The AOP Student Awards shortlist has been announced and includes three of our talented BA (Hons) Photography students Helen Graham, Georgia Moore and Jack Butcher!

The AOP Student Awards were established in the early 1980s, to recognise and highlight emerging photographic talent which existed in further education institutions across the UK.
Many of the AOP Student Awards winners go on to become discovery winners as assisting photographers and then as professional photographers for our AOP Photography Awards, as we pride ourselves on nurturing talented photographers throughout their career.

Georgia Moore Shortlisted in the Places category with her work Durham Shadows

Finalist Georgia Moore, 19, has just completed her first year on our degree programme. Speaking of being shortlisted she said “I feel very proud and lucky to be given the opportunity to be shortlisted for the AOP student awards. I originally signed up thinking it would be a bit of fun and see if my photography had the potential to get far in a competition and I was so surprised and ecstatic when I found out I was a finalist.”

She said that “the opportunity came about after the awards were talked about during a lecture and I was quite intrigued by the idea of signing up as the categories were broad and fit the genres of the photography I enjoy doing.”

“I submitted a single imagine into the “Places” category as this fit one of my favourite images I had taken within the module I was working on, and I thought that if any image had the potential to become a finalist it was this one. The image I chose depicts a building with harsh constraint shadows of the reflecting building on its exterior. I named the work “Durham shadows” as I felt it was fitting with the location being shot in Durham and the shadows being the most prominent feature of the image.”

Reflecting on her time on the course she said “I’ve been finding the photography course very interesting and helpful for my growth in my interest in photography as it has helped me learn how to choose the right image and it has also allowed me to learn about the history within the photographic world.”

Social media handle on Instagram: @Georgiaphotographyuk

Jack Butcher Shortlisted in The Places Category

Jacks work is a black and white series of images depicting farming in his area shot for his Level 4 module module Medium & Message.

Helen Graham Shortlisted in The Things Category

Speaking of being selected as a finalist student Helen Graham said “when I received the email from the AOP Congratulating me on being a finalist for the National Awards, I was genuinely shocked had to read the email several times before it sunk in. I never thought I would get to this stage as the competition from other students nationally was high but it would be worth entering just for the experience.”

She entered the competition because her course tutor Lisa Stonehouse  encouraged her to enter “with a series of work I had just completed in my final level 5 module.  I was hesitant to enter but the support I was given from Lisa encouraged me to go for it. The work I submitted was part of a live commission for Moth X Human a collaboration with level 5 photography, fine Art and animation a visual backdrop  accompanied an immersive sounds scape  composed and performed by Ellie Wison at the south bank London and Bradford Festival.”

“The images I entered for the AOP (also known as the Oscars of the photography world) which made it more of a shock were a series depicting “Decay and Beauty ” they each portray a series of mini ecosystems flowers at various stage of decay, they encourage day/night pollinators to survive and play an important part of the moths biodiversity, encouraging new growth and life within the constant threat of human interaction. I have incorporated many elements to create each individual image using lighting techniques, composition, conveying texture and form to encourage the viewer to see beyond the image.”

Speaking of her time on the degree she reflected that “my degree has enabled me to expand my knowledge and practice in different genres and techniques of analogue and digital photography, and progress in my own individual style and creative vision.”

Instagram account: @helengraham0365

You can see the full shortlist on the AOP website winners will be announced on 10/07/25. If you are interested in studying photography at degree-level we offer a dynamic and well established degree programme, find out more about course details and how to apply here.