8 Years of This is Reportage: 2021 – David Scholes’ Story Award
Consistency, creativity, and the craft of storytelling
By 2021, This is Reportage had grown into a thriving global community — and one name that defined that year was David Scholes (UK – TiR Profile / website). Winning an astonishing 11 Story Awards across the year, David claimed the first of his three consecutive Storyteller of the Year titles — a feat unmatched to this day.
But beyond the numbers lies the true reason his work resonated so deeply: storytelling. Every sequence David submitted was more than a collection of images — it was a cinematic narrative, full of humour, heart, and human truth. One of his 2021 Story Awards (from Collection 21) perfectly demonstrates this: a vibrant, emotional, and wonderfully observed wedding story where each frame carries its own rhythm and heartbeat.
From fleeting laughter to small gestures of affection, David’s photography has a remarkable ability to place viewers inside the moment. His compositions are confident yet unobtrusive, his timing impeccable, and his empathy unmistakable. These aren’t just pictures taken at a wedding — they’re stories felt from within.
Why David’s 2021 work stands out
What makes David’s 2021 Awards so special is the balance between artistry and authenticity. His storytelling never feels contrived or polished; it’s spontaneous, truthful, and full of character. That’s what the Story Awards were created to celebrate — the photographers who don’t just capture moments, but build meaning through a series of them.
David’s Storytelling achievements remain some of the most inspiring chapters in TiR’s history — a reminder of how documentary photography can be both honest and cinematic, personal and universal.
Here’s a selection of Dave’s winning Story; see the full set on the Collection 21 page.
