In a year marked by ongoing conflicts and the displacement of millions, the work of photojournalists in capturing these global crises has never been more vital. The 2024 Ian Parry Photojournalism Grant, which supports emerging talent in the field, highlights the remarkable visual storytelling of young photographers turning their lenses on war-torn regions from Ukraine to Ethiopia.
Iva Sidash Documents the Human Cost of War in Ukraine
Ukrainian photographer Iva Sidash, this year’s grant recipient, offers an intimate look at the lives upended by the ongoing war in her homeland. Her winning series centers on Aliona, a former art teacher, and her family as they grapple with the destruction of their school and community in the Kharkiv region of eastern Ukraine.
In one poignant image, Aliona stands amid the rubble of her ruined classroom, the colorful murals she painted now shattered and faded. Another captures her children, Matviy and Uliyana, sharing a meal in their yard against the backdrop of damaged buildings. The photos bear witness to both the physical and emotional toll of the conflict on ordinary Ukrainians.
Shefali Rafiq Shines Light on Mental Health in Kashmir
In central Kashmir, Shefali Rafiq turns her camera on the often overlooked mental health crisis affecting women in the long-contested region. Rafiq, who received a special commission from Save the Children, documented the story of Naseema, a 35-year-old Gujjar woman living in Faqir Gujri.
The striking image shows Naseema washing an old blue scarf she uses in place of sanitary pads, highlighting the challenges and stigma surrounding women’s health and hygiene in marginalized communities. Rafiq’s work sheds crucial light on the intersections of conflict, poverty, and mental well-being.
Ximena Borrazas Captures Displacement in Ethiopia’s Tigray Region
The two-year civil war in Ethiopia’s Tigray region has forced more than 2 million people from their homes. Ximena Borrazas, recipient of the Tom Stoddart Award for Excellence and Gentex Corp Personal Safety Award, documented the stories of those displaced by the conflict.
Her powerful portraits, shot in the city of Aksum, include Gidayn Gebreslaise, a 25-year-old mother of two who was imprisoned during her pregnancy due to her Tigrayan ancestry, and a group of orphaned children under 13 who survive by begging on the streets. Borrazas’ images put human faces to the staggering statistics of displacement.
From Sudan to Kentucky: Global and Local Perspectives
Other commended photographers in this year’s grant submissions tackle issues both global and local. Ammar Abubaker, from Sudan, offers a deeply personal still life of the items that helped him survive a harrowing 23-day journey from South Sudan — a rosary, a phone, a torn plastic bag that served as his prayer mat and bed.
Closer to home, Annie Barker’s photos of Cynthiana, Kentucky, capture the rhythms and idiosyncrasies of small-town American life: children playing at their family’s cemetery plots, a longtime fair worker selling tickets, a brewery owner entertaining his daughters while finishing a batch of beer.
Bearing Witness to the Flames of Conflict
One of the most arresting images comes from Ukrainian photographer George Ivanchenko, who documented 46-year-old Enver attempting to extinguish a field of wheat set ablaze by shelling near Nova Poltavka village. The photograph serves as a poignant metaphor for the countless lives and livelihoods consumed by the flames of war.
Together, the work of these emerging photojournalists forms a tapestry of resilience and loss, capturing the human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity. As conflicts rage on around the world, their images remind us of the power of bearing witness and the importance of supporting those who risk their lives to do so.
