Istanbul Photo Awards winner depicts climate change

By Dildar Baykan

NEW YORK (AA) - A winner of the 2018 Istanbul Photo Awards hopes to increase awareness on environmental change with his work displayed overseas.

The U.S. daily Los Angeles Times photojournalist Marcus Yam won first prize in the story nature and environment category of the 2018 Istanbul Photo Awards with his photo series depicting the blazing palms in the 2017 California forest fire.

“I hope that my work will increase awareness on our future when it is exhibited overseas,” Yam told Anadolu Agency during the opening of the 2018 Istanbul Photo Awards at the UN headquarters.

Yam said his award-winning photographs represents the “beauty and terror” of the fires.

The photojournalist said he entered his body of work because it was emblematic of the “frontlines” of the change facing today’s environment.

He was “extremely humbled” that his work was among other great works by great photographers, Yam expressed.

“It feels great to be standing alongside the people you’ve always looked up to in this business,” he added.

Yam was among the 27 photographers from 22 countries receiving awards at the competition of 37,000 photos from 125 countries.

The winners of the competition took their awards home, with Damir Sagolj’s picture depicting a Rohingya camp in Bangladesh being named “Photo of the Year”.