Ilan Godfrey

Ilan Godfrey was born in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1980. He moved to the United Kingdom after finishing his schooling in 1999. He began working as a freelance photojournalist for The Times Chronicle Series in London. During which time he studied towards gaining a BA (hons) degree in Photography and was awarded The David Faddy Scholarship to continue his studies, gaining a MA (hons) degree in Photojournalism. He continued to travel between the United Kingdom and South Africa over the ten-year’s he lived in London, focusing on extensive issues that reflect South Africa’s constantly changing landscape. Documenting the country with an in-depth, intimate and personal conscience, revealing varied aspects of societal change. Drawn to his roots he returned to settle in South Africa at the beginning of 2011, to continue in the development of his long-term projects and commit to them on a full time basis.
His continued interest in exploring and understanding communities across the globe have taken him to over 20 countries such as Angola, Namibia, Mozambique, Egypt, Laos, Morocco and Israel. His work has been recognized internationally by The International Photography Award, Magenta Flash Forward Award, Nikon Endframe Award, among others. He has participated in the Toscana Photographic Masterclass, studying under Stanley Greene in Italy and is the recipient of the Ivan Kyncl Memorial Photography Placement in London. Godfrey’s photographs have been exhibited in galleries and museums worldwide, including The National Portrait Gallery in London for The Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize and Musee du Quai Branly in Paris for the ‘Photoquai biennial’. His photographs have been featured in a broad range of international publications. Clients include, The Sunday Times Magazine, The Financial Times Magazine, Foto 8, Save the Children, Fader and Wallpaper Magazine.