A competitive amateur golfer for most of his life, Kessel never won a major trophy. But his photographs have been recognized by, or won, virtually every major street photography award, including:
Photolucida Critical Mass: Finalist (2022)
Lucie Foundation: Finalist (2022)
Lens Culture Street Awards: Finalist and 3rd Place Winner (2020), Top 100 (2016)
Miami Street Photography Festival: Finalist (2017) (2018), Finalist and Winner (2020)
San Francisco Streetfoto Festival (streets of SF): Finalist (2018, 2020), Cage Match Winner (2017)
PDN “Faces”: Self-Portrait Winner (2019), Winner, Portrait (2018)
LACP, Street Shooting Around the World: Winner (2020), Finalist (2018), (2021)
London Street Photography Festival: Finalist (2019)
Italian Street Photography Festival (2021, 2022)
Guides Association of NYC: Winner (2017) and
Nominated (2023) for Outstanding Achievement in NYC Photography
Soho Photo National Photography Competition: First Place (2015, 2021)
Pollux Awards: Street Division, Winner (2019, 2023)
Winner First Place, TDM Awards (2021)
Paris International Street Photography Awards: Finalist (2020, 2021)
Istanbul Street Photography Awards: Finalist (2020)
