Sean Smith is a British photographer and filmmaker. He has covered conflicts and wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon and Democratic Republic of the Congo.[1] He has been on staff at The Guardian newspaper since 1988. His work in the UK has dealt with inner-city disturbances of the 1980s, heroin users and the lives of professional wrestlers,[2] among other subjects.
Smith's video reports have appeared on the Newsnight program, Channel 4 News and the United States' ABC News.
In September, 2011, Random House published Frontlines, a book with an introduction by journalist Jon Snow, documenting the invasion of Iraq and its aftermath, as well as wars in Afghanistan, Congo and Lebanon. A selection of the photographs in the book were exhibited in Kings Place,[3] London,[4] and Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne.[5]
His pictures have also appeared in Five Thousand Days: Press Photography in a Changing World and Decade.
Awards and recognition
- 2006: The Press Photographer’s Year Photograph of the Year.[6]
- 2007: The Press Photographer’s Year Photograph of the Year.[7]
- 2007: The Press Photographer’s Year First Place News.[8]
- 2007: DAYS Japan International Special Jury Prize.[citation needed]
- 2008: Royal Television Society Award Best International News for Iraq: Apache Company, made by GuardianFilms and Channel 4 News ITN. It was the first time a newspaper won such an award.[9]
- 2008: The Press Photographer’s Year First Prize Multimedia[10][11]
- 2010: The Press Photographer's Year Sports Features.[12]
- 2010: Shortlisted for a Foreign Press Association Award and the Royal Television Society Independent Award.[13]
- 2010: Hilary Mantel’s photograph of the decade.[14]
- 2010: Geoff Dyer’s photograph of the decade.[15]
Exhibitions
- 2013: Sean Smith: On the Margins, The Dissenters' Gallery, Kensal Green Cemetery.[16]
- 2013: Iraq: Photographs by Sean Smith, Imperial War Museum North.[17]