IPA 2024 Best Of Show: 27 Images That Perfectly Capture The Essence Of Humanity

1st Place / Editorial / Press/Photo Essay / Feature Story
Following the death of 22-year-old student, Mahsa Amini, on 16 September 2022, thousands of Iranians take to the streets every day. They have been demonstrating for more freedom and equal rights. Since 2009, Iranians have revolted multiple times, but never before have the demonstrations in Iran been as massive and outspoken as those in recent months. According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, since the start of the Iranian protests in the second half of September, the Iranian regime has arrested almost 20,000 Iranians and k****d at least 527, including 71 children.

2nd Place / People /Portrait

On April 7, 1994, the Rwandan genocide began, costing an estimated 800,000 lives in 100 days. Many of the perpetrators went to prison. After serving their sentences, most of them returned to their villages. Survivors and perpetrators now had to live together again. How did these communities cope 30 years after the genocide? Photographic artist Jan Banning went to the Rwandan countryside to create double portraits of survivors with the men (and sometimes women) who had been involved in the slaughter of their partners, parents, children, and siblings, and with whom they had reconciled.

Photographer of Year

With the overturning of Roe v. Wade the nation finds itself thrust into the heart of one of the most contentious and emotionally charged debates of our time. For fifty years, Roe v. Wade had stood as a landmark decision affirming a woman's right to choose, but now, the tide has turned, emotions run h**h on both sides of the issue. On one side of the divide the passionate advocates for women's reproductive rights. And equally as passionate in their convictions, conservative christians, many of them driven by deeply held religious beliefs.

1st Place / People /Lifestyle

This series shows the inhabitants of the mountain regions of the Ukrainian Carpathians. The highest settlements are located at an altitude of more than 1100 meters above sea level. There are very harsh living conditions here, because the winter here is very long. Residents of these small villages have to work hard to stock up on food for the winter. Picking berries and mushrooms, c*****g hay for the winter for the livestock and many other jobs that take up all their time. But clean air and beautiful nature compensate for all the difficulties of h**h mountain life.

1st Place / People /Family

This series captures the profound journey of my brother as he cares for a child with special needs. It showcases the unconditional love and patience he brings to every moment, a testament to his daily life. Bathing, a monumental task, is just one of the many acts of devotion he approaches with unwavering love.

2nd Place / Editorial / Press/Environmental

Water scarcity in Africa is a dire situation, and is only getting worse. As Africa’s population continues to grow and climate change continues to rob the continent of the finite resource, it is predicted that by 2025, close to 230 million Africans will be facing water scarcity, and up to 460 million will be living in water-stressed areas. Water scarcity describes the growing lack of access to water. There are two types of water scarcity: economic and physical. Economic water scarcity refers to water being inaccessible because of institutional failings that include lack of planning.

3rd Place / Editorial / Press/Environmental

Rising sea levels and coastal erosion are severe threats not only to the whole West African coast, endangering the environment and the livelihoods of millions. Senegal's 700-kilometer coastline, including key cities like Dakar, Saint-Louis, and the region of Joal are already suffering significant damage, with entire neighborhoods being lost to the sea. The gradual rise in sea levels and the increasing intensity of storms due to global warming have accelerated the erosion process, forcing many to migrate and seek a better future by risking the crossing of the Ocean to Europe in a fishing canoe.

3rd Place / Editorial / Press/Photo Essay / Feature Story

An average of 9 people have died every day since 2014 trying to reach Europe by sea. The numbers are higher than in most active wars, but the social alarm is not the same despite the fact that these deaths occur at the gates of Europe. Sea of ​​Mourning is the result of years of work documenting the different migratory routes to Europe through the sea. On these routes, deaths do not stop and shipwrecks are often invisible. The project combines journalistic investigation of these shipwrecks with submerged images of the portraits that the families use to try to obtain some type of information.

3rd Place / Editorial / Press/Photo Essay / Feature Story

STXBP1 is a rare disease, which however is not recognized as such in Italy, because the list has not been updated by the Ministry, so some aid for families is not accessible. Less than 1000 people are affected in the world and in Italy there are just over 50. The affected person is often not self-sufficient and must rely on his or her family and this determines a substantial change in the management of parents' lives.Disability is not the consequence of illness but is the product of a society unprepared to welcome it. A truly inclusive society is one of the challenges of today's society.

