Graduate's Star Wars success

Alumna Laura won a commission to photograph Felicity Jones who plays hero Jyn Erso in the hit film, and the image has just gone on show in the National Portrait Gallery.

The work was commissioned through the John Kobal New Work Award, a prize awarded annually to a photographer under 35 whose work is selected for display in the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery.

London-based Laura Pannack, who graduated from the University of Brighton in 2008 with a BA(Hons) in Editorial Photography, was invited to photograph the actress last year.

Felicity Jones decided on a “casual and relaxed” style for her photograph taken on a reed bed on a cold day. The actress did not complain, but, said Pannack: “soldiered through to make the most of the limited time we had”. Pannack chose the marshes over other park-based locations because, she said: “The marshes felt more unusual and emotive. We both agreed it felt wildly atmospheric.

“Felicity was incredibly enthusiastic and really keen to contribute ideas to ensure the portrait was a creative collaboration.”

Felicity Jones by Laura Pannack, 2016 © National Portrait Gallery, London

Laura Pannack by Level Four BA Photography student Anna Lodge

Laura, also educated at Central Saint Martins has been extensively exhibited and published both in the UK and internationally, and in 2010 she won first prize in the Portrait Singles category of the World Press Photo awards. She recently was awarded the Vic Odden by The Royal Photographic Society award for a notable achievement in the art of photography by a British photographer aged 35 or under.

Laura lectures, critiques and teaches at universities, including the University of Brighton, at festivals and workshops worldwide.

Simon Crocker, Chairman of the John Kobal Foundation and judge of the John Kobal New Work Award, said: “When you get perfect harmony between a captivating sitter like Felicity and a talented photographer like Laura you get a wonderful portrait like this - thoughtful, fresh and intriguing. We could not be more pleased with it.”

Dr Nicholas Cullinan, Director of the National Portrait Gallery, London, said: “The John Kobal Foundation possesses an outstanding collection of iconic portraits of Hollywood movie stars, so it is fitting that by sponsoring this Award the Foundation offers a young artist a great opportunity to photograph a sitter connected with the UK film industry.

“We are delighted that Felicity Jones now joins Olivia Colman and Andrea Riseborough in this exciting series of portraits commissioned from selected photographers in the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize.”