11 Awards and Photo of the Year Award for Anadolu
This year, AA photographers achieved great success at Italy’s prestigious Siena International Photography Awards. In the 2024 awards, AA photographers won a total of 11 awards in various categories, outshining other photographers. The awards were presented at a ceremony held at the Siena Theatre.
Unforgettable Moments by Ali Jadallah
AA’s photographer in Gaza, Ali Jadallah, was awarded the “Photo of the Year” award for his photograph titled “Irreplaceable.” Jadallah also received an honorable mention in the “Documentary and Photojournalism” category for his photograph “Attacks Lighting the Night.” His work conveyed his time in Gaza under harsh conditions and the personal tragedy he endured. Jadallah expressed, “This is the legacy I want to leave behind, dedicating my life to revealing the truth and defending the oppressed, regardless of their identity,” highlighting the pain he experienced and the challenges brought on by war.
Awards for Mustafa Hassona and Belal Khaled
AA photographer Mustafa Hassona, based in Gaza, won first place in the “Storyboard” category for his series “Israeli Attacks on Gaza.” Hassona also received an honorable mention in the “Documentary and Photojournalism” category for his photograph titled “Among Rubbles.” Freelance photographer Belal Khaled won an honorable mention in the “Storytelling: General News” category for his photo series “Remnants of Israel’s Attacks on the Gaza Strip.”
Successes of Erçin Ertürk and Wojciech Grzedzinski
Ankara Senior Photographer Erçin Ertürk won an honorable mention in the “Compelling Faces and Characters” category for his photograph of a female soldier taken in Ukraine. Another AA freelance photographer, Wojciech Grzedzinski, won first place in the “Documentary and Photojournalism” category for his photograph of an injured girl in Ukraine.
Other Awards and Details
AA’s Senior Photographer in Istanbul, Arif Hüdaverdi Yaman, received an honorable mention in the “Documentary and Photojournalism” category for his photograph titled “Century’s Disaster.” Additionally, freelance photographer Diego Herrera from Ukraine received an honorable mention in the “Documentary and Photojournalism” category for his photograph of an injured soldier taken in Ukraine. AA Istanbul Photographer Cem Tekkeşinoğlu won the “Striking Art Piece” award in the “Documentary and Photojournalism” category for his photograph titled “Earthquake in Turkey.” In Siena, AA Senior Cameraman Lokman Vural Elibol received an honorable mention in the “Short Documentary Film” category for his short documentary “Apocalypse in Waiting New York.”
The Strength and Significance of AA at Siena
Luca Venturi, the founder and artistic director of the Siena International Photography Awards, stated during the ceremony that AA had achieved a great success this year with its awards. “We saw a large number of visuals from Anadolu this year. This makes us very pleased. This clearly demonstrates the importance of both AA and its photographers,” he said. He also emphasized that Ali Jadallah’s “Photo of the Year” award had historical significance and stayed at the heart of the meaning of the photograph.
With these international awards, Anadolu has once again proven its place in the world of photography and journalism.