An Italian photographer, a Hollywood cinematographer, a film from Australia and a Print campaign by a Paris agency are recipients of a new set of image awards presented as part of the 2009 Mobius Awards.
Fulvio Bonavia of Milan, Italy, was selected Photographer of the Year.
The award represents the competition’s intent to document and celebrate the image qualities that make a photographer’s body of work able to push the boundaries of the possible in advertising imagery.
Bonavia started out as a graphic designer and illustrator of film posters before becoming an advertising and editorial photographer both in his native Italy and worldwide. His work has been honored by Communication Arts, PDN, the Italian Art Directors Club and the International Photography Awards.
He provided the unexpected, such as a series in which he created apparel and accessories using flowers. A bike helmet was made of fuzzy purple flowers, A perfume atomizer boasted creamy white petals. Bonavia‘s book A Matter of Taste nudges audiences to consider how they look at ordinary things. It’s a collection of jewelry and accessories that he composed out of edibles.
“Bonavia‘s work consistently pushes the boundaries of the possible in advertising imagery,” said Lewis Blackwell, an author and editor and former executive with Getty Images who was instrumental in selecting the photography awards.
“Although Bonavia is represented in many award-winning advertising campaigns in Europe and the U.S., his personal portfolio indicates the potential for new departures. All of this adds up to a model for what we want in Mobius Photographer of the Year,” Blackwell said.
Bonavia is represented in the U.S. and Asia by Stockland Martel of New York and in Italy by Soldie Donadello, Milan.
Selected as Cinematographer of the Year is Lance Acord, a long-time prominent Hollywood cinematographer with credits such as “Where the Wild Things Are,” and Oscar-winners “Lost in Translation,” “Adaptation” and Oscar-nominated “Being John Malkovich”. Acord works in television commercial projects as a director/DP. He is an alumnus of the San Francisco Art Institute and has filmed commercials for Revlon, Nike and Levi’s, among many others. His recent motion picture work includes “Wild in the Streets” and “Where the Wild Things Are.” This award recognizes the individual who best demonstrates an artistic approach to the visual style of a commercial. The winner did not have to have participated in the Mobius competition.
Acord, founder of Park Pictures, now works as a director/cameraman in the commercial field, but continues to work as a cinematographer in his feature work.
The Kodak Cinematography award went to two entrants. “The Train” from Big Picture Group, Los Angeles, for MovieTickets.com, was selected in Cinema/In-Flight. The entry depicts the race against time as a man runs to catch a receding train.
The Kodak Cinematography award for Television was awarded to Zoom Film TV, Brisbane, for “Come Play,” done for the Football Federation of Australia as part of an effort to bring the FIFA World Cup to Australia. Mark Toia was the cinematographer on the project.
Best Photography of Mobius went to BETC Euro RSCG, Paris, for its “Months” Campaign, which was a Mobius Award winner in Print and a Best of Show nominee. The campaign was done for Petit Bateau clothing.
“We have long wanted to do more to recognize images and the professionals who deliver them. These awards are our first step,” said Lee Gluckman, Mobius chairman who has spent his career in film and video production.
More information about all awards can be found at www.mobiusawards.com.
Background on Mobius
The international advertising media competition is in its 39th year. The overall competition recognized competitors with 93 Mobius Award golden statuettes, 105 Second Place Certificates for Outstanding Creativity, and 13 Student Awards. Twenty-nine countries participated and 20 produced winners in the 39th annual awards competition.
