Photographer Dale Yudelman is the first winner of the newly established Ernest Cole Award for photography in South Africa. On 30 June the adjudication committee chose his project – “From the Hip”, from a final selection of five entries.

Yudelman describes his project as being “Inspired by the Ernest Cole exhibition I saw in February this year, which documented life under apartheid. My series looks at life ‘under democracy’ and consists of vibrant daily reflections; shot in passing, with the simple motivation of noticing what is.”

“The aim is to deliver an account accurate and vivid as any documentary anthology of contemporary life and the way in which ordinary citizens experience their current social and political circumstances.”

All the images were taken with Yudelman’s cellphone.

There were sixty-seven entries for the inaugural annual award, from which five finalists were chosen. Four honorable mentions were awarded to: Jabulani Dhlamini, Marc Shoul, Graeme Williams and Thabiso Sekgala.

The award, managed by UCT Libraries, will enable Yudelman to complete his project, culminating in an exhibition and the publishing of a book, by Jacana, next year. The Ernest Cole Award is the largest photographic award in South Africa and has been established to stimulate creative work in South Africa.  The award offers the winning photographer R150 000 with which to work on a photographic project of their choice with emphasis on human rights and social change.

The images can be viewed here: https://www.facebook.com/worldartafrica

For more information about the award and next year’s deadline go to www.ernestcoleaward.org