Last year, I was lucky to receive a nomination for the Pictorial Photographer of the Year for the picture of Tuol Sleng, Cambodia. The title is awarded in more than 15 different categories by Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers at their annual conference held held at the Novotel Hotel in London.
Tuol Sleng used to be a school in the centre of Phnom Penh, which was converted into a prison and interrogation centre (called S-21) during the Khmer Rouge reign. It is said that about twenty thousand people died in there (there are only 6 survivors still alive). This picture is of one of the prison’s cells (and a quite luxurious compared to the others).
The image on the wall was taken by Ho Van Tay, Vietnamese combat photographer on the day of the “discovery” of that place in 1979. To find out more about the regime, the history of S-21 and other portraits of the prisoners please visit http://www.tuolsleng.com/.
This year’s results will be announced on Sunday, 15 January during the Galla Dinner. Good luck to the nominees!
