The İstanbul Photo Awards, recognized as a prestigious global news photography contest, proudly announced the winners of its 11th edition. This distinguished event celebrates outstanding achievements in international news photography, recognizing powerful visual storytelling that captures critical global events.
An esteemed international jury consisting of renowned photographers and visual media experts, including National Geographic photographer Ami Vitale, photojournalist Carol Guzy, NOOR Agency photojournalist Yuri Kozyrev, The Globe and Mail photojournalist Goran Tomasevic, visual media consultant Michel Scotto, Getty Images chief sports photojournalist Cameron Spencer, and Turkish photojournalists Ahmet Sel and Firat Yurdakul, meticulously evaluated each submission. Their rigorous assessment ensured recognition of images demonstrating extraordinary journalistic value and technical excellence.
The prestigious Photo of the Year was awarded to Palestinian photographer Saeed Jaras for his compelling image titled "Gaza-Deir al-Balah," capturing a profound moment of human tragedy and resilience after an airstrike in Gaza.
Agence France-Presse’s Omar Al-Qattaa won Story News for his coverage of Israeli attacks on Gaza, while Jerome Brouillet took Single Sports with a shot of surfer Gabriel Medina at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Reuters’ Hannah McKay led Story Sports with her series on gymnast Simone Biles.
EPA’s Anton Brink earned Single Nature & Environment for a volcanic eruption in Iceland, and AFP’s Luis Tato won Story Nature & Environment for documenting floods in East Africa.
In Portrait categories, Mauro De Bettio (Single) captured Afghan women, while Samar Abu Elouf (Story) portrayed “Gaza War Survivors” for The New York Times.
Mahmoud Zaki Salem Issa won Single Daily Life—named in honor of late jury member Marion Mertens—for his image on Palestine’s hunger crisis. Valentina Sinis took Story Daily Life with her work on Afghan women's lives.
In addition to the first-place winners, the competition also recognized exceptional photographs in second and third positions across multiple categories, celebrating the depth and quality of submissions received this year.
This year saw around 22,000 submissions from photographers worldwide, reflecting the global significance and diversity celebrated by the İstanbul Photo Awards. A total of $58,000 was awarded across 30 prizes, and the winning photographs will be featured in international exhibitions and the annual İstanbul Photo Awards album. More information on winning photographs, jury members, and future participation guidelines can be found at istanbulphotoawards.com.
The İstanbul Photo Awards continues to stand as a cornerstone in global photojournalism, showcasing powerful images that bring urgent issues to the world's attention.