1st Place / Book/Documentary

In January 2020, North Korea closed its borders. Even before this, documenting the country was difficult due to strict photography controls. Despite these challenges, a collection of over 100 images offers a distinctive view of North Korean society. This book, born from three years of research and photography, encourages readers to look deeper, questioning assumptions and glimpsing the fusion of tradition and modernity within the nation. It challenges stereotypes, highlighting the complex dynamics of a nation navigating its course amidst global scrutiny.

3rd Place / Book/Documentary

Livin’ in the Hood chronicles the personal New York adventures of the two photographers Jürgen Bürgin and Jörg Rubbert. It leads the reader on a visual journey back in time to the years 1990 and 2013/14. This book of photographs documents defining events and reports on inspiring encounters from a city that transformed itself during that era. The volume not only showcases pictures taken by the two street photographers but also shares personal anecdotes and stories as well as additional texts and information. Published by Kettler Verlag.

1st Place / Editorial / Press/Environmental

Heartbreakers is a multimedia project highlighting the socio-environmental impacts of Brazil's largest private port, Port of Açu, North of Rio de Janeiro. It facilitates offshore oil and LNG operations, receiving 26 million tons of iron ore annually from a 328km mining pipeline. Its construction and expansion displace communities, fragmenting families and impacting regional flora and fauna. Over 7,036 hectares were expropriated, affecting nearly 400 families. It is a long-term project started in 2017 to date.

1st Place / Editorial / Press/Environmental

A decade ago, a group of Amazonian villagers won a historic legal victory against one of the world's most powerful companies: Chevron. In 1964, the company arrived in Ecuador with a 1.5 million hectare concession in two Amazonian provinces. The oil giant admitted in court to dumping 17 million gallons of crude oil and harmful chemicals directly into rivers and lagoons in a particularly biodiverse region of the Ecuadorian rainforest. To this day, the inhabitants continue to live in the vicinity of the concession area, in a polluted environment and with precarious and neglected health.

Photographer of Year

With the overturning of Roe v. Wade the nation finds itself thrust into the heart of one of the most contentious and emotionally charged debates of our time. For fifty years, Roe v. Wade had stood as a landmark decision affirming a woman's right to choose, but now, the tide has turned, emotions run h**h on both sides of the issue. On one side of the divide the passionate advocates for women's reproductive rights. And equally as passionate in their convictions, conservative christians, many of them driven by deeply held religious beliefs.

1st Place / Editorial / Press/Photo Essay / Feature Story

This series tells the story of a group of young people working in a ship graveyard in Angola. They have to dive hundreds of times when the tide is low. They grope the bottom with their hands as the dark waters with sediments and oil don't allow them to see anything underwater. After removing pieces weighing hundreds of pounds using only their hands and the strength of their arms, they have to carry them to the beach, struggling with the waves and the currents. Every day they risk their lives to earn a measly 120 dollars for a ton of iron. They and their families depend on it to survive

1st Place / People /Traditions / Culture

Varzaneh is a historical city located in the center of Iran and near Gavkhoni International Wetland. And it is the only Iranian city where women traditionally wear white tents. Therefore, this city is called the city of white-clad angels. One of the reasons for wearing white tents is desert and hot and dry weather in this city because white tents pass heat and cause the body to cool down. Varzaneh is a religious city and the women of this desert land have inherited the tradition of wearing white tents from their previous generations and have also accustomed their children to this tradition.

2nd Place / Book/People

The environment is delimited, with a complete absence of the external landscape. The protagonists are absorbed in their thoughts with their heads bowed or intent on looking with the absent gaze of those who look but do not see, as if they were imprisoned in their inner world. We are almost facing an aquarium in which motionless and / or unconscious fish swim. Loneliness is almost palpable and silence seems to saturate every space of the environment in a metaphysical suspension. The scene is still, extracted from the present and frozen out of time. (Metropolitan Fragments is an ongoing project.

1st Place / Editorial / Press/Other

Ukraine has made headlines these past two years because of the ongoing war with Russia. The country's strongest resistance is its ability to adapt in the face of tragedy. They are resilient as a people with a rich culture highlighted by the joy of everyday life. This work focuses on the moments that are often overlooked by the media and the layered stories of survival.

