Masayoshi Sukita to obtain Lifetime Achievement Award at Abbey Road Music Photography Awards | Expertise

Legendary Japanese photographer Masayoshi Sukita is to obtain the Lifetime Achievement Award at this yr’s Abbey Road Music Photography Awards.

Best recognized for his 44-year collaboration with David Bowie, Sukita took the enduring cowl shot for Bowie’s 1977 Heroes album, and can be recognized for photographs of Iggy Pop, Marc Bolan, Joe Strummer, Yellow Magic Orchestra and David Sylvian.

The awards ceremony will happen on Thursday, September 24. Sukita follows David Bailey CBE, who obtained the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025. 

“Masayoshi Sukita is without doubt one of the true visionaries of music images,” said Abbey Road’s director of marketing & creative Mark Robertson. “His photographs haven’t solely documented among the most influential artists of our time, they’ve helped outline how we see them. 

“Sukita created images which have grow to be a part of cultural historical past, with work that’s timeless, intimate and immediately recognisable, demonstrating the ability of images to form the id of artists and full eras. His affect and legacy proceed to encourage throughout music, vogue and visible tradition.

“We are honoured to have fun Masayoshi Sukita with the Lifetime Achievement award at this yr’s Abbey Road Music Photography Awards, recognising a lifetime spent elevating music images into an artwork kind.”

I’m more than happy to be part of the historical past of images. I’ll hold engaged on images, and hope individuals will proceed to take pleasure in my work

Masayoshi Sukita

Sukita’s photographs of David Bowie had been prominently featured within the record-breaking DAVID BOWIE IS exhibition run by V&A Museum, London. He additionally held solo exhibitions in Japan, England, France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Australia and the US.

“It is a big honour for me to receive the Lifetime Achievement award at the Abbey Road Music Photography Awards,” added Sukita. “I’m more than happy to be part of the historical past of images. I’ll hold engaged on images, and hope individuals will proceed to take pleasure in my work.”

This yr, the Abbey Road Music Photography Awards obtained over 24,500 submissions from 40 completely different nations, a 25% improve on final yr’s entries. 

The judging panel this yr is led by head choose and co-founder, British photographer, writer, and movie director Rankin. Other judges embody Nile Rodgers, Raye, Måneskin frontman Damiano David, portrait and documentary photographer Platon and Abbey Road’s Producer In Residence Kid Harpoon. amongst others, whereas the shortlisting panel of photographic and artistic specialists is led by MPA chief shortlister & international ambassador Sacha Lecca. 

Launched in 2022, the awards now kind the main aspect of the Abbey Road Music Photography Accelerator, which encompasses occasions, exhibitions, workshops and studying assets.

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