Istanbul Photo Awards 2023 exhibition opens in New York

By Serife Cetin

NEW YORK (AA) - The second edition of the 2023 Istanbul Photo Awards, an international news photography competition organized by Anadolu, opened Wednesday in New York.

The exhibition will run through Nov. 8 at the Blue Gallery.

It was attended by the president and CEO of Anadolu, Serdar Karagoz, New York City's Commissioner for International Affairs Edward Mermelstein and Reyhan Ozgur, the Turkish Consul General in New York, as well as foreign representatives, academics and prominent figures in the photography world.

Notable attendees included Aaron Jackson, photo desk manager at the Associated Press’s headquarters in New York, and award-winning photographer Alain Schroeder, who had been recognized in previous editions of the competition.

Organized with support from Nikon Türkiye, the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) and Turkish Airlines, the exhibition showcases the works of 29 photographers who secured awards in the 9th edition of the competition.

In addition, it features previous award-winning photographs highlighting the theme of Palestine.

Visitors to the exhibition had the opportunity to explore a diverse array of photographs ranging from the Ukraine-Russia war to events in Palestine, child trafficking in Nigeria, environmental changes induced by lithium, wildlife studies in Thailand, the World Cup in Qatar, bullfights in Portugal, icebreakers in the Arctic Sea and albinos on the African continent, providing a comprehensive overview of global events from the past year.

A total of 29 photographers received awards across 10 categories in this year's competition. The coveted "Photo of the Year" award went to Sergey Kozlov, a photographer from the European Pressphoto Agency (EPA), for his work titled "Ukraine-Russia War," as recognized by the international jury.

- 'Power of photography'

During the exhibition's opening, Karagoz said the 165 photographs on display represent a "paused version of each moment."

He emphasized that Anadolu "has always believed in the power of photography since its establishment, recognizing photography as a vital component of news."

"In its 9th year, our competition has evolved into a global platform with 16,000 registered photographers, establishing itself as one of the most esteemed news photography competitions internationally," said Karagoz.

He added that photographers from around the world participate in the competition, presenting single and serial photographs across categories such as news, sports, environment, portraits and daily life.

The next exhibit will take place in London in the coming days, according to Karagoz.

Mermelstein extended his congratulations to the organizers, participants and winners of the competition. He said the exhibit stands as a significant art form in illuminating crucial issues.

Mermelstein said Anadolu's photography competition plays a crucial role in narrating important global stories and fostering a deeper cultural understanding.

Ozgur, the consul general, highlighted the significant purpose served by the competition and exhibition, emphasizing that "the photographs are etched into history."

He said that "over the years, Anadolu has rightfully earned its unique position among global news agencies," adding the company evolved into a brand, maintaining reliability and credibility as a news source.

For more information about the competition, which will soon begin accepting applications for 2024, and to view the winning photos, visit https://www.istanbulphotoawards.com/.

*Writing by Servet Gunerigok