Editorial award | Bnny
The cover image for the album One Million Love Songs featuring Jess Viscius, Bnny’s lead singer. This might be one of my favourite photos ever, and it’s fitting that it’s of my twin sister, Bnny. She’s been the subject of my photography since I first picked up a camera as a kid. I learned how to take portraits by photographing her
Photograph: Alexa Viscius/Abbey Road Music Photography Awards
Music moment of the year award | Blur
Graham Coxon tossing his guitar to the rafters, captured at Wembley during the second of two concerts Blur played in July 2023. These shows were the band’s first big performances since their reunion. Having photographed the show the previous night, I had the rare opportunity to plan a live shot. Knowing Graham would launch his guitar 20ft into the air, I was ready to capture the exact moment it soared into the gap in the stadium roof. I think it’s the only time I’ve ever shouted ‘Yes!’ out loud after getting a shot
Photograph: Tom Pallant/Abbey Road Music Photography Awards
Live music award | Darren Styles
This picture was taken at a dance music event called Coloursfest in Glasgow – the DJ is Darren Styles. I positioned myself behind him, listened to the music and waited for the drop as this is the usual time for the stage effects to go off. Then I waited for a reaction from him. ‘Hit the button!’ And this is what I got
Photograph: Francis Mancini/Abbey Road Music Photography Awards
Undiscovered photographer of the year award | Amyl and the Sniffers
No one comes close to bursting my heart in anticipation as Amy does – finger always restlessly hovering over the trigger. I have been shooting the Sniffers since they first came to London over five years ago. It’s been a privilege and massively inspiring to see them grow their audience from venue to venue, and to get to develop my skills as a photographer alongside such a creative powerhouse. They were one of the first artists that pushed me from my B&W into my re-colouration process
Photograph: Andreia Lemos/Abbey Road Music Photography Awards
Underground scenes award | Hui Zu and Chen Hongmin
BBQ frontman Hui Zu and Bad Tailor guitarist Chen Hongmin share a shoe on stage at Hard Stick festival, a touring extreme music festival geared toward remote cities with small underground scenes. Between close scrutiny from government censors and financial pressure from an unbalanced economy, China’s punks are struggling to find a space for their scene to survive. Grassroots events like Hard Stick provide a rare opportunity for local youth to express themselves
Photograph: Lemphek/Abbey Road Music Photography Awards
Making music award | Joesef
On tour in the US last year, Joesef and I would escape to hotel rooms like this one, with Joe recording demos, while I sat back listening and occasionally shooting. Small, intimate, quiet moments like this are why I shoot – giving an insight into life off-stage, capturing solitude that can be hard to find on the road
Photograph: Lauren Harris/Abbey Road Music Photography Awards
Photograph: Bolade Banjo/Abbey Road Music Photography Awards
Jazz: the rebirth of cool award | Billy Harper
The American saxophone player Billy Harper, shot at the Smoke jazz club (Upper West, Manhattan) in 2018. Billy has been a fixture of the New York jazz scene for decades and has played with some of the most prominent players including Max Roach, Art Blakey and Elvin Jones
Photograph: Adrien H Tillmann/Abbey Road Music Photography Awards
Icon award | Stevie Wonder, London 1991 and Rainbow theatre 1973 – Montage
Photographer Jill Furmanovsky collected this year’s prestigious Icon award in honour of an incredible 53-year career. Jill has captured some of Abbey Road’s most iconic moments, including Pink Floyd’s 1975 Wish You Were Here recording sessions and Oasis’s Be Here Now sessions in 1997
Photograph: Jill Furmanovsky/Abbey Road Music Photography Awards
Icon award | Depeche Mode, Gover Cricket school, 1982
Photograph: Jill Furmanovsky/Abbey Road Music Photography Awards
Icon award | Sinéad O’Connor 1994
Throughout her career, Furmanovsky has collaborated with a roster of music legends, from Bob Marley and Led Zeppelin to Joy Division, Amy Winehouse, The Pretenders and Blondie
Photograph: Jill Furmanovsky/Abbey Road Music Photography Awards
Icon award | Liam and Noel Gallagher of Oasis in San Francisco, 1995
In 2017, Furmanovsky became Abbey Road’s first-ever photographer in residence before joining the judging panel for the inaugural MPA in 2022
Photograph: Jill Furmanovsky/Abbey Road Music Photography Awards
English (US)