Winner Julia Margaret Cameron Awards 2024 - Self Portrait | Honorable mention Portrait and Fine Art | Photographer Sushilla Kouwen - The Netherlands

Last year I won The Julia Margaret Cameron Award with a Self Portrait and even got the title "Women Photographer of the Year!"?This year I won again in the category Self Portrait. ... that's just amazing!! I'm out of words. The funny thing about this picture is that I sewed on the long arms myself.?Beside this price I also got two Honorable Mentions in the category Portrait and Fine Art. It means a lot to me. Especially the portrait of Pleun, the daughter of a friend of mine,?and her story behind this picture. It would mean a lot to me if you took time to read her story below.?

- Sushilla -

Sushilla will speak about her photography at the?lustrum lecture on the 19th of September in Theater Orpheus, Apeldoorn the Netherlands. For more info and tickets click here

Honorable Mention - Portrait?Beside this accomplishment I really want to tell the story behind this picture. This is a portrait of Pleun. Pleun is?9 years old and has Batten disease (????????)

When Pleun's parents unsuspectingly took her to the ophthalmologist at the age of 5, it changed their lives. Pleun is now blind, has epilepsy but still lives a very nice life. However, if a cure is not provided in time, the disease will take everything from her. Pleun will develop dementia, end up in a wheelchair and no longer be able to eat or communicate independently. Life expectancy is 15-25 years. But Pleun is much more than just her illness. Pleun is funny, sweet, beautiful and intelligent.?

Would you like to know more about Pleun and how you can help? Take a look at https://www.voorpleun.nl/

The Julia Margaret Cameron Award is only open to women photographers worldwide, professional and amateur.