Mitch Epstein received the prestigious Prix Pictet award from the former United Nations Secretary Kofi Annan at a high-profile ceremony held in Paris on 17th March 2011.
The prize is awarded for the most successful use of photography to tackle social and environmental issues and comes with a £65,000 (CHF 100,000) grant. Now in its third year, Prix Pictet 2010 focused around the theme of “growth”.
The Prix Pictet jury comprised of “eight photographic experts” from the worlds of art and environmental activism. Epstein was selected from more than 450 entrants, alongside seven other nominees.
Chris Jordan, another US photographer, received the Prix Pictet commission, which will see him carry out a photography project on location with the Tusk Trust conservation charity thanks to a €30,000 grant.