Deeply honoured to be at the Wellcome Photography PrIze 2019

I was deeply honoured tonight in London to be shortlisted for the international Wellcome Photography PrIze 2019 for a portrait from my Best Days Of Your Life series in the Outbreaks category (2019 theme).

I am truly appreciative for my portrait, which seeks to remove the taboo of adolescent self-harm and empower the subject, to be shortlisted alongside works from esteemed international photographers, scientists and researchers.

Making it to the shortlist has been an amazing journey in the last 12 months for Best Days Of Your Life and through this, I have been able to further campaign and raise awareness of self-harm and mental health issues that young people are facing and living with.

The project seeks to explore and offer an insight and provide the means for discussion into the ‘epidemic’ of mental health issues that our society faces both locally and globally with the rise of self-harm among adolescents.

You can see my entry along with all others including the winners from July 4 to July 13 at Lethaby Gallery, Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London and also view them online at:

https://wellcome.ac.uk/what-we-do/our-work/wellcome-photography-prize/2019

The Wellcome Trust have long been great supporters of photography as a medium to inspire and communicate the stories of those at the forefront of advances in health, medicine and science.

Since beginning Best Days Of Your Life one year ago, I have been truly amazed by the interest the project has generated, humbled by those that it has touched and who have been moved enough to reach out and share their story with me. But mostly, I am proudest of the eight young people  who were all brave and honest enough to step forward and show the world the amazing individuals they truly are.

If you would like to discover more about the Best Days Of Your Life project, wish to be in it or know someone who may also be interested, reach out to me, visit my website at www.judewacks.com or share.