Sony World Photography Awards 2013: Legend William Eggleston wins prize

Renowned American photographer William Eggleston has scooped the 2013 Sony World Photography Awards’ Outstanding Contribution to Photography award.
 
Recognised as the pioneer of colour photography and the personal documentary style, William Eggleston has been producing cutting-edge work for over fifty years. Since first picking up a camera in 1957, Eggleston’s work is said to find ‘beauty in the everyday’. 

His images capture the ordinary world around him, creating interest through sharp observation, dynamic composition and great wit.
 
His ground-breaking 1976 show at the Museum of Modern Art, New York moved colour photography from the field of advertising to being recognised as an artform unto itself. His influence on contemporary photography and photographers is far-reaching and has inspired the likes of Martin Parr, Sofia Coppola, Andreas Gurksy and Juergen Teller.
 
Talking about the award, Eggleston said: "The world is in colour. To paraphrase my friend John Szarkowski, my attempt has been to see simultaneously, both the blue and the sky as one thing.”

Astrid Merget, Creative Director of the World Photography Organisation, said: "William Eggleston is without a doubt one of the great pioneers of our time. His influence on colour photography and subsequently on many of today's most revered working photographers is one to be admired, respected and awarded. We are honoured to have the opportunity to present the Outstanding Contribution to Photography award to William this year."


                                   [Check out more pictures featured in the awards]


Eggleston received the award at the 2013 Sony World Photography Awards Gala Ceremony. The winners of the awards’ professional categories and the overall L’Iris d’Or/Sony World Photography Awards Photographer of the Year were also revealed.
 
A selection of Eggleston’s prints loaned by The Wilson Centre for Photography will be on display at Somerset House as part of the 2013 Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition from April 26 to May 12.
 
The exhibition images were taken by Eggleston between 1965 and 1980.  The majority of the prints are from his iconic Los Alamos and Dust Bells series and the 10.D.70.V1 portfolio. 
 
A further selection of Eggleston’s images can be seen in the 2013 edition of the Sony World Photography Awards book.