We are pleased to announce the winners of The Projection Box Essay Awards 2008-2009:
for research into popular optical media to 1900.

The judges awarded the first prize of £250 and publication in Early Popular Visual Culture, to Erkki Huhtamo for his essay "Aeronauticon! Or, the Journey of the Balloon Panorama."

... an excellent piece of well- documented new research.

The essay is packed with exciting ideas ... expressed with imaginative, speculative and argumentative flair. There is a clarity throughout and an easy, unpretentious turn of phrase which is delightful to read.

... an eclectic and highly original subject.

Mark Butterworth. Second prize (books value £100)

"Imaging a Continent: the George Washington Wilson & Co's Lantern Slides of Australia."

.... immensely readable, packed with information, rich in speculation and interesting comment.

This is a very original essay which genuinely breaks new ground.

... a well illustrated piece of research.

Dr R. M. Callender. Third prize (books value £100)

"The Enthusiastic Amateur of Redhill, Surrey."

... a useful contribution to this particular history.

... an excellent self-contained essay using new information.

WINNERS of The Projection Box Essay Awards 2007-2008:
research into the projected and moving image to 1915.

The judges awarded the first prize of £250 and publication in the journal Early Popular Visual Culture, to Dr John Plunkett for his essay 'Selling Stereoscopy 1890-1914: penny arcades, automatic machines and American salesmen'.

A thorough and well sustained argument. Convincing and very well written ... highly original.

A clear and impressive piece of work.

Prizes of Projection Box books worth £100 went to:

Professor Erkki Huhtamo
'Penetrating the Perestrephic: an unwritten chapter in the history of the panorama'

Christian Hayes
'Phantom Carriages : reconstructing Hale's Tours and the virtual travel experience'

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