Michael Schmidt Wins 2014 Prix Pictet

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Updated May 24, 2014. Michael Schmidt has died age 68. He is probably best known for chronicling life in post-war Germany. The news comes just days after the Berlin native won the Prix Pictet, picking up an award of approximately $112,000.


German photographer Michael Schmidt has won this year’s Prix Pictet for his series Lebensmittel, which looks at both food and food production. He picks up a prize of approximately $112,000.

Schmidt, who is based in Berlin, was chosen from 11 finalists including Adam Bartos, Motoyuki Daifu, Rineke Dijkstra, Hong Hao, Mishka Henner, Juan Fernando Herràn, Boris Mikhailov, Abraham Oghobase, Allan Sekula and Laurie Simmons.

Launched in 2008, Prix Pictet seeks to highlight environmental and social issues and is themed annually. This year, the jury considered entries around the theme of consumption.

An exhibition featuring all of the entrants runs at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum from May 22, 2014 to June 14, 2014.


Josh Raab is a member of TIME.com’s photo staff.


Winner, Prix Pictet Lebensmittel, 2006-2010Michael Schmidt—Prix Pictet
Shortlisted entry, Prix Pictet My Things No. 7, Beijing, China, 2004Hong Hao—Prix Pictet
Shortlisted entry, Prix Pictet Untitled, Lagos, Nigeria, 2012Abraham Oghobase—Prix Pictet
Shortlisted entry, Prix Pictet Project Family #10, Kanagawa, Japan, 2007Motoyuki Daifu—Prix Pictet
Shortlisted entry, Prix Pictet A shop which was occupied by clerks for eighteen months in dispute over pay is seen in Rúa Príncipe., Vigo, Spain, 1992Allan Sekula—Prix Pictet
Shortlisted entry, Prix Pictet The Love Doll / Day 22 (20 Pounds of Jewellery), Cornwall, Conn., 2010Laurie Simmons—Prix Pictet
Shortlisted entry, Prix Pictet Coronado Feeders, Dalhart, Texas, 2013Mishka Henner—Prix Pictet
Shortlisted entry, Prix Pictet Almerisa, Asylumseekerscenter Leiden, March 14, 1994, The NetherlandsRineke Dijkstra—Prix Pictet
Shortlisted entry, Prix Pictet Transits, Medellín, Colombia, 2008Juan Fernando Herrán—Prix Pictet
Shortlisted entry, Prix Pictet Honda wheel, New York, N.Y., 2008Adam Bartos—Prix Pictet
Shortlisted entry, Prix Pictet Untitled, Kharkov, Ukraine, 2000-2010Boris Mikhailov—Prix Pictet

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