Alice Mann awarded the 2018 Taylor Wessing prize in historic win

South African-born and London-based photographer Alice Mann has won the Taylor Wessing prize for her series, Drummies. Alice’s series is the first to be awarded the Taylor Wessing prize since the competition rules were changed to permit multiple pictures in 2015.

Entering four photographs from the series into the competition (the rest can be seen in an interview with Alice here), Drummies follows South Africa’s all-female teams of drum majorettes, many of whom come from the most disadvantaged communities in the Western Cape. Alice’s photographs capture the pride and confidence the girls achieve through their involvement with the majorettes, and the strength that comes from being part of a team.

In a statement provided to The Guardian, the judges praised the series for “its evocation of a sustained and intriguing narrative” and the “surreal… enigmatic air” of the portraits.