Winners of anniversary Andrei Stenin Press Photo Contest announced
03 / 09 / 2024
Anna Plyusnina, a photo artist from St Petersburg, has won the Grand Prix at the 10thInternational Andrei Stenin Press Photo Contest. The international jury unanimously honored her with the top prize for her series of photographs titled Looking into Human Eyes, which depicts children with autism spectrum disorder and their families.
Anna Plyusnina:
“I first met people with autism while teaching at an inclusive photography workshop. These were teenagers who attended the classes with their mothers. Autism spectrum disorder is not always apparent at first glance, as it can manifest in various forms and levels of severity. The unwavering dedication of these mothers, who always stay close to their children, has deeply affected me.”
The series of photographs was featured in the Portrait. A Hero of Our Time category.
Alongside the Grand Prix, the prize winners from the 2024 shortlist were also announced.
Portrait. A Hero of Our Time (Grand Prix)
Looking Into a Person’s Eyes
Anna Plyusnina. Russia
1 из 9
Portrait. A Hero of Our Time. Series
The Outcast Widows
Rajendra Pandey. India
2 из 9
Portrait. A Hero of Our Time. Single
The children were scared, but I'm a father myself
Alexander Oshchepkov. Russia
3 из 9
Top wiew. Single
Lily flowers
Aung Chan Thar. Myanmar
4 из 9
Top News. Series
The Time of Agave
Frederique Gelinas. Italy
5 из 9
Top News. Single
His Duty
Vladislav Nekrasov. Russia
6 из 9
My Planet. Series
Memories of Underdevelopment
Mosfiqur Rahman Johan. Bangladesh
7 из 9
My Planet. Single
Where green is not life
Paula Jesus Brignardello. Italy
8 из 9
Sport. Single
Children of Chittagong are playing in the dirt.
MohammedSuman. Bangladesh
9 из 9
In the Top News category for single images, the top prize went to Vladislav Nekrasov from Novosibirsk for his photograph titled His Duty. The image captures a pilot of the Ural Airlines passenger plane that did an emergency landing in a field in the Novosibirsk Region.
In the Top News category for series, the first place was awarded to Frederique Gelinas from Italy for her series The Time of Agave, which delves into the agave variety used to produce mezcal. The increasing global demand for mezcal is exerting pressure on Mexico, often overlooking the plant’s natural growth cycle. The agave industry stands at the crossroads of ancient traditions and evolving modernity.
In the Sport category, the top prize in the single photo category was given to Mohammed Suman from Bangladesh for his work titled Children of Chittagong are Playing on Piles of Dirt. The photograph captures a city without playgrounds where children could spend their free time.
In the highly favored My Planet category, the top single photograph was Where Green is not Life by Paula Jesus Brignardello, Italy. The image offers a striking portrayal of a dystopian vision, where the color green takes on a hellish quality. In this vision, survival becomes a struggle not just for food, but for every breath.
In the My Planet category, the top series was Memories of Underdevelopment by Mosfiqur Rahman Johan from Bangladesh. This series combines vivid recollections from the photographer’s childhood, exploring themes of identity, belonging, and loss that individuals confront.
In the Portrait. A Hero of Our Time category, the standout works came from photojournalists in Russia and India. One notable piece is The Children were Scared, but I am a Father Myself by Alexander Oshchepkovfrom Novosibirsk. This work features Rza Rzayev, an Azerbaijani loader who bravely carried children through boiling water during an accident in the city. Rza chose to donate to an orphanage the money that the locals collected for him to visit his family. “The children were scared, but I am a father myself,” Rza said.
The series Outcast Widows by Indian reporter Rajendra Pandeyexamines the city of Vrindavan in India, where approximately 20,000 widows live, being mistreated by their own families.
The most atmospheric photographs were showcased in the Top View. Singles category. The prize was awarded to Aung Chan Thar from Myanmar for his captivating photo titled Lily Flowers. This image captures a serene morning in Vietnam and people who gently clean lily flowers with water, which highlights their natural beauty. From an aerial perspective, this simple ritual resembles an elegant dance, with intricate patterns and vibrant flowers set against a tranquil landscape.
The remaining positions in the categories are as follows:
Top News. Singles
2nd PLACE German Caballero, Spain
3rd PLACE Karam Al-Masri, Syria
SPECIAL MENTION Apratim Pal, India
SPECIAL MENTION Jahid Apu, Bangladesh
Top News. Series
2nd PLACE Luke Dray, UK
3rd PLACE Gunnar Oberhosel, South Africa
SPECIAL MENTION Kaushik Dutta, India
Sport. Singles
2nd PLACE Roman Velikotsky, Russia
3rd PLACE Jianfei Xie, China
SPECIAL MENTION Dipayan Bose, India
My Planet. Singles
2nd PLACE Pelagiya Tikhonova, Russia
3rd PLACE Alexandra Novitskaya, Russia
SPECIAL MENTION Mohammed Suman, Bangladesh
My Planet. Series
2nd PLACE Richard Nazaretyan, Russia
3rd PLACE Giacomo d'Orlando, Italy
SPECIAL MENTION Ivan Vysochinsky, Russia
Portrait. A Hero of Our Time. Singles
2nd PLACE Ziaul Huque, Bangladesh
3rd PLACE Arpan Basu Chowdhury, India
SPECIAL MENTION Muhammed Shamim Ul Islam, Bangladesh
Portrait. A Hero of Our Time. Series
2nd PLACE Konstantin Yerokhin, Russia
3rd PLACE Sergei Alekseyev, Russia
Top View. Singles
2nd PLACE Ruslan Kondratenko, Russia
3rd PLACE Abdul Momin, Bangladesh
SPECIAL MENTION Mushfiqul Alam, Bangladesh
The Moscow ceremony will kick off the traditional exhibition tour featuring the competition winners’ photographs. The international roadshow has already scheduled stops at galleries in Ethiopia, Serbia, and Argentina, with plans to expand its global reach further.