‘Photography is not only a powerful medium for telling other people's stories, but also a window for communicating what I see through their eyes,’ says award-winning photographer Cristopher Rogel

‘Photography can foster feelings of solidarity, awaken awareness, and provoke public discourse,’ award-winning photographer Michael Pappas tells Anadolu

In an era dominated by rapid information flow, İstanbul Photo Awards 2025 winners in the Story Sports and Story Portrait categories stressed the critical importance of depth, truth, and cultural insight in photojournalism.

İstanbul Photo Awards, organized by Anadolu for its 11th consecutive year, 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.

Culture in the ring

Cristopher Rogel won second prize in the Story Sports category for his photo titled The Junkyard, offering a rare anthropological glimpse into the violent yet culturally ingrained world of Mexican wrestling.

“I was amazed by the level of violence, as well as the place where the fights took place. It was surreal. I was interested in understanding how a spectacle of that nature was visited by entire families, including children,” Rogel told Anadolu.

He views wrestling as an integral part of Mexico’s cultural fabric, approached from a deeper, more reflective lens. “Violence to escape the daily violence faced by the inhabitants of this country, which has been plagued by different types of violence for generations,” he said.

To visually capture this intensity, Rogel used artificial lighting “to emphasize the action and the audience's faces,” while selecting a color palette inspired by the dystopian atmosphere of the location.

Depth amid digital whirlwind

“I believe that photography is not only a powerful medium for telling other people's stories, but also a window for communicating what I see through their eyes,” Rogel said.

Reflecting on the current state of journalism, he noted the challenges posed by the immediacy of digital media, saying: “Those of us who work in this field struggle with the immediacy of ordinary people who transmit images of what's happening in front of them like a whirlwind to feed digital platforms, often lacking in depth.”

“That's why I think it's important that we as professionals make an effort to delve deeper into the stories we want to tell,” he said.

Winning İstanbul Photo Award was a milestone for Rogel. He described receiving the news as “a joy for me, not only because I share the stage with colleagues I greatly admire, but also because my work can have a global reach.”

Threads of identity

Greek photographer Michael Pappas, who received second prize in the Story Portrait category for Mitos – The Thread of Greece, described his work as a dialogue between tradition and modernity.

“The word mitos—meaning ‘thread’—is not just symbolic of fabric and clothing, but also of memory, identity, and continuity,” Pappas told Anadolu, underlining his immersive approach that involved traveling to communities preserving ancestral costumes and stories.

“The natural environment and local architecture are not just backdrops but active elements that dialogue with the subjects, reinforcing the sense of place and belonging,” he said.

His project embodies a desire to “preserve the authenticity and beauty of folk art while offering a modern, renewed approach to tradition.” For Pappas, traditional clothing is more than material, it is “a carrier of cultural heritage and personal identity.”

Stressing that the image holds a significant place in his career, Pappas said he chose it for the contest submission as it makes a statement “about the role of photography as a tool for preserving and revitalizing tradition.”

‘Preservation of truth’ behind the lens

Pappas emphasized the profound responsibility borne by photographers, saying: “The responsibility of photography is immense, as it has the potential to shape opinions, influence public perception, and inspire action. As a photographer, there is a duty to represent the truth with respect and sensitivity, as misrepresentation or distortion of reality can lead to misjudgments and consequences.”

“Through the portrayal of individuals and situations, it can foster feelings of solidarity, awaken awareness, and provoke public discourse,” he added.

Addressing technological impact, Pappas acknowledged both its opportunities and risks. “Technology has revolutionized photography and, by extension, photojournalism,” he said, adding that speed also has become “crucial in documenting events, and photography can have an immediate impact on society.”

He warned that the easy accessibility of cameras and editing tools risks overwhelming audiences and compromising authenticity. “The rapid development of image-editing tools presents new ethical challenges for photojournalists,” Pappas noted, emphasizing that despite these changes, “the most important thing remains the preservation of truth and respect for the image and its subject.”

“Technology should be used as a tool to enhance storytelling, not to distort it,” he added.

Winning the contest was “a moment of great joy and emotion for me,” Pappas said, highlighting the recognition as “a confirmation of the effort I put into my craft” and a reminder “of the importance of photography as a means of expression and communication.”

“Beyond the personal satisfaction, I believe this award provides my work with the opportunity to reach more people and contribute to the dialogue surrounding cultural heritage,” he said.

“The contest has become one of the most significant international photography awards,” he emphasized, adding that it holds great value for him, “as it acknowledges my dedication to capturing Greek tradition in a modern and unique way.”

İstanbul Photo Awards has become a cornerstone of global photojournalism, celebrating the art of visual storytelling while shedding light on critical issues worldwide.

