The awards “Sony World Photography Awards”one of the most important in the world photographic calendar, recognized the duo made up of Frederick Kaplanfrom Argentina, and Marisol Mendezfrom Bolivia, in first place in the Environment category for its series “Miruku”which addresses the climate crisis from the perspective of the Wayuus, an indigenous population located in La Guajira, Colombia.
The award ceremony, which took place in London, also announced the winners of the “Latin American Professional Award”, Angela Ponce, Frederick Olivera and Carloman Céspedesof Peruvian nationality, as well as the “Photographer of the Year”, which went to edgar martinsof Portuguese origin.
On this occasion, the duo made up of Marisol Mendez from Bolivia and Frederick Kaplan from Argentina won first place in the Environment category within the Professional competition with its “Miruku” series.
The series focuses on the Wayuus, an indigenous population of La Guajira, Colombia’s coastal desert, and examines how a combination of climate change issues and human neglect have led its various members to experience crippling water scarcity.
This work frames the story from a female perspective to better understand how gender inequality and climate vulnerability are interrelated.
“We do not approach the documentary genre in a traditional way, so having the support of a prestigious institution like the Sony World Photography Awards increased our confidence and provided us with a safety net to continue exploring and challenging the language of the medium,” commented Méndez and Kaplan.
“The exposure that the award gives is unparalleled. Our story went global and we were able to connect with key people and opportunities within the industry,” the winners added.
On the other hand, the title of Photographer of the Year of the Sony World Photography Awards 2023 corresponds to the acclaimed Portuguese photographer Edgar Martins for his series “Our War”, a tribute to the photojournalist Anton Hammerlwho died during the Libyan Civil War in 2011.
The works of the winning and shortlisted photographers are on display in a prestigious annual exhibition at London’s Somerset House, open to the public today and until May 1st: an assemblage of exceptional images, from stunning landscapes to sports snaps and striking portraits from the most unexpected corners of the world.
The exhibition hosts all categories of the award, including a special selection of 20 images by the Japanese photographer Rinko Kawauchirecipient of the 2023 Sony World Photography Awards Outstanding Contribution to Photography award.
Kawauchi is the 16th recipient of this award, which honors an individual who has made a significant impact on the photographic medium and who in the past have won Martin Parr, William Eggleston, Candida Hofer, and Graciela Iturbideamong others.
More than 415,000 images from 200 countries were submitted to the 16th edition of the Sony World Photography Awards, one of the most important events in the world photography calendar produced by the World Photography Organization.
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
