Istanbul Photo Awards announces jury for 2022 contest

By Merve Berker

ANKARA (AA) - The jury for the Istanbul Photo Awards 2022, organized this year for the eighth time by Anadolu Agency, Turkiye’s premier news source, has been announced.

This year’s jury for the prestigious international photo contest includes NOOR Agency photojournalist Yuri Kozyrev, Reuters photojournalist Goran Tomasevic, visual storyteller Marion Mertens, AFP Former Photo Business Development Director Michel Scotto, Getty Images Chief Sports Photojournalist Cameron Spencer, photojournalist Ahmet Sel, and Firat Yurdakul, the editor-in-chief of Anadolu Agency’s Visual News Department.

National Geographic photographer and filmmaker Ami Vitale, who has worked in more than 100 countries, and photojournalist Carol Guzy, who has over 40 years of experience in the field of photography, joined the jury this year.

Guzy is respected for her work in many places around the world, from Africa to the Balkans, since starting in the photography business in 1980. Specializing in long-term projects in the fields of documentary, human interest, news and feature stories, Guzy is currently a contract photographer with ZUMA Press. In addition to being the first photojournalist to win the Pulitzer Prize four times, Guzy has won numerous other international awards.

“Photographers should consider entering this prestigious competition. Awards bring recognition and give images a second life,” she said.

“With a newfound awareness of the critical impact of climate change on the environment, the addition of the new nature category is immensely relevant.”

She added: “Cash prizes and camera offer assistance for future photographic endeavors.”

Vitale, who has devoted half of her professional life to publicizing to the world what is happening in international war zones, has recently been working on compelling wildlife stories.

A National Geographic photographer and member of the Advisory Board of Photographers, Vitale is actively involved in organizations aimed at protecting wildlife habitats.

The photographer, who often shares her experiences in talks and workshops programs, has racked up six World Press Photo awards along with many international awards.

The jury of the contest, which attracts hundreds of entries from professional photographers worldwide annually, will meet online on March 17-19.

The winners will be announced at the end of March after the selection process, done through a platform specially prepared for the contest by Anadolu Agency's dedicated tech team.

Information on all the jury members, all of whom are prestigious members of the world of photography, can be accessed at istanbulphotoawards.com/Jury.

- Deadline for entries Feb. 15

Applications are open for professional photographers until Feb. 15, via istanbulphotoawards.com.

Participants can apply with photographs concerning the year 2021 in seven different categories: Single News, Story News, Single Sports, Story Sports, Single Nature and Environment, Canon Story Daily Life, and Story Portrait.

The winner of the Photo of the Year – the Single News category first prize winner – will be awarded $6,000.

The winners in other categories will be awarded $3,000 for first prize, $1,500 for second prize, and $1,000 for third. Only first place will be awarded in the Story Daily Life and Story Portrait categories.

In addition to the awards, this year the winners of Single News and Story Sports will receive Canon EOS R3 camera, while winners of other categories will be awarded Canon EOS R5 cameras.

This year the contest is supported by Canon, the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), and Turkish Airlines, the nation’s flag carrier.