This year’s İstanbul Photo Awards contest is supported by Turkcell as the communication sponsor, the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) as the overseas event sponsor, and Turkish Airlines as the airline sponsor.

More information on the winning photographs and jury members can be found at istanbulphotoawards.com.

Selection of award-winning photos on display at Dolmabahce from Aug. 26 to Sept 7

The second exhibition of İstanbul Photo Awards 2025, an international photojournalism contest organized by Anadolu since 2015, opened on August 26 at Dolmabahce Art Gallery in Istanbul, Besiktas.

İstanbul Photo Awards, organized by Anadolu for its 11th consecutive year, 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.

Following its first exhibition in Ankara, the winning photographs are now on display at the Dolmabahce Art Gallery, located within the Palace Collections Museum under the Directorate of National Palaces.

The exhibition offers a compelling visual narrative of key global events, including Israel’s ongoing attacks on Gaza, devastating floods in East Africa, the volcanic eruption in Iceland, and athletes preparing for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

It also covers powerful images depicting the struggles of Afghan women, survivors from Sednaya Prison, Brazilian surfers against towering waves, and the dangerous journeys of migrants.

The exhibition will be available from Aug. 26 to Sept 7, 2025.

This year’s İstanbul Photo Awards contest is supported by Turkcell as the communication sponsor, the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) as the overseas event sponsor, and Turkish Airlines as the airline sponsor.

‘I hope this photo will be a reason to stop the war on the people of Gaza,’ Issa tells Anadolu

Sometimes a photojournalist’s images are the only evidence of injustice and suffering, said the winner of the Daily Life category at İstanbul Photo Awards.

İstanbul Photo Awards, organized by Anadolu for its 11th consecutive year, 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.

Palestinian photographer Mahmoud Zaki Salem Issa was awarded first prize in the Marion Mertens Single Daily Life category with his powerful depiction of Gaza's hunger crisis.

Palestinian photographer Mahmoud Zaki Salem Issa 

“This photograph depicts a painful human scene of people suffering from hunger and poverty, scrambling in search of food,” Issa told Anadolu.

Describing his photo titled “A Humanitarian Crisis: Starvation and Blockade," he said: “Panic and despair are evident on their faces, as each carries empty pots in an attempt to secure his daily sustenance.”

Northern Gaza faced a devastating famine under a prolonged siege. Food shortages, destruction of infrastructure, and blocked aid routes led to an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.

The pain in Gaza prompted Issa to photograph free food distribution sites and capture the suffering of children, many of whom were malnourished.

“My feelings were a mixture of sadness and helplessness, and I also had a desire to send a message to the world about this tragedy,” he said.

Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Issa said the heartbreaking scenes resonated personally, as his own family was enduring the same suffering.

“The image documents a difficult moment reflecting extreme suffering. People in northern Gaza were suffering from a true famine,” he noted.

He said one of the most difficult aspects of capturing the devastation was that he, too, was living through the same crisis. “There was no transportation, which forced me to walk long distances to photograph the food distribution sites to convey the suffering of the people to the world outside,” he said.

Camera as witness

“I felt that this picture was the closest to showing the suffering of the people, the crowds rushing to receive the food and the children screaming to be able to get some food,” Issa said.

Issa’s belief in the power of visual storytelling runs deep. To him, photography is not just about bearing witness; it’s about bearing responsibility.

“News photography is a powerful force to be reckoned with. It is not merely a documentation of events, but a tool capable of influencing public opinion, stimulating change, and revealing the truth,” he said.

He underlined that there is no doubt photography has the power to make a difference in the world.

“Just as a single image can have a profound impact, so too many images from Gaza had a profound global impact over the years,” Issa said.

Issa also highlighted the impact of technological advancements on photojournalism in conflict zones.

He noted that ultra-fast publishing enables news to spread instantly, while modern equipment provides clearer images, even under the most challenging conditions.

Issa described his reaction to winning the award as bittersweet, as feelings of joy were mixed with sadness over the ongoing bombing, siege, hunger, and destruction in Gaza.

“I hope this photo will be a reason to stop the war on the people of Gaza,” Issa said.

Anadolu's İstanbul Photo Awards has become a cornerstone of global photojournalism, celebrating the art of visual storytelling while shedding light on critical issues worldwide.

This year’s İstanbul Photo Awards contest is supported by Turkcell as the communication sponsor, the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) as the overseas event sponsor, and Turkish Airlines as the airline sponsor.

More information on the winning photographs and jury members can be found at istanbulphotoawards.com.

‘Images replaced reality in today’s world. Public perception is now shaped by images, and truth is being reconstructed under the shadow of representation,’ says Anadolu president

The first exhibition of İstanbul Photo Awards 2025 opened in Ankara on June 10, 2025.

