The competition ran across a series of distinct categories, with winners selected by a panel of photographers, music artists and creatives. The awards recognised 2021’s most unforgettable, unique and unsung music moments and the varied and talented photographers who captured them.

Shortlisted emerging & professional photographers were unveiled and celebrated at an exclusive awards ceremony, hosted here at Abbey Road.

Joe Puxley was the winner of our 'Undiscovered Photographer of The Year' award, aimed at identifying and recognising the emerging, unsung talent that exists in music photography. Part of Joe's prize was a week-long mentorship programme with our Photographer-In-Residence, Simon Wheatley, continue reading to experience what a week in the life of one of the UK's most in-demand photographers is like.

Joe Puxley is a 21-year-old British photographer based in Brighton.

An alumnus of the BRIT School, Joe's portoflio already boasts features in publications such as Vogue Italia, The British Journal Of Photography, DAZED, Wonderland, Notion, The Face and CLASH. Having photographed artists such as Arlo Parks, Erykah Badu, Gregory Porter, Tom Misch, Loyle Carner, Desta French and Pa Salieu, Joe is certainly making a name for himself very quickly.

Escapism is an important theme in his work as he strives to create a vibrant ontology of youth through his photography and an approach that offers an alternative perspective. Outside of photography, Joe is also an avid filmmaker.

We spoke to Joe about his week-long mentorship programme with our Photographer-In-Residence, Simon Wheatley, looking back at the moments he photographed and understanding what he learnt.

Simon was brilliant at teaching me how to photograph intimate moments without intruding - this is very important in the studio, because everyone is listening to their feelings when creating music. Learning these skills allowed me to shoot the images below, which I loved taking.

Below is Simon, photographed during a session he brought me to.

He taught me so much about depth and creating a visual path for the eye to follow. I can see a lot of his teachings coming through in this image.

As well as shooting at Abbey Road, I stepped into Simon’s world of photographing grime music.

We went to various key locations in the lineage of grime. The image below was taken outside NTS Radio, with a new grime group that Simon is working with.

These images were shot during sessions in Studio Three and The Gatehouse. Seeing the synthesis of music in these spaces was very mesmerising.

These pictures were shot at NTS Radio, during a DJ set from a new grime group. It was really valuable to have access to shooting a whole spectrum of music production spaces during my programme with Simon.

The studios at Abbey Road are really beautiful, state-of-the-art spaces but I loved searching for the small signs which has history in them. Images like the below really set my imagination off.

To keep up with Joe, follow him on Instagram at @joepuxx and his website. You can read his full profile here.

Don't forget to head to the official MPAs website to get a comprehensive overview of all the participants, nominations and winners. Also, follow us on Instagram at @abbeyroadmpa for more MPAs related content.