Stunning portraits capture the diversity of UK culture

The end of Covid lockdowns, partygate, war in Ukraine, the cost of living crisis and the death of Queen Elizabeth II – to say 2022 changed the cultural and social landscape of the UK would be an understatement.

Here to immortalise this turbulent year is the British Journal of Photography’s annual Portrait of Britain awards. The photography competition has been running since 2016 and is open to all - both experienced and amateur image-makers - as long as the entries are portraits taken over the past six years and depict a subject who was living in the UK at the time the image was taken.

Traditionally, the awards have chosen 100 winning entries to appear on large-scale digital screens across the three countries in the UK and since 2018, an accompanying book has been published each year with a selection of 200 of the shortlisted entries.

This year’s winning entries are a collection of 99 compelling portraits. From images of people exploring gender non-conformity through fashion to the familiar faces of British icons like Sir David Attenborough, the photos are a mesmerising illustration of both seen and unseen voices that make up the country’s cultural identity.

Presenting us with intimate representations of life in the UK, while celebrating the people, communities and cultures that help to define it, the resulting portfolio celebrates life in Britain amidst the political, environmental and cultural change that defined the past year, as well as presentations of resilience in the face of such instability.

Scroll down to check them out for yourself…