Hosted at the Presidential Symphony Orchestra (CSO) Ada Ankara concert hall, the exhibition features award-winning works by 29 photographers selected from this year’s contest.

The exhibition features a selection of 150 photographs, including award-winning works. Visitors have the opportunity to view compelling visual narratives from the ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza to the devastating floods in East Africa, the volcanic eruptions in Iceland, athletes of Paris 2024 Olympics, Afghan women’s struggle for survival, survivors of Syria’s Sednaya Prison, Brazilian surfers battling giant waves, and dangerous journeys of migrants.

This year’s contest is supported by Turkcell as the communication sponsor, the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) as the overseas event sponsor, and Turkish Airlines as the airline sponsor.

The exhibition will remain open to the public through July 20.

Official Event

A special event of the first exhibition of İstanbul Photo Awards 2025 was held at CSO Ada Ankara under the auspices of Karagoz on Tuesday, July 8, 2025,.

İstanbul Photo Awards once again shows that every photograph with documentary value is not merely an image, but a language for understanding and conveying state of the world and the essence of a society, Anadolu President and CEO Serdar Karagoz said.

In his opening remarks at the official invitational event, Karagoz said that each photograph in the exhibition serves as a silent narrator of emotions, events, and testimonies. İstanbul Photo Awards, organized by Anadolu for its 11th consecutive year, 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.

Karagoz said the Photo of the Year award went to Palestinian photographer Saeed Jaras for his image titled “Gaza-Deir al-Balah,” depicting grieving parents embracing the lifeless bodies of their children killed in Israeli airstrikes.

Recalling that a similar image had been chosen as the Photo of the Year in the previous year, Karagoz said: "This shows that the world's political and tragic realities have seen little change. As journalists, reporters, and photojournalists, we document history.”

Sadly, there is little difference between the records we left in 2024 and those in 2025. Pain, tears, sorrow, genocide, bloodshed, and violence have once again marked this year, as they did the last, he added.

‘Images replaced reality in today’s world’

Karagoz emphasized that every photojournalist documenting wars, crises, earthquakes, and human stories, from Gaza to Ukraine from Damascus to New York, is truly speaking with history.

“Images replaced reality in today’s world. Public perception is now shaped by images, and truth is being reconstructed under the shadow of representation. In this sense, photographs are not just records, but instruments of meaning-making,” Karagoz said.

“As communication theorists say, media tools don’t just transmit information, they shape how we see the world," he added.

Citing images such as a refugee father carrying his baby in Bosnia-Herzegovina, a child fleeing during the Vietnam War, and a small hand clutching a teddy bear under the rubble in Gaza, Karagoz stressed that such photographs are more than news, they become lasting symbols imprinted in collective consciousness.

He added that platforms such as İstanbul Photo Awards serve not only artistic and aesthetic purposes, but also carry the responsibility of preserving societal memory and shaping media narratives.

Highlighting Anadolu’s photo archive of over 13 million images, he said the agency had distributed globally 100,000 photographs during the Syrian war, 150,000 during the Russia-Ukraine war, and 3,000 from the Iran-Israel conflict.

“Our historical record does not end there. Thousands of major events and the most pivotal moments in countless lives have been documented by Anadolu Ajansı," he said.

Moments captured by nearly 2,000 photographers evaluated

Karagoz said İstanbul Photo Awards also aims to raise awareness about the dedication and importance of photojournalists working under difficult conditions.

"Since its inception, the competition has grown into a global platform with over 206,000 photo submissions by nearly 20,000 photographers. This year’s edition attracted nearly 22,000 entries from around the world, from Brazil to Nepal, Canada to Nigeria, and, from Palestine to Japan. Our esteemed international jury carefully evaluated each entry, with moments captured by nearly 2,000 photographers assessed across 10 categories," he said.

"We continue to document 2025. Hopefully, when we gather for İstanbul Photo Awards 2026 exhibition, we will be able to share some hopeful developments on the international stage," Karagoz added.

Following his speech, Anadolu Visual News Director Aykut Unlupinar provided insights into the exhibited works and guests were also presented with an album featuring the winning photographs.

TRT Director General Mehmet Zahid Sobaci, Anadolu Editor in-Chief Yusuf Ozhan and Chief Operating Officer Oguz Enis Peru, Anadolu Publications and Productions Coordinator Oguz Karakas, Anadolu Academy and Editorial Coordinator Yahya Bostan, Chinese Ambassador to Türkiye Liu Shaobin, Panama’s Ambassador to Ankara Karina Cecilia Arias Fonseca de Giannotti, and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Ambassador Mirsada Colakovic, as well as academics, and prominent figures from the global media and photography community were also present at the exhibition.

