Gavin Jowitt named best commercial photographer by BIPP

Sydney photographer Gavin Jowitt has been named Commercial Photographer of the Year 2020 by the British Institute of Professional Photography (BIPP).

The awards were announced online by BIPP’s CEO Martin Baynes after the official ceremony was cancelled due to the global pandemic. Print-based judging took place earlier in the month.

The BIPP Professional Photography Awards celebrate the very best international photography. Open to professional photographers; there are several different categories.

In describing Jowitt’s winning commercial photography print, judge Sean Conboy said, “I think this is a stunning architectural image. The light falling on the subject is beautiful, the angle and quality of the light is first-class. […] I particularly like the way that the colour palette of this image is quite muted. And I like the way that the background is slightly hazy, which lifts the subject off that background.” Conboy continues, “I love the little section to the righthand side of the image, the little red area and grey area. It’s a really nice colour palette. I think it’s very powerful. I think it sells the subject. I love the lines from the bridge on the right-hand side of the image. It’s just a stunning picture.”

On winning the award, Jowitt said, “It was a bit of a shock to hear the announcement. The standard of the awards is always extremely high, so I was absolutely stoked to learn that I’d won. It’s a massive honour.”

Jowitt made his prize-winning photograph whilst working on an architectural photography assignment in Shanghai in China.
Jowitt explains, “Being on-site at the right time of day played a big part in getting the lighting right. The haze in Shanghai can be pretty challenging when photographing architecture. However, with the early morning light, I used it to my advantage to give an ethereal quality to the background.”

BIPP is an internationally recognised qualifying organisation with over 120 years of experience supporting and networking professional photographers. As the oldest association for professional photographers, the Institute offers a challenging qualification structure. A well regarded and respected organisation, BIPP is embedded in the history of the photography industry worldwide, which has led to photography associations around the globe replicating its well-respected qualification system.

Gavin Jowitt is a Sydney based professional photographer. Originally from the UK, he has been a long-standing Qualified Associate of BIPP.