Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year 2024 shortlist released

Posted on Apr 5, 2024

The Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year 2024 has released its shortlist, featuring entries from over 65 countries

This year’s finalists were chosen for their technical skill, artistic talent and power to tell the story of food’s role across various cultures.

Among the shortlisted entries is “Cave Fishing” by Natnattcha Chaturapitamorn, which depicts a father and son fishing with a bamboo basket in South Vietnam. Also featured is “Walk on the mallow side” by Jacki Gordon showing miniature hikers traversing a tea cake. Together, they illustrate the competition’s thematic breadth.

Miniature figurines of hikers traversing a rugged, snowy terrain that is actually a half-eaten tea cake, with the white marshmallow mimicking snow and the chocolatey base resembling rocky ground, against a vibrant blue backdrop.

‘Walk on the mallow side’ | © Jacki Gordon / Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year 2024

A woman in a tank top and cap kneels amidst a dense urban garden, harvesting chard. The city skyline looms in the background under a clear blue sky, contrasting nature with the urban environment.

‘Sea of Rainbow Chard’ | © Valery Rizzo / Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year 2024

Four individuals in traditional African attire, adorned with colourful beaded necklaces, are grinding grain using large stone tools in a village setting.

‘Working together’ | © Sanghamitra Sarkar / Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year 2024

Two individuals stand in a shallow, water-filled cave, illuminated by a warm light that highlights the swirling patterns of the rock formation around them. One person holds a torch, causing sparks to reflect on the water's surface, adding a magical quality to the subterranean scene.

‘Cave Fishing’ | © Natnattcha Chaturapitamorn / Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year 2024

A group of monks clad in vibrant orange robes are seated on the ground in a row, eating from large metal bowls. The scene is captured from above, with the monks' matching attire creating a striking contrast against the grey floor marked with white diamonds.

‘Lunchtime at the Ashram’ | © Sue O'Connell / Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year 2024

An elderly couple enjoys a meal together in a cosy café corner lined with bookshelves filled with colourful books. The vibrant teal walls are decorated with framed portraits, and the warm lighting complements the intimate ambiance.

‘First date in Vienna | © Guido Caltabiano / Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year 2024

A woman in a vibrant red and blue sari sits on railway tracks as she shares food with two attentive cats amidst a hazy, tree-lined backdrop, creating a serene yet engaging scene of companionship.

‘Love’ | © Mohammad Fayzul Mowla / Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year 2024

Two men in suits are conversing in an upscale restaurant with a warm and dimly lit ambiance, while chefs are busy preparing food in the open kitchen behind them, adding a sense of behind-the-scenes activity to the dining experience.

‘Back to front (of house) in one shot’ | © John Carey / Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year 2024

A group of Buddhist monks in traditional attire is seated around a wooden table, sharing a meal in a serene, open-air setting that appears to be within a temple's confines, as seen through the grayscale filter, adding a timeless quality to the moment.

‘Soulful Rain’ | © Carolina Agudelo / Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year 2024

In a twilight-lit field, a herd of elephants is cautiously watched by two individuals holding flaming torches, creating a striking contrast between the natural majesty of the wildlife and the human presence in this serene yet tense standoff.

‘The Fight for Food’ | © K M Asad / Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year 2024

A cable car descends over a vibrant, patchwork landscape where the rich greens of vineyard rows meet the colorful autumn foliage, with a bustling cityscape stretching into the distance, showing the border between nature and urban development.

‘City Meets Farms’ | © Leslie Scott / Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year 2024

A pavlova cake with crisp white meringue is topped with fresh fig slices and a drizzling of honey, presented on a white plate. The table setting includes a teapot, milk jug, teacup, and extra plates, all in clean white, with a neutral background accentuating the dessert’s vibrant colors and textures.

‘Figgy Sweet Cake Temptation’ | © Seersa Abaza / Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year 2024

Bustling with activity, a Japanese street food stall glows warmly under hanging lamps, with chefs in traditional attire busily preparing food. Lanterns with Japanese script hang above, and an array of seafood is on display, inviting passersby to indulge in the local cuisine.

‘Battered chopsticks’ | © Lara Jane Thorpe / Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year 2024

An elegantly set long dining table awaits guests at an outdoor evening event, with strings of lights creating a festive canopy above. The soft glow against the night sky lends an intimate ambiance to the setting.

‘La danza dei bicchieri’ | © Luciana Ciuffini / Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year 2024

A winding forest path meanders through a lush woodland, carpeted with a profusion of white wild garlic flowers. Tall trees with fresh green leaves form a tranquil canopy, filtering sunlight that dapples the ground.

‘Wild garlic woodland’ | © Robin Goodlad / Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year 2024

From the rider's perspective, the image showcases a tantalizing cheeseburger resting on a motorcycle tank in clear weather. The bike's chrome details gleam under the sunlight, and a food truck and fellow biker are visible in the background, suggesting a roadside stop during a journey.

‘Biker Stop 2’ | © Harry Williams / Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year 2024

This image features a laden bicycle, standing as a makeshift market stall, against a dark background. The bike is heavily adorned with an assortment of colourful fruits: dragon fruits, bananas, grapes, and pineapples, with bunches of white bulbs hanging from the handlebar.

‘Side Street Hanoi’ | © David Cotsworth / Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year 2024

This image captures a man from behind as he walks along a waterfront promenade at dusk. He is shirtless, showcasing a toned physique, and wears a wide-brimmed hat and cargo shorts, with a kit bag over one shoulder and a sizable, glistening fish in the other hand. The blurred cityscape in the background with its string of lights creates a serene atmosphere, highlighting the solitary figure's connection to both the urban environment and the natural world through fishing.

‘The Pirates Catch - The Last Few’ | © Sarah Louise Ramsay / Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year 2024

The photo presents a vibrant ice cream parlor, bustling with activity. Through the glass window, adorned with displays of ice cream cones, the interior scene unfolds with staff in blue aprons serving eager customers.

‘The Ice Cream Shop’ | © Derek Snee / Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year 2024

A silhouette of a person wearing a hat stands on a hillside at sunrise, with the sun casting a warm glow and mist in the valleys below. The person appears contemplative, gazing into the middle distance as the early morning light breaks through the low clouds, highlighting the undulating landscape.

‘Gabriel at Dawn’ | © Suzanne Becker Bronk / Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year 2024

A serene still life photograph depicts a white ceramic pitcher, a bowl filled with eggs, and a small brown vase arranged thoughtfully on a table covered with a white lace-edged tablecloth. The textured background in neutral tones adds a warm, vintage ambiance to the scene, emphasizing the simplicity and beauty of the objects.

‘Eggs in the morning’ | © Ursula van de Bunte / Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year 2024

The judging panel includes food photographer David Loftus, Tom Athron of Fortnum & Mason, Chef Asma Khan, Fiona Shields of The Guardian and Rein Skullerud, who is senior photographer and photo editor for the World Food Programme.

The winners will be announced on 4th June 2024 in London, with a grand prize of £5,000 for the overall winner. An exhibition of the finalists will run from 5th to 9th June at The Mall Galleries, London. The exhibition will be free to the public as part of the Plate! St James’s festival.

Browse a selection of the shortlisted entries in the galleries above and below or view the full shortlist can on the competition’s website.