The German Society for Photography (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Photographie, DGPh) is a German photography organisation, based in Cologne. It is concerned with the application of photography in art, science, education, journalism, economics and politics in cultural contexts.[1]
The DGPh awards prizes for photographic achievements in keeping with its objectives. Its highest award is the Cultural Award (Kulturpreis).
The approximately 1000 appointed members of the DGPh organization come from all areas of photography and are renowned personalities from the German and international photography scene.
The Cultural Award was established in 1958. It recognizes achievements through photography, especially in the artistic, humanitarian, charitable, social, technical, educational or scientific fields. The prize consists of a certificate and a gold-framed optical lens designed by Ewald Mataré and is awarded annually to a living person as the highest honor of the German Society for Photography. Among the winners are scientists, inventors, writers, publishers, editors, lecturers, art directors and above all photographers from Germany and elsewhere.[2]
The Otto Steinert Prize is a biannual scholarship, established in 1979. It is given for a new photography project that will be completed within one year. The prize is 5000 Euros, which can also be shared. The scholarship is open to professional photographers as well as to photographers who are German or are permanently living in Germany. It is named after the photographer and educator Otto Steinert.[3]
See main article: Dr. Erich Salomon Award. The Dr. Erich Salomon Award (Dr.-Erich-Salomon-Preis), established in 1971, is an annual award for photography in journalism.[4] The prize consists of a certificate and a Leica M camera with a name engraving.[5] It is named after the German photographer Erich Salomon.[4]
The Prize of the Science and Technology Section (Preis der Sektion Wissenschaft und Technik), Established in 1966, it is a prize for research in the field of phototechnology.[6] It was previously called the Robert Luther Prize.[6] "As part of the restructuring of DGPh prices, this will be redefined and named shortly."[6]
The German Camera Award is awarded by the Westdeutscher Rundfunk, the City of Cologne and the German Society for Photography. It was established in 1982 as a biannual award for achievements in the field of camera work for film and television. Since 1990, scenic and documentary editing has also been awarded. Since 2001 it has been awarded annually.
The German Camera Award has been awarded in various categories, some of which have been modified from year to year, for the areas of camera and editing. The most significant categories are "feature film", "television film" and "honorary cameraman" (since 1994).
The History of Photography Research Award (Forschungspreis Photographiegeschichte), established in 1978, is an award for scientific research into the history and theory of photography.[7] Until 2010 it was known as the Erich-Stenger Prize.[7]
The Prize for Science Photography (Preis für Wissenschaftsphotographie) is awarded for work that documents a scientific (including medicine) topic or artistically deals with a scientific topic.[8] Prior to 2017 the prize was called the Herbert Schober Prize,[9] after the founder and first chairman of DGPh's section for medical and scientific photography in 1957.
The Education Award (Bildungspreis) was established in 2013. It is awarded for innovative and sustainable projects as well as scientific papers with practical relevance. These include cultural and museum educational initiatives in which photography is discussed or used, as well as medial educational offerings on photography as well as school and extracurricular activities. The prize is 1000 Euros.[11]