Orthodox Jews, a schoolboy and a surfer make shortlist for prestigious Taylor Wessing photo prize

A Johannesburg schoolboy, a California surfer with his girlfriend and a group of Israel Orthodox Jews have been shortlisted for the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2016, one the most prestigious photography awards in the world. Organised by the National Portrait Gallery, the award aims to showcase new work submitted by contemporary photographers and is judged anonymously. Recognising the popularity of alternative processes among contemporary photographers, this year the competition was widened to include photographs produced on supports other than paper.

Three photographers have been shortlisted. Photographs of a group of Israeli Orthodox Jews are by Kovi Konowiecki; a Johannesburg school boy is by Claudio Rasano and a Californian surfer and his girlfriend is by Joni Sternbach.

The prize-winning photographs and those selected for inclusion in the exhibition were chosen from 4,303 submissions entered by 1,842 photographers from 61 countries. The exhibition will be showing a total of 58 portraits from 43 artists. The exhibition runs from 17 November 2016 – 26 February 2017 at the National Portrait Gallery in London. IBTimesUK presents some of the photographs that will be on exhibition: