Last Updated on 03/09/2018 by Mark Beckenbach
The PDN 30 for 2018 have been announced!
The PDN 30 are a highly coveted bunch of photographers. Each year they seem to outdo themselves: newer and brighter photographers seem to take center stage each time. This year, the PDN 30 seems to involve lots of photographers who do documentary style work and tell stories. In the past there has been a mixture of commercial, portraiture, and surreal work. But this year, it’s very clear cut.
It’s pretty shocking at times though. Many photographers often ask if it’s worth it for them to apply to these and whether or not they’re scams. PDN has been proven over the years to be worth their weight in gold. Though I’ll be the first to admit the magazine itself isn’t necessarily as relevant, the stories they do are still super interesting and the contests that they hold are worth their weight in gold when it comes to boosting one’s career. In fact, lots of these photographers I’m sure have a very bright photojournalistic career ahead of them.
The 2018 PDN’s 30: New and Emerging Photographers to Watch are:
Diana Zeyneb Alhindawi

Sarah Blesener

Ted Cavanaugh

Matthew Cicanese

Caption: A bright orange twig ant only a few millimeters long, traverses the alien landscape of a wetland twig. She maneuvers between mats of moss, towering fungi, and twisted lichens like this strap lichen (Ramalina sp.). In her mandibles, she carries her tasty treasure – a single springtail (Collembola) back to her colony.
Cody Cobb
Gabriella Demczuk

Talbot County Color Guard at the 150th Unionville Memorial celebration, Unionville, Maryland, Intaglio Photo Etching, 2017
Kyle Dorosz
Emile Ducke

Aidara, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia,
15.07.2016.
Kholood Eid

Alina Fedorenko

Johanna-Maria Fritz

Julia Gartland
Jennifer Garza-Cuen

Matthew Genitempo
Laurel Golio
Brian Guido
R. J. Kern

Joyce Kim
Daria Kobayashi Ritch
Álvaro Laiz

Eva O’Leary
Brad Ogbonna
Paola + Murray
Jordi Pizarro
Hannah Reyes Morales

Maggie Shannon
Danna Singer
Daniele Volpe

Cole Wilson
An Rong Xu
All images used with permission and provided by PDN.