Istanbul: From war-scarred memories in Georgia to defiant portraits of Afghan women under Taliban rule, Istanbul Photo Awards 2025 winners highlighted the power of photography as both a moral duty and a document of truth in times of repression and displacement.
According to Anadolu Agency, the Istanbul Photo Awards, organized for its 11th consecutive year by Anadolu, awarded 29 photographers across 10 categories. The selections were made from approximately 22,000 submissions from around the world, a testament to the contest's growing prestige, which has attracted entries from more than 20,000 photographers globally since its inception.
Marylise Vigneau, winner of the Single Portrait 2nd Prize, captured a haunting image symbolizing 'the suffering of people displaced by imperialist wars and power games.' Her portrait tells the story of Dzabuli Bendeliani, who fled Georgia's Abkhazia region during the Georgian-Abkhaz war in 1992. 'Diverse and interwoven stories form a fragmented, subjective portrait of a geographical and mental space,' Vigneau told Anadolu.
Vigneau emphasized that photography holds meaning as documentary photographers work to preserve memory, extracting clandestine truths and bringing them to light. She warned of the growing risks posed by artificial intelligence in visual journalism, noting that it lacks the crucial qualities that define photojournalism: empathy, trust, and understanding.
Valentina Sinis, recipient of the Story Daily Life 1st prize, was recognized for her series 'Were Afghan Women to Unveil Their Tales,' a project documenting the hidden lives of women under Taliban rule. Sinis highlighted the courage of Afghan women who shared their stories, despite the pervasive fear and security threats. She embraced a collaborative approach, empowering the women to control how their stories and images were presented.
Sinis underlined the role of documentary photography in shaping societal perceptions and driving change, especially in contexts like the ongoing genocide in Gaza. She believes photography can drive social change by documenting and sharing stories that might otherwise remain unheard.
Winning the Istanbul Photo Awards brought Sinis both joy and validation, reinforcing her commitment to documenting resilience and struggles. The contest, supported by Turkcell, the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), and Turkish Airlines, has become a cornerstone of global photojournalism, celebrating the art of visual storytelling while shedding light on critical issues worldwide.
More information on the winning photographs and jury members can be found at istanbulphotoawards.com.