Mary Ellen Mark to be honoured at Sony World Photography Awards

Recipient of Outstanding Contribution to Photography award

Iconic work to be shown at Somerset House, London from 1-18 May 2014 alongside new images from William Klein, Panos Pictures and the winners of the 2014 Sony World Photography Awards

Images available at press.worldphoto.org

American photographer Mary Ellen Mark is today announced as the recipient of the 2014 Sony World Photography Awards' Outstanding Contribution to Photography award.

Known worldwide for her documentary photography and striking portraiture, Mary Ellen will collect her award at the Sony World Photography Awards gala ceremony in London on Wednesday 30 April 2014.

A special retrospective of Mark's work will be shown at Somerset House from 1-18 May as part of the 2014 Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition. A further selection of images will be published in the 2014 edition of the Sony World Photography Awards winners' book.

Mary Ellen Mark is recognised as one of the world's most influential photographers and her work has become the benchmark for excellence in the field of documentary photography.

Beginning as a freelance photographer often working on film sets, Mark's career has spanned four decades and seen her travel extensively. Her work is characterised by a constant vision to make pictures that reflect a high degree of humanism and to capture and acknowledge people on the edges of society.

Primarily working in black and white, Mark often becomes deeply involved in her stories and stays in contact with her subjects, returning over and over again after her initial photo essay is complete.

Talking about the award Mary Ellen comments: I feel very grateful to have received the Sony World Photography Awards' Outstanding Contribution to Photography accolade. I follow a list of very prestigious people - they are among my favourite photographers.

Mark has published 18 books and her nineteenth, Man and Beast: Photographs from Mexico and India (University of Texas Press) will be released this spring.

Astrid Merget, Creative Director of the World Photography Organisation, comments: Mary Ellen equates nothing short of excellence and we are honoured to present this award to her. Having spoken to dozens of her peers and critics, it is clear that Mary Ellen has made a permanent mark on our industry. She is fiercely committed and consistent in her work and is bound to show us a great deal more in the coming years.

Mary Ellen Mark will receive her award on Wednesday 30 April at the 2014 Sony World Photography Awards Gala Ceremony. On the same night, the winners of the awards' professional categories and the overall L'Iris d'Or / Sony World Photography Awards Photographer of the Year will be announced.

Alongside Mark's work in the exhibition, the winning and shortlisted photographers of the 2014 Sony World Photography Awards will also be on display, as well as two exclusive new bodies of work, commissioned by Sony for their new Global Imaging Ambassadors programme. This work includes the UK debut of celebrated American-French photographer William Klein's newest body of work Brooklyn - a landmark departure for Klein who for the first time has produced work entirely on digital cameras. It also features a group show from the international photo agency, Panos Pictures, showcasing on-going projects by five Panos photographers located around the globe.

Tickets for the exhibition can be booked at www.worldphoto.org/2014exhibition

A further selection of Mary Ellen Marks's images can be seen in the 2014 edition of the Sony World Photography Awards book. The book costs £29.95 and can be purchased from www.worldphoto.org or from the exhibition.

Mary Ellen Mark images are available to download at press.worldphoto.org

If you require press membership please register at press.worldphoto.org/register

For further details please contact:

Kristine Bj rge, PR Manager, World Photography Organisation

+44 (0) 20 7886 3049/ + 44 (0) 7557 261 537 / kristine@worldphoto.org

Notes to editors

A press preview of the 2014 Sony World Photography Awards exhibition will take place at Somerset House, London on Wednesday 30 April at 12.00pm. Please register to attend by contacting the World Photography Organisation press office.

About World Photography Organisation (WPO)

WPO supports professional, amateur and young photographers, lending a global platform for the photographic industry to communicate, converge and showcase current trends across all genres of photography.

Delivering various initiatives to this global community, these programmes involve the photographer in commercial, cultural and educational activities within the many industry sectors, whilst also creating events for the public to participate in.

Currently included within the WPO portfolio are: the Sony World Photography Awards; the World Photography Student Focus Competition and Youth on Assignment. In addition the WPO have recently launched Photo Shanghai, Asia-Pacific's premiere international Art Fair focused on photography and The Magazine, a monthly online publication where photography is explored, debated and discussed.

WPO also has a thriving online presence via its website, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and engages its online audience via regular PhotoTALK discussions. For more information go to http://www.worldphoto.org

About Somerset House

Somerset House is a spectacular neo-classical building in the heart of London, sitting between the Strand and the River Thames. Since opening to the public in 2000, Somerset House has produced a distinctive public programme that annually draws over 2 million visitors to the site, providing a stimulating environment for exploration and relaxation. The varied, year-round programme includes an open air film and concert season and ice rink, as well as tempor

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