Iranian photojournalist Babaei wins at 2023 Tokyo contest
IRNA – Iranian photojournalist, Mohammad Babaei, received an honorary diploma in the 2023 Tokyo International Foto Awards.
Babaei, known for his work for the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), was awarded for his photo series ‘Iran’s Female
Boxers’.
With three decades of experience in photo journalism, Babaei has previously received several international awards for his work in women’s sports.
Babaei has already won the Winter Sports Photo Awards of World Media Summit in China in 2021.
He has covered such events as the 2018 World Wrestling Championships in Budapest and the FIFA World Cup 2018 in Russia among others.
The 2023 Tokyo International Foto Awards aimed to discover talent among both professional and non-professional photographers, including students, in various categories.
A jury of renowned photography experts, curators, and international gallery owners meticulously evaluated entries in 10 categories in both the Professional and Non-professional branches of the contest. In addition to naming the Photographer of the Year, they also awarded the top image in each category and selected one photographer as the Discovery of the Year.
That honor went to Tiziana Sonia Spelta for her work in documenting rallies in support of Palestine that took place in Italy in late 2023. Her powerful images also won the Non-professional Editorial category. Spelta will receive a $2,000 cash prize for her win, while Leroy will walk away with $3,000.
Photographer Francis Leroy rose to the top of the competition and was named Photographer of the Year at the 2023 Tokyo International Foto Awards. The photographer’s artistic look at how the waves of the ocean merge with a sandy beach beat out thousands of entries to the contest.