Photo credit: David Titlow

Musician-turned-fashion-photographer David Titlow was presented with his £12,000 prize at the National Portrait Gallery in London last night.

The Taylor Wessing awards aim to recognise some of the most exciting contemporary work, emerging talent, established professionals, students and ‘gifted amateurs’.

Titlow captured his winning shot after a midsummer party in Sweden – beating more than 4,000 other entries to top spot.
Describing his winning portrait, entitled ‘Konrad Lars Hastings Titlow’, the photographer said: ‘Everyone was a bit hazy from the previous day’s excess.

‘My girlfriend passed our son to the subdued revellers on the sofa – the composition and backlight was so perfect that I had to capture the moment.’

National Portrait Gallery director Sandy Nairne praised the winning photo as ‘fascinating and compelling’.

Titlow, a former musician from Halesworth in Suffolk, took up photography in the early ’90s.

His work has been published in newspapers including The Guardian and The Sunday Telegraph.

Second place in the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2014 was awarded to Jessica Fulford-Dobson for her portrait of a seven-year-old Afghan girl – called ‘Skate Girl’ – which won £3,000.

Laura Pannack won the £4,000 John Kobal New Work Award, presented to a photographer under 30, for her portrait of a young Jewish girl.

The winning images will go on display at the National Portrait Gallery from tomorrow, until 22 February 2015.

Nearly 1,800 photographers entered this year’s Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize.

Taylor Wessing is a law firm.