisive Moment on rps.org and Issuu
In this issue, we feature a considered article on ethics by Margaret Mitchell, examining the moral frameworks that underpin documentary practice. Mitchell addresses questions of authorship, power, consent, and representation, offering a timely reflection on how photographers navigate complex and often unequal relationships with their subjects.
We also include an interview with David J Shaw, discussing his long-term project at Jaywick Sands. Shaw reflects on his motivations for the work, the realities of sustained engagement with place, and the delicate balance between personal vision and public narrative.
This conversation is complemented by an FRPS panel selection from Jayne Odell, providing insight into the standards, expectations, and evaluative criteria applied at the highest level of photographic distinction.
Issue 35 also marks a moment of transition with a farewell to Martin Parr, acknowledging his enduring influence on documentary photography. The majority of the issue is devoted to the nine selected projects from the 2025 Documentary Photography Awards, a diverse body of work that will be presented in a touring exhibition throughout the year.
Wayne Richards, Editor