I am amongst 196 nominees for this year’s Joop Swart Masterclass, World Press Photo Foundation’s well known education program held in Amsterdam each year. I’ve had my eye on this masterclass for a long time, but age restrictions prevented me from being nominated. Last year those restrictions were lifted in recognition of the fact that you can still be emerging talent, but over the age of 35! Very cool.

I’m putting my application together now, the final 12 will be announced in the middle of the year. Wonderful to see such a diverse bunch of photographers in the mix from all over the world, including many Australians this year.

Run as a week-long intensive program, the Joop Swart Masterclass identifies, supports and educates new talent in the field of documentary photography, visual journalism, and visual storytelling.

The masterclass is named after Joop Swart, a passionate supporter of photographic talent who played a major role in the foundation's history, first as the photo contest jury chair from 1966 to 1974, and then as a member of the foundation's board from 1970 until his death in 1994.

Launched in 1994, the masterclass has contributed to the development of generations of visual storytellers. Participants have later gone on to lead the masterclass themselves, be awarded in the World Press Photo Contest and have their work published in some of the most prestigious publications around the world.