Darcy Padilla and Caroline Hunter join judging panel for Sky Arts’ Master of Photography

Two new judges are to join the second season of Master of Photography, Sky Arts has announced. Renowned American documentary photojournalist Darcy Padilla and Guardian Weekend picture editor Caroline Hunter will join Italy’s Oliviero Toscani for the return of the televised talent contest for photography that premiered earlier this year.

12 contestants – made up of both amateur and professionals from different photographic disciplines – are again being sought to compete for a €150k prize; tackling a series of challenges in breath-taking European locations over eight episodes. The open call for entries for the second season has been extended until 7 November 2016. Interested photographers should submit applications at: www.masterofphotography.tv, where full terms and conditions can be found. 

Director of Sky Arts Phil Edgar-Jones said: “Master of Photography was a fantastic success for Sky Arts – the UK’s only dedicated channel for the arts – so we’re delighted to be welcoming Darcy and Caroline to our panel for season two. As we hoped, the programme demonstrated just how powerful and important photography remains. We brought some extraordinary undiscovered talent to light in the process, and look forward to seeing whom we might uncover in 2017. I’d also like to personally thank our departing judges Simon Frederick and Rut Blees Luxemburg for the wonderful contributions they made to the success of the programme’s launch.”

Simulcast across five countries, Master of Photography returns in 2017. It was created by the Sky Arts Production Hub, a commissioning and production centre of excellence dedicated to creating quality arts programmes for Sky’s 21 million customers across the UK and Ireland, Italy, Germany and Austria.

Benjamin Ward

benjamin@benjward.com or skyentpress@sky.uk

+44 (0) 7837 134 193 

NOTES TO EDITORS

•International distribution for Master of Photography is handled by Sky Vision.

•Entries for the second edition of Master of Photography are now open until 7 November 2016. All aspiring contestants can submit their applications via the website http://www.masterofphotography.tv where full terms and conditions can be found. A committee of photography and art experts will then select a final line-up of 12 contestants to take part in filming and compete for 2017’s €150k prize. 

•The winner of Master of Photography in 2016 was Gabriele Micalizzi (Italy). The other contestants were: Chiara Stampacchia (Italy), Gina Soden (UK), Lanka Perren (France), Laura Zalenga (Germany), Marta Lallana Garcia (Spain), Neal Gruer (UK), Rupert Frere (UK), Sebastian Siebel (Germany), Yan Revazov (Russia), Dragica Carlin (Croatia) and Hongwei Tang (Austria). 

About Sky Arts

The Sky Arts Production Hub will focus on producing pan-European events for customers across all Sky territories in addition to content locally commissioned. The arts initiative is one of the first major projects to come out of the newly enlarged Sky group and demonstrates the opportunity to launch new services to more customers. By bringing the three Sky businesses together, Sky is sharing its strengths and expertise to extend its lead in content and accelerate innovation across all the markets in which it operates.

About Sky

Sky is Europe's leading entertainment company, serving 21 million customers across five countries: UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria and Italy. We offer the best and broadest range of content, deliver market-leading customer service and use innovative new technology to give customers a better TV experience, whenever and wherever they choose. Sky has annual revenues of over £11 billion and is Europe's leading investor in television content with a combined programming budget of £4.9 billion. The group employs 30,000 people and is listed on the London Stock Exchange (SKY). For more information visit www.sky.com/corporate