Photojournalist Gabriele Micalizzi from Italy is one of the contestants

Billed as the first European TV talent show for photographers, the eight-part programme – to be broadcast on Sky Arts in the UK, Italy and Germany – boasts the ‘biggest prize ever offered in a European photography competition’.

The first episode, due to be screened on 21 July, will adopt the theme ‘the beauty of Rome’.

The channel told Amateur Photographer: ‘Sky Arts sees this as an important project to champion the skills and talent required in professional photography in the age of ubiquitous photographs and social media.’

The 12 Master of Photography contestants – selected by a panel of photography and art experts – include photography enthusiast Neal Gruer (pictured below), a former solicitor who lives in Glasgow. Another amateur, Marta Lallana Garcia from Spain will also take part.

The show follows a call for entries made by programme makers last year.

SKY_MOP_Contestant Neal Gruer WEB.webAmateur photographer Neal Gruer

Also hailing from the UK are army photographer Rupert Frere and Gina Soden, a professional photographer based in London.

‘The programme will see the contestants taking on a different photographic challenge each week, with contestants eliminated towards a final of four,’ explains Sky Arts.

‘The challenges will take place in some of Europe’s most stunning landscapes and urban settings, and photographers of international renown will make contributions to the programme.’

SKY_MOP__DSC6430_Studio.web

Photographers Oliviero Toscani (pictured below), Rut Blees Luxemburg and Simon Frederick will judge the competition.

SKY_MOP_OlivieroToscani2.webOliviero Toscani

Other renowned photographers expected to appear include Bruce Gilden, Jason Bell and David LaChapelle.

Master of Photography will be presented by actress Isabella Rossellini.