SHANGHAI, China
An exhibition comprising photographs from the recently-held “Istanbul Photo Awards” opened its doors to visitors at the Shanghai Center of Photography.
The exhibition opening was attended by Turkish Consul-General to Shangai Ozcan Sahin, AA Deputy Director-General Mustafa Ozkaya, AA Visual News Editor-in-Chief Ahmet Sel, representatives of China's leading press institutes, photojournalists, businessmen and art lovers.
"Istanbul Photo Awards" is an international photo contest held by Anadolu Agency, backed by Turkish Prime Ministry's Promotion Fund and sponsored by Turkish Airline.
About the "Istanbul Photo Awards", Ozkaya said in his speech: "We believe to be an indispensable element of visual news world," adding that the contest was seeing more international participation every year.
He said that the Anadolu Agency had proved itself as an international agency which provided the region's most reliable and rich news. "Such a news agency that contributes to the formation of world agenda also shares responsibilities in favor of journalists."
Ozkaya praised the event for highlighting the works of photojournalists internationally, who, he said, risked their lives to cover news and helped news readers perceive the world in a concrete way.
The exhibition took place on an invitation from director of Shanghai Center of Photography, the Pulitzer-prize winner Liu Heung Shing, and will remain open until August 15. A total of 107 photographs will be shown at the event.
The “Istanbul Photo Awards” was Turkey's first and only news photograph contest held at an international level. The contest received approximately 12,000 applications from 104 countries. Some of the award winning photographs also won more awards at other international contests, including the Pulitzer.
"Anadolu Agency has actualized a very successful contest with an international jury committee of professionals and the number of participator photograph," Liu told Anadolu Agency.
Consul-General Ozcan Sahin thanked Anadolu Agency for bringing the exhibition to Shanghai. "We had the chance of reading global developments and stories which are at the background of these photos," Sahin said.
He hoped Shangai's art lovers, news lovers and life lovers would follow the exhibition with admiration.
Sahin said that he liked Byhangst Matthias' "Lionel Messi" photograph, which was the winner in the sports category. Argentine football star Messi can be seen competing with four opponents in this photograph.
Daniel Berehulak's photograph from Liberia about the Ebola epidemic was named as "Photo of the Year" in the contest and is the most striking photograph in the exhibition.
The award winning photographs in the “Istanbul Photo Awards 2014” covered different aspects of global news events such as the civil war in Syria, the Ebola outbreak in Africa, Ukraine conflict, political crises, terrorist attacks and natural disasters around the world.
Cang Ciacie, a visitor of the exhibition, said that he too liked Messi photograph as a "football lover and Messi's fan".
The jury included Time Magazine International Photograph Editor Alice Gabriner, Director of Shangai Center of Photography Liu Heung Shing, Stern Magazine Photograph Editor Harald Menk, Getty Images Executive Georges De Keerle, World Press Photo award winning Guillaume Herbaut, World Press Photo award winning war correspondent Patrick Chauvel, AFP Director of Photo Business Development Michel Scotto, Anadolu Agency Visual News Editor-in-Chief Ahmet Sel and Photography Editor Firat Yurdakul.
The jury chose 11 photographers from seven countries as winners in four categories.
Winners of each category and the photo of the year were awarded $8,000; runners-up were given $3,000 and third-placed participants received $1,500 prize money.
Detailed information about the contest is accessible on "istanbulphotoawards.com" and "anadoluimages.com" websites.
