Saher Alghorra’s powerful Gaza war photos win Xposure’s top award

Photo: Sharjah Government Media Bureau

The 9th annual International Photography Festival (Xposure) has announced the winners of its most important awards, celebrating some of the best photojournalists and visual storytellers from around the world. Palestinian photojournalist Saher Alghorra won the prestigious Independent Freelance Photojournalist Award (IFPA) for her emotional and powerful photo essay titled We Have No Escape. In addition, 12 talented photographers from six continents were honored as part of Xposure’s Global Focus Project (GFP), highlighting their incredible contributions to visual storytelling.

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The Independent Freelance Photojournalist Award (IFPA) is one of Xposure’s top honors, recognizing photographers who use their cameras to capture important real-life stories. This year, the competition had seven finalists, and the winners were announced during a special ceremony attended by photographers, media professionals, and industry leaders. The event was hosted by HE Tariq Saeed Allay, Director General of the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB), who presented the awards to the winners.

Saher Alghorra was named the overall winner for her deeply moving photo series We Have No Escape, which documents the heartbreaking impact of war in Gaza. Her work captures the raw emotions of people living through conflict, showing their pain, strength, and resilience. The runner-up was Mustafa Hassouna, another respected Palestinian photojournalist, whose work The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict portrays the ongoing struggles in Gaza. His images provide a powerful perspective on the harsh realities faced by people in the region.

Alongside IFPA, Xposure’s Global Focus Project (GFP) continues to highlight the work of outstanding photographers from different parts of the world. This project, launched in 2023, selects one male and one female photographer from each continent, celebrating their unique perspectives and storytelling skills.

From Africa, Edith Chiliboy’s project Ukubuta captures the essence of identity and childhood experiences in African communities, while Andrew Esiebo’s Pneumacity: ‘A Tire New Dies’ explores how old tires are creatively reused in Lagos, Nigeria. In Asia, Fikret Dilek Yurdakul’s Brick Kilns sheds light on dangerous working conditions in brick factories across Southeast Asia, whereas Rony Zakaria’s Lamalera: A Fisherman Village Striving Against Time documents the traditional whaling practices of an Indonesian coastal village.

The Oceania finalists included Talia Greis with her breathtaking underwater photography project Mission Blue, celebrating Australia’s marine ecosystems, and Bronislaw Kozka’s Coastal: A Slow Journey Along the Coastline of Australia & New Zealand, which explores the natural beauty of coastal landscapes. In Europe, Natela Grigalashvili’s The Final Days of Georgian Nomads tells the story of Georgia’s disappearing nomadic cattle breeders, while Ingmar Björn Nolting’s An Anthology of Changing Climate focuses on Germany’s shift toward climate neutrality and its environmental impact.

From North America, Molly Peters collaborated with the Apache Stronghold to highlight their fight for sacred sites in A Sacred Unity, while Sandro Miller celebrated black women’s artistry and resilience through his project Crowns, My Hair My Soul My Freedom. South American finalists included Ana Maria Arevalo Gosen’s powerful essay Días Eternos, which reveals the harsh realities faced by incarcerated women in Latin America, and Marlon del Aguila Guerrero’s exploration of the symbiotic relationship between communities and rivers in Flow of Resilience: Currents That Forge the Attitude.

Through these awards, Xposure 2025 has brought together a diverse group of talented photographers, each using their skills to tell stories that matter. The festival continues to grow every year, providing a global platform for photographers to share their perspectives and make an impact. By showcasing these powerful images, Xposure reminds the world of the incredible role photography plays in shaping our understanding of different cultures, struggles, and triumphs. With each passing year, the festival strengthens its reputation as a key event in the world of photography, uniting visual storytellers from all corners of the globe and giving them the recognition they deserve.

Feb. 23, 2025 2:48 p.m. 394

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