• Award-winning underwater photographer Camilo Diaz says revealing world’s natural abundance can spark hope and action for conservation

ISTANBUL

Photography has a unique power to spark awareness and evoke emotions, said the winners of the Nature & Environment, and Sports categories at İstanbul Photo Awards 2025.

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.

A visual symphony in the wild

Hungarian photographer Bence Mate was awarded second prize in the Single Nature & Environment category for his image “Surrounded,” a fleeting moment of harmony between an elephant and quelea birds.

“This photo was taken during a magical moment in the African wilderness,” Mate told Anadolu, adding that he chose it because it was one of his best shots that had not previously been published.

He described the scene as the “silhouette of the elephant merged with the chaotic yet graceful dance of the birds,” creating an unexpected visual symphony.

"Moments like these require patience, intuition, and a touch of luck — and when everything came together, I instinctively pressed the shutter,” Mate said, emphasizing that the key challenge was waiting for the precise instant when the birds' movement aligned perfectly with the elephant’s position.

Mate said his approach to nature photography is shaped by discipline, patience, and minimal disturbance to the natural environment, and stressed that he always “thoroughly studies the animals' behavior.”

Photography as a language of change

Mate emphasized that although his work focuses on nature rather than other subjects, photography holds universal power.

“The principle remains the same: a powerful image transcends linguistic, political, and cultural boundaries,” he said, adding that it can inspire “empathy, action, and even political change.”

Mate also underlined the ethical dimension of the craft, saying: “With this power comes responsibility — we must be honest, respectful, and ethical in how we portray our subjects.”

“Photographers have both the opportunity — and therefore the obligation — to present truth and beauty in a way that resonates with and touches people,” he said.

‘Authenticity must remain a top priority’

Reflecting on the technological shift in the field, Mate said tools such as autofocus, remote triggers, and noise reduction have changed the game, “but the soul of the image is still the story it tells, not the technology behind it.”

He said technology, while unlocking new creative possibilities, also introduced fresh challenges.

"The line between reality and manipulation has never been thinner,” he said, stressing that “authenticity must remain a top priority.”

Mate said he has followed İstanbul Photo Awards for years and always admired the power and diversity of the selected images. “At first, I was completely stunned — then I felt deeply honored.”

“Awards like İstanbul Photo Awards are not just recognitions, but also affirmations — that even quiet, often solitary work can have a lasting impact,” he added.

Mate underlined that the recognition shines a light not only on the photographer, but also on the subject itself, and "in this case, the beauty and vulnerability of nature,” he said, adding that it gave him a deep sense of gratitude, pride, and renewed motivation to continue creating and telling stories.

Oceans of inspiration in motion

In the Single Sports category, Colombian photographer Camilo Diaz won third prize for his striking underwater image “Freediver Among Sardines,” taken in the waters of Moalboal, the Philippines.

“I went specifically to find a school of billions of sardines,” Diaz told Anadolu.

“The water was very murky,” he said, explaining that he and his team spent a full week diving under challenging conditions before finally gaining good visibility to capture this “unique moment.”

Specializing in underwater photography, Diaz said the discipline demands not only creativity but also physical endurance and environmental sensitivity.

“Underwater photography in apnea is very special; it requires care for oneself, the model, and the environment,” he added.

From abundance to awareness

Beyond visual appeal, Diaz hopes his work draws attention to the fragile abundance still present in ecosystems such as Moalboal’s.

"I believe that this somewhat accidental encounter and the abundance that we still have in our ecosystems are worth showing to the world,” he said. “Incredible places where we view abundance as a hope for the word ‘conservation'.”

He believes in using photography to support sustainable tourism and conservation initiatives.

“I consider the camera to be a very powerful tool, both for good or for harm,” Diaz said, adding that he aims to use it to promote conservation and tourism focused on animal care.

Diaz described Moalboal as an inspirational space that, through his photographs, encourages environmental care and responsible tourism, calling it a “small place that invites the conservation of large oceans.”

He also credited technology with helping spread environmental messages faster, stressing: “The immediacy of photography on the smartphones we have today allows us to take quick actions against problems that are usually slow-moving.”

Calling the award moment “very exciting,” Diaz said seeing the quality of the winning photographers across all categories made him feel that “the effort of many years has been worth it,” especially to share space with such powerful stories from around the world.

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.