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Ambassador to Türkiye, Mirsada Colakovic, told Anadolu that many of the photographs, particularly those from Palestine, reflect the harsh side of life. She named her favorite entry as “Surrounded,” taken in Kenya, and extended her congratulations to everyone involved in organizing the contest.

The responsibility of journalism is greater than ever, and news photography holds immense power, said the winners of the daily life categories at 2025 İstanbul Photo Awards.

İstanbul Photo Awards, organized by Anadolu for its 11th consecutive year, 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.

Fabio Bucciarelli was awarded the third prize in the Story Daily Life category for his compelling documentation of Haiti’s humanitarian crisis amid political collapse and armed gang violence, which he covered for La Repubblica.

“For many Western media outlets, Haiti practically doesn’t exist—it’s off the news agenda. Yet the humanitarian and political crisis unfolding in the country is among the most severe in the world,” Bucciarelli told Anadolu.

As with any reporting in difficult areas, his preparation took weeks. He faced major challenges, including blocked roads, sniper fire, makeshift checkpoints, and information blackouts caused by poor connectivity.

Journalism with depth and respect

Bucciarelli highlighted that the time we live in is one where “speed and rapidity distort the significance of news,” supported by technology that fosters the polarization of news and opinions.

“The journalism I believe in stands in contrast to this logic; it is journalism that requires time. Time to empathize with people, time to listen to stories, and time to understand the culture before being able to document it,” he said.

He stressed that making a real difference comes not through sensationalism, but by deeply exploring complex realities and revealing what would otherwise stay hidden, with the goal—perhaps the hope—of raising public awareness and increasing understanding of often overlooked issues.

“All of this comes with a great responsibility that compels us to reflect once again on respect for the subjects photographed, on integrity, and on a profound sense of awareness of its impact,” Bucciarelli said.

“Winning this award represents an important opportunity for me to amplify the message of the stories I tell,” he added.

He pointed out that İstanbul Photo Awards, with its distinguished jury, not only confirms the value of the work but also allows him to “amplify a voice to realities that often go unheard,” reaching people and spaces that otherwise might not be touched.

He added that after winning the first prize in the Story News category in 2021 for documenting COVID-19 in Italy for The New York Times, he has maintained contact with the organization, which continues to build a supportive network among the winning photographers.

Life amid war through award-winning image

Sameer Al-Doumy received the second prize in the Marion Mertens Single Daily Life category for his powerful image capturing resilience in war-torn Homs, Syria, taken while covering the aftermath of regime change for the French news agency AFP.

His photograph captures a man selling fruit in front of an abandoned tank—an unexpected scene that symbolizes resilience amid the wreckage of war.

“It was a strange and emotional experience to return to my home country, Syria, after years in exile due to the war,” he told Anadolu, adding that holding his camera again and documenting such a significant transitional moment in the country’s history felt “deeply personal.”

Al-Doumy’s journey to the scene required more than six hours of driving from Damascus. In a country still navigating the uncertain aftermath of regime change, he relied on instinct and experience rather than detailed planning.

“My goal was to document this historic moment of regime change and how it was affecting daily life,” he said, adding that the journey was long and filled with tension, “but once I reached Homs and found the scene, I knew this image told a larger story — one of survival, adaptation, and quiet defiance.”

He said that he used natural light and focused on composition to contrast the harsh, decaying machinery of war with the simple act of a man selling produce—capturing “symbols of death and life in the same frame.”

“This image means a great meaning to me. It represents the strength and resilience of Syrians who, despite everything, continue to pursue life — even in the shadow of destruction,” Al-Doumy said.

Stressing that hope and humanity persist, even in the darkest times, Al-Doumy said: “On a personal level, this photo marks a return to my roots as a Syrian photographer. It’s a story I felt compelled to share, not just as a journalist, but as someone whose life has also been shaped by this war.”

News photography as testimony that cannot be erased

“I believe news photography holds immense power and responsibility. It is our way of showing the world what is happening, especially in places where people are suffering, and voices are being silenced,” Al-Doumy said.

He added that while news photography may not always bring immediate change, it informs, educates, and preserves truth. “At the very least, it creates a historical record — a testimony that cannot be erased. That, in itself, is powerful,” he underscored.

Al-Doumy added that this year’s award holds special meaning for him, being his first recognition since returning to Syria after the war, for a photo close to his heart.

“It encourages me to keep telling the stories of people who, like me, have endured loss but never lost hope,” he further said, also noting that the process of the award was very smooth and user-friendly.

İstanbul Photo Awards has become a cornerstone of global photojournalism, celebrating the art of visual storytelling while shedding light on critical issues worldwide.

This year’s İstanbul Photo Awards contest is supported by Turkcell as the communication sponsor, the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) as the overseas event sponsor, and Turkish Airlines as the airline sponsor.

More information on the winning photographs and jury members can be found at istanbulphotoawards.com.