İstanbul Photo Awards 2025 winners call for depth, truth, cultural insight in photojournalism

By Asiye Latife Yilmaz

ISTANBUL (AA) - 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.