• ‘Photographs capture moments that people look away from and freeze what others prefer to forget’ says Anadolu CEO Serdar Karagoz

NEW YORK

The exhibition of İstanbul Photo Awards 2025, an international photojournalism contest organized by Anadolu since 2015, opened on Tuesday at the UN headquarters with a ceremony.

The exhibition, hosted at the UN’s 1B Neck area, drew attendance from Türkiye’s UN envoy Ahmet Yildiz, Anadolu CEO Serdar Karagoz, Anadolu's Visual News Director Aykut Unlupinar, Anadolu’s Marketing and Business Development Director Erman Yuksel, Anadolu’s Communication and Brand Management Director Hazal Duran, as well as numerous ambassadors, diplomats, international representatives, academics, media professionals, and guests.

Hosting the event, Karagoz welcomed the attendees, saying: “Photographs capture moments that people look away from and freeze what others prefer to forget.”

He emphasized that photography speaks directly to the heart through a universal language in the digital age, where reality is lost. “Throughout history, journalists and photojournalists have carried this moral burden. They don't start wars, but they stand on the front lines. They don't cause suffering, but they document it so the world cannot say, ‘We never knew,’” he said.

‘Photojournalism pillar of democracy, dignity, and truth’

Karagoz underlined that the integrity of photojournalism should be respected not only as a profession but also as a pillar of democracy, dignity, and truth.

“A photograph may make us laugh or cry, but beyond emotion, it is often evidence, evidence of life, of oppression, and sometimes of genocide. As we have once again witnessed in Gaza, it is proof of what is really happening,” he added.

İstanbul Photo Awards, organized by Anadolu for its 11th consecutive year, awarded 29 photographers across 10 categories.

Karagoz noted that since its launch in 2015, nearly 20,000 photographers have submitted over 200,000 photos to the contest, and this year alone, the contest received 22,000 entries from around the world.

“As long as photographs reveal what the world chooses to ignore, there remains hope for truth,” Karagoz said, extending his gratitude to the sponsors for their support.

Yildiz emphasized the symbolic significance of hosting İstanbul Photo Awards exhibition at the UN, saying: “This event highlights the UN’s founding principles of peace, dignity, and respect for human rights, reminding us that behind every policy and decision are human lives and stories that are affected.”

He added that each photo in the exhibition reflects shared human experiences and stories of destruction and resilience.

“İstanbul Photo Awards not only honors outstanding photographers but also reinforces the bridge between heart and truth, humanity and hope, ideas that lie at the core of the UN,” Yildiz said.

‘Exhibition wonderful celebration of the craft, but also the importance’

Bascobert told Anadolu that he has always believed in the role of photojournalism in bearing witness to the truth, adding that photographers do not just take pictures, but also capture the context, emotion, and essence of what is happening and convey it to the whole world.

Calling İstanbul Photo Awards exhibition “a wonderful celebration of the craft, but also the importance,” Bascobert added: “You can see the great work, but you can also see the context and the emotion come through in these photos."

He noted that it was difficult to choose among the photographs. “I thought the pictures from Gaza are, of course, heartbreaking, and I think just really tell the story of the devastation that was there, and to bear witness to that is incredible.”

Bascobert said that the exhibition reflected a wide range of emotions, from “fun and interesting” frames to “very serious and very important” images.

Renowned photographers, including Wolfgang Schwan, Olga Fedorova, and Peter Hambrecht, were also among the attendees. Following the speeches, guests toured the exhibition and closely viewed the award-winning photos.

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

It also covers powerful images depicting the struggles of Afghan women, survivors of Syria’s notorious Sednaya Prison, Brazilian surfers battling towering waves, and the dangerous journeys of migrants.

Following its shows in the Turkish capital of Ankara and Istanbul, the exhibition at the UN headquarters will remain open through Oct. 31.

This year’s İstanbul Photo Awards contest is supported by Turkcell as the communications 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 photos and jury members can be found at istanbulphotoawards.com.