Street Level Photoworks presented Jerwood Photography Awards in conjunction with the award-winning magazine of contemporary photographic art - Portfolio- and Jerwood Charitable Foundation who manage this prestigious platform for contemporary image-makers. Over 4,000 photographs were submitted by 540 entrants, all recent graduates from UK visual art courses, and resident in the UK. The work of the five winners deals with a range of current issues through social, personal and psychological engagement.

In E-wasteland, 2006 Sophie Gerrard addresses the growing problems of electronic waste in India. Dana Popa’ s Not Natasha, 2006, traces the tragically fractured and damaged lives of young girls and women caught up in human trafficking. Moira Lovell’s The After School Club, 2006-07, series shows young women taken from school-themed nightclubs and returned, still wearing their revellers’ outfits, to their school gates. In Protoplasm, 2005-06, Kevin Newark finds transcendent possibilities in the most common of things, having photographed plastic bags cast adrift in the canals of East London. Edmund Kevill-Davies’ humorous series Puppet Love, 2006-07, explores the special relationship a ventriloquist shares with his puppet.

Martin Barnes, Senior Curator of Photographs at the Victoria & Albert Museum and Chair of the Selection Panel, says: “Current issues were high on the agenda across all submissions, and the winners reflect this trend. It is clear that photographers are probing and commenting boldly upon some of the most prevalent and emotive topics of our time.”

Malcolm Dickson, Director of Street Level Photoworks, says: “Street Level Photoworks recognises the quality and innovation of these emergent photographers. The issue-based nature of the work in the exhibition appealed to us and is reflective of our commitment in supporting strong content-driven work of a high quality. The confident marriage of artistic and documentary approaches is also encouraging and we expect that both audiences and image-makers who come to see it will be likewise engaged.”

Artist Dana Popa gave a gallery talk about her work on Friday 26th September, to view images click here.

To view the Scotland on Sunday Review click here (opens in a new window).

A selection of images from the show and documentation of the exhibition 'in situ'.