Legendary photographer Susan Meiselas wins lifetime award

For over 50 years legendary American photographer Susan Meiselas has pushed the boundaries of her craft and captivated audiences with her intimate portraits - from Nicaraguan rebels to US carnival strippers.

- LAURIE CHURCHMAN

But she hopes there would still be room for her work to evolve, after receiving the prestigious Outstanding Contribution to Photography prize at the Sony World Photography Awards 2025 last Wednesday.

The lifetime award "has some finality to it", the 76-year-old said, flanked by her photos at a new exhibition celebrating her career at London's Somerset House. It's a characteristic concern for a documentary photographer who has always tried to prolong her work beyond the split-second snapshot and extend it outside the frame.

Meiselas, who is also foundation president of the renowned Magnum photo agency, was praised by the competition's judges for her "deeply engaged" approach, with photos often taken over many years and accompanied by follow-up interviews.

"Some people are brilliant at it, but it didn't feed me. It didn't make me feel that it was the right balance.