Massive congrats to photographer Lou Johnson from Kent who picked up the Motorsport UK 2019 Young Photographer of the year award. Journalist Matt Kew won Young Journalist of the year.
Motorsport UK told PAN: The 2019 competition was particularly tough with judges impressed by the quality of the submissions. Lou, aged 29 from Kent, works for Spacesuit Media and covers the ABB FIA Formula E Championship for Mahindra Racing. The judges commented that her photographs were on “another level” and that every image made them stop and look.
Spacesuit Media told PAN: “The whole Spacesuit family and I are convinced that this award is completely deserved,” says Shiv Gohil, artistic director at Spacesuit. “We’ve seen Lou blossom over the past three years and we’re very proud to have given her the opportunities, the support and the space to develop her craft. Lou has shown commitment, continual development and imagination – and she’s also a lovely person who makes friends everywhere she goes. This combination of qualities makes Lou a true role model.”
Lou said: “I’m not entirely sure the news has sunk in just yet, I’m delighted to have won this award. It’s been an ambition of mine since I started motorsport photography, and am honoured to have been chosen, there are so many great young motorsport photographers out there and this was quite unexpected. It’s a wonderful way to end 2019, I’m already excited to see what 2020 brings.’
Matt and Lou will each receive a trophy and cheque for £1000 at the Motorsport UK Night of Champions at the Royal Automobile Club later this month. They also win a year’s provisional membership of the Guild of Motoring Writers (GoMW), the world’s largest association of automotive editorial professionals.
• Motorsport UK is the sole national governing body for four-wheel motor sport in the UK, as recognised by the world governing body, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA).