Andrei Stenin Photo Awards

Two Iranian photographers received special prizes in the Humanitarian category

ANOTHER Capetonian has reinforced South Africa’s reputation as a home to award-winning talent in photographic journalism.

Justin Sullivan won this year’s News Category in the Andrei Stenin International Photo Contest.

African News Agency and former Cape Times photographer Phando Jikelo won the same category for his entry capturing the Grabouw housing protest last year.

His winning entry was published in the Cape Times.

Out of about 6 000 images from around 77 countries, Sullivan won for his image “Stand Off”, in which a police officer points his gun at poachers hiding under a table, while Luis Tato from Spain was honoured for his photo series “Kenya’s Post-Election Turmoil”.

The Andrei Stenin International Press Photo Contest was launched by Rossiya Segodnya under the aegis of the Russian Commission for Unesco.

Its main goal is to support young photographers and draw public attention to the challenges of modern photojournalism. This contest is a platform for young photographers – talented, empathetic and open minded – to draw the world’s attention to people and events around the globe.

Director of Rossiya Segodnya’s Photo Service Alexander Shtol said: “Every year the contest expands its geography and has more and more applicants.

“In 2018, we received almost 6 000 images from 77 countries around the world, setting a new record. Young photojournalists have a very acute sense of what matters the most, and what is going on in the lives of people, countries, and the world in general. There were never as many images on social issues as this year. It is also pleasing to note the improving quality of submissions as well as the fact that the contest has become so prominent within the community of photojournalists.”

Two Iranian photographers also received special prizes in the Humanitarian Photograph category.

Omid Vahabzadeh won the prize for his image “Tehran Attack” in which a two-yearold boy is being lifted into the Iranian parliament building after the June 2017 terrorist attack in Tehran, while Younes Khani Someeh Soflaei won the prize for his series “... And Life Rises” about the everyday life of people affected by last year’s earthquake in Kermanshah Province, which killed almost 600 people and destroyed more than 30 000 buildings.

Sergei Gapon from Belarus came out tops in the My Planet category for his image “Cranberry Heart” shot from a drone, while the winning photo series was Alyona Kochetkova’s “How I Fell Ill”, in which she chronicles her dramatic struggle against cancer.

In the Sports category, the winners were Taisir Mahdi from Iraq for his photograph “The Desire for Life”, picturing a young amputee playing football, and Andrea Alai from Italy for his photo series “Ultras” about the tifosi (fans) of Albenga Calcio club from a small town in Liguria.

The full list of contest winners and runners-up is available at stenincontest.com.

The awards ceremony and exhibition of the winning works will take place on November 8, when the winner of the 2018 Grand Prix will also be announced.

Picture: JUSTIN SULLIVAN TAKING COVER: First prize in the Top News category went to Justin Sullivan of South Africa for his image “Stand Off”. The policeman keeps a gun at the sight of three people hiding under a table after being shot at by of one of them, a 14-year-old boy. After this incident, protests against the introduction of fishing quotas turned into an outbreak of violence, which lasted three days.

Picture: SERGEI GAPON BEAUTY THROUGH PAIN: In the My Planet category, first place was awarded to Sergei Gapon from Belarus for his image “Cranberry Heart” shot from a drone. Harvest of cranberries in the Pinsk region, Belarus, where the unemployment rate is high. The season for collecting cranberries is the only way to earn money for local people.

Picture: ODED WAGENSTEIN INDIGENOUS: In the category Portrait: A Hero of Our Time, Israel’s Oded Wagenstein took first place in singles with his image “Rosebud” showing a child from a Nenets tribe standing on the family’s wooden sleigh, during their migration over the Ob River in Yamal Peninsula, Siberia, Russia.

Picture: TAYSIR MAHDI PERSEVERANCE: In the Sports category, the winners were Taisir Mahdi from Iraq for his photograph “The Desire for Life”, picturing a young amputee playing soccer. This boy lost his leg during the terrorist attack, but he is strong in spirit, and despite the injury deftly plays football.