MOSCOW, Rossiya Segodnya Press Service – The Grand Prix 2016 award went to the young Italian photographer, Danilo Garcia Di Meo, for a series of photographs, Letizia, — Story of Unseen Lives, about a young paralyzed woman. Several other promising young photographers from all over the world were also awarded. The photographs on display are exemplary of modern photojournalism, and the exhibit itself is a must for young professionals.
Their work will be on display at the Museum of Moscow from August 31 to September 11. Admission is free. Ages 18+.
Ruth Eichhorn, member of the jury, Director of Photography for German GEO magazine, commented on the jury's choice:
The jury was touched by the emotional value, the tenderness and by the powerful impact of every image in this series that documents the life of a young woman who suffers from cerebral palsy throughout her entire short life. With an artistic and humanitarian approach and a big heart the photographer catches the beauty and the strength of this young women. We, the viewers, learn about her strong will to have a life that is as close to normal as possible. It is not a devastating portrait of a young woman enduring the horrors of disability, but captures moments of joy and happiness.
The jury thought that this is an intensely intimate story with a strong visual narrative and the photographer showed an unflinching eye for the telling details. As personal as it is, this narrative is emblematic for many people who suffer from this or similar handicaps.
Rossiya Segodnya Director General Dmitry Kiselev said at the awards and exhibition opening: "It is an honor and a pleasure to discover the new names in the world of young photojournalists, who are already determining the direction of photojournalism development."
The exhibition presents over 200 works by the world's best young photographers — talented, daring, sensitive and open to anything new. They have presented their own kaleidoscope of life.
For full information about winners and their work, go to «Победители — 2016» at http://stenincontest.com .
Background to the Contest
The Andrei Stenin International Press Photo Contest aims to promote young photographers and attract public attention to photojournalism and its mission. It is Russia's only platform to discover new photojournalists and develop high standards for documentary photography in Russia and the world. In 2016, about 6000 entries by young photojournalists from 71 countries, including Russia, have been submitted to the Andrei Stenin International Press Photo Contest.
The most popular categories according to the number of entries are "My Country", "Portraits: A Hero of Our Time" and "World Colors. Harmony of Life". The awards ceremony and accompanying exhibition will take place in Moscow on August 2016.
The contest covers five continents, stretching from Europe and North and South America to Africa, Australia, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Russian participants are drawn from all corners of the country — from Kaliningrad, Moscow and St. Petersburg to Vladivostok and Yalta.
The 2016 contest is supported by major Russian and international media outlets, news agencies and photo societies. Its general information sponsors are: The Rossiya K TV Channel (Russia Culture), KP.ru, the news and information portal jourdom.ru portal and the Russian Photo portal. The contest's international information partners are: the Askanews news agency, EFE news agency, EBC, Notimex news agency, RT TV network and portal, The Royal Photographic Society, Shanghai United Media Group (SUMG), Xinhua news agency, Independent Media, ANTARA Foto press photo agency. The contest's professional information partners are: the Academy of Photography, the agency Geophoto.ru , the photography educational website photo-study.ru, the Moscow Union of Journalists, the Union of Student and Youth Media, the portal Young Journalists and the Uglich Photo Parade festival.
