Indy scoops awards at Inma
Jikelo internationally recognised
INDEPENDENT Media photographer Phandulwazi Jikelo has made it onto the shortlist of the world-renowned Andrei Stenin International Press Photo Contest for young photojournalists.
His striking picture of a protester swinging a burning tyre during a housing protest in Grabouw last year has been shortlisted in the top news (singles) category of the competition.
The annual event is organised by Rossiya Segodnya, under the auspices of the Commission of the Russian Federation for Unesco.
The shortlist was selected by an international jury and includes photographers from 14 countries who will compete for the main prizes, with the winners announced on August 7.
The jury, chaired by Stern director of photography, Andreas Trampe, reviewed up to 5 000 submitted photos by contestants from 76 countries, across four categories.
As in previous years, the winning photos will be displayed not only in Russia but also abroad, until the end of this year.
Alexander Shtol, director of the Rossiya Segodnya Integrated Directorate of Photography, said: “The entries are becoming stronger and more mature each year, which indicates the growing professionalism of young photojournalists.”
Independent Media is the South African media partner of the Andrei Stenin International Press Photo contest, one of the world’s premier photo contests to promote young photographers and attract public attention to photojournalism.
The contest, which is named after Andrei Stenin, a special photo correspondent who died while on assignment, is a platform to discover new photojournalists and develop high standards for documentary photography in Russia and the world.
Jikelo, whose pictures are regularly published by Independent Media, is currently a member of the African News Agency’s photographic team. – Staff Reporter