Africa Photo Awards winners officially announced - and they're amazing!

Africa Photo Awards winners officially announced - and they're amazing!
(Image credit: Elize Labuschagne)

The winners of the inaugural Africa Photo Awards were announced last night, including nine category winners and one overall winner that took home the top prizes of an all-expenses paid trip to Photokina 2020 in Cologne, Germany and a Fujifilm X-H with battery grip and lens. 

The Africa Photo Awards is a non-profit competition that's designed to showcase the best photography from the continent. Sponsored by Fujifilm South Africa and QPhoto ProLab, the spirit of the competition was centered around collaboration and community building to produce a unique collection of African photography by African photographers. 

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Pretoria-based Hein Waschefort won the title of Photographer of the Year for his fine-art Salvador Dali-inspired photo 'Where the Moon and Tusks Collide'. This surreal image was created by Waschefort combining several of his own photos of elephants, the moon, clouds and landscapes. 

Waschefort said, "I think the most important singular element of this image is my laptop and Photoshop. This is just a fun Surrealist compilation inspired by Salvador Dali." 

Hein Waschefort won the title of Photographer of the Year for this surreal composite

Hein Waschefort won the title of Photographer of the Year for this surreal composite (Image credit: Hein Waschefort / Africa Photo Awards)

Other category winners include:

Abstract: Elizabeth Cook, Doooown
Conceptual: André Badenhorst, Silvablack 01
Editorial: Takumi Wada, Untitled
Fashion: Linda Orsmond, Night
Fine Art: Hein Waschefort, Where the Moon and Tusks Collide
Land & Urban scapes: Udo Kieslich, Milky Way
Portraiture: Thina Zibi, Mother
Wedding: Carlien Haywood, Untitled
Wildlife: Elize Labuschagne, The Jackal Strikes Again

Deon Brits, the General Manager of the Photo Imaging Division at Fujifilm South Africa, believes that the Africa Photo Awards will only grow in stature. "It is a privilege for Fujifilm South Africa to be a sponsor of the inaugural event. With the immense wealth of photographic talent on the continent, we believe the Africa Photo Awards will help to shine a light on the best photographers in Africa to help bring them to international attention." 

The Africa Photo Awards exhibition will be on display at 21 Keyes Avenue at the Keyes Art Mile in Rosebank, Johannesburg. It is available to visit free of charge until 30 November. 

Meanwhile, the winner of the People's Choice Fujifilm Award is yet to be decided! Cast your vote for your favorite photograph at the Africa Photo Award's official website for your chance to win a Fujifilm X-T100 camera and lens. 

In the meantime, check out the amazing images from the category winners below. 

Conceptual Winner: André Badenhorst, Silvablack 01

Conceptual Winner: André Badenhorst, Silvablack 01 (Image credit: Andre Badenhorst / Africa Photo Awards)

Fashion winner: Linda Orsmond, Night

Fashion winner: Linda Orsmond, Night (Image credit: Linda Orsmond / Africa Photo Awards)

Wedding winner: Carlien Haywood, Untitled

Wedding winner: Carlien Haywood, Untitled (Image credit: Carlien Haywood / Africa Photo Awards)

Portraiture winner: Thina Zibi, Mother

Portraiture winner: Thina Zibi, Mother (Image credit: Thina Zibi / Africa Photo Awards)

Abstract winner:  Elizabeth Cook, Doooown

Abstract winner:  Elizabeth Cook, Doooown (Image credit: Elizabeth Cook / Africa Photo Awards)

Editorial winner: Takumi Wada, Untitled 

Editorial winner: Takumi Wada, Untitled  (Image credit: Takumi Wada / Africa Photo Awards)

Land & Urban scapes winner: Udo Kieslich, Milky Way

Land & Urban scapes winner: Udo Kieslich, Milky Way (Image credit: Udo Kieslich / Africa Photo Awards)

Wildlife winner: Elize Labuschagne, The Jackal Strikes Again

Wildlife winner: Elize Labuschagne, The Jackal Strikes Again (Image credit: Eliza Labuschagne / Africa Photo Awards)

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Louise Carey

With over a decade of photographic experience, Louise arms Digital Camera World with a wealth of knowledge on photographic technique and know-how – something at which she is so adept that she's delivered workshops for the likes of ITV and Sue Ryder. Louise also brings years of experience as both a web and print journalist, having served as features editor for Practical Photography magazine and contributing photography tutorials and camera analysis to titles including Digital Camera Magazine and  Digital Photographer. Louise currently shoots with the Fujifilm X-T200 and the Nikon D800, capturing self-portraits and still life images, and is DCW's ecommerce editor, meaning that she knows good camera, lens and laptop deals when she sees them.