Renowned documentary photographer Susan Meiselas has been awarded the Outstanding Contribution to Photography title for the Sony World Photography Awards 2025, recognizing her transformative impact on documentary photography over the last 50 years. Meiselas, celebrated for her immersive storytelling approach, has captured compelling narratives across various communities, often focusing on women’s lives and human rights.
Her notable projects, including Carnival Strippers, Prince Street Girls, and A Room of Their Own, reveal intimate, enduring portraits of her subjects, blending photographs with testimonies to amplify their voices and stories. In honor of this award, Somerset House in London will showcase a special exhibition of Meiselas’ work from April 17 to May 5, 2025, featuring five projects, including some never before shown in the UK.
The exhibition will highlight recurring themes in her work, such as identity and hidden lives, through projects spanning her career—from early images of young girls in New York to recent explorations of women’s shelters in the UK. Meiselas expressed her gratitude for the recognition, stating, “The work on display invites reflection not only on the photographs themselves but also on the relationships that shaped and inspired them.” Meiselas will receive her award at the Sony World Photography Awards gala in London on April 16, 2025.