1st Place / People /Children

»If I had been born at the top of my street, behind the corrugated-iron border, I would have been British. Incredible to think. My whole idea of myself, the attachments made to a culture, heritage, religion, nationalism and politics are all an accident of birth. I was one street away from being born my ‘enemy’«. Paul McVeigh, Belfast-born novelist I have been documenting the daily life of teenagers in British working-class communities for almost two decades. After the Brexit referendum I focused this work on Belfast in Northern Ireland.

3rd Place / Event/Social Cause

Senegalese women have been playing a key role in early tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis through active case finding, going door-to-door, and raising awareness about the disease among the population to prevent further transmission. They also assist patients during treatment, providing them with support and guidance. TB diagnosis has considerably increased thanks to this project, which involves women from different villages trained by StopTB Italia ODV in Diofior. The WHO estimates that TB affects 10 million people annually, with 1.5 million deaths making TB one of the world’s top infectious k****r

1st Place / Book/Self Published

The Raw Society Magazine is a non-profit project dedicated to sharing compelling and important work by our pro members and the greater storytelling community. Touching on themes as varied as social issues, politics, culture, travel, and history, what unifies this magazine is its strong focus on the photographic medium and the often personal tone the stories take on. Issue Two includes photos and writing from Jorge Delgado-Ureña, Christelle Enquist, Ed Kashi, Nick Brandt, Ibarionex Perello, Tamer Tamar, Micah Green, Thomas Machowicz, and more.

3rd Place / Editorial / Press/Political

This is the most crucial protest to attend. It is a daily struggle for life and peace, between helplessness and hope. While their loved ones are in captivity, Ifat Kalderon and Einav Zangauker fiercely lead, along with a group of hostages’ families, daily protests in front of the IDF HQ. They block the street, read the hostages’ names, and demand their return, an end to the war, and Netanyahu's resignation. These women have transformed from living normal lives to being at the heart of our nation’s most painful struggle, showing graceful leadership in a time when it is especially needed.

3rd Place / Editorial / Press/General News

London, UK. 11 November, 2023. Right wing supporters gather ready to fight with Police officers outside the St Stephen's Tavern Pub on Westminster Bridge during Armistice Day. Officers made 145 arrests during the Pro-Palestinian demonstration and counter protest by right wing groups for offences including a*****t, possession of weapons, criminal damage, public order, inciting racial hatred and possession of d***s. Westminster, London, England, UK 11th November 2023

1st Place / Editorial / Press/General News

November 7, 2023 Panamanian-American Kenneth Darlington, 77, shoots Abdiel Díaz Chávez, a teacher, after failing to keep moving on the Pan American Highway in Chame, Panama, during the massive demonstrations, which lasted a month, against open-air mining in the country. Darlington k****d in cold-blood not only one but two Panamanians, a teacher, and a relative of one. Thousands of citizens demanded that President Laurentino Cortizo's government revoke the mining contract signed with Minera Panama, a subsidiary of Canadian First Quantum Minerals. Bienvenido Velasco / EFE

Editorial / Press Photographer Of the Year

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict Israel launched a war on the Gaza Strip on October 8 2023, in which 21,000 Palestinians were k****d, most of them children and women, as a result of the violent bombing of buildings in Gaza City. The Israeli army requested the transfer of the residents of Gaza City from the north of the Strip towards the south in order to b**b and invade the northern regions, in order to end the rule of the Palestinian Hamas movement, which It rules the Gaza Strip, and Hamas forces stormed Israeli military sites on the Gaza Strip border with Israel and arrested dozens of Israil

1st Place / Event/Traditions and Cultures

A selection of images from A series exploring the Appleby Horse Fair as a modern-day initiation ceremony for the children of traveller families from across Europe. Running since 1685, the Appleby Horse Fair is the largest gathering of Traveller families in Europe. Both a celebration of a community and a business opportunity for the thousands involved each year. My interest came from exploring the rites of passage the children undertake following in their parents’ footsteps.

Advertising Photographer Of the Year

The Second Amendment was partially written to ensure that civilian America was sufficiently armed that they could deal with the British invasion should it ever happen, and yet here I was, door-knocking with a British accent asking to enter people's homes to see their guns, have a chat - and take their photo. Over two weeks in January 2024, I headed to Prescott, Arizona with one goal - to talk my way into the living rooms of seemingly ordinary citizens & learn about the normalization of gun ownership in the USA.