International - Unicef photo 2023: Girls playing in the shadow of war
The Unicef Photo of the Year focuses on childlike light-heartedness in the midst of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. The winning picture by Polish photographer Patryk Jaracz shows three girls in a meadow in western Ukraine. One of them is learning to ride a bicycle, while a cloud of black smoke rises from an oil storage facility in the background. The winning photos were presented in Berlin on Thursday.
Jaracz had captured a "very moving scene with a very oppressive contrast", said Unicef patron Elke Büdenbender, the wife of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. "The war hangs over the children's everyday lives like a really dark cloud." Nevertheless, it also shows hope.
The second prize goes to German photographer Oliver Weiken, who took a look at child labor in Afghanistan. The third prize goes to Russian-born Natalya Saprunova, who photographed the children of an indigenous people in Russia. Seven other reportages will be honored, including a photo series about the diabetic warning dog Enya and her owner Johannes (11).
Once a year, Unicef Germany honors photos and photo reportages that document the personality and living conditions of children in an outstanding way in the international and unprized competition. The pictures will be on public display at the Willy Brandt House in Berlin from the beginning of February.
Information on the Unicef Photo of the Year PM on the Unicef Photo of the Year 2023
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The winning photo in the Unicef Photo of the Year competition, set in western Ukraine, highlights the resilience of children amidst the ongoing war of aggression by Russia. The image, captured by Polish photographer Patryk Jaracz, depicts three girls playing in a meadow, with a backdrop of black smoke rising from an oil storage facility. The event celebrating the winning photographs took place in Berlin, marking a significant moment in the international photography community.
Elke Büdenbender, the wife of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Patron of Unicef, commended Jaracz's work, acknowledging the stark contrast between the children's innocent play and the looming darkness of war. Despite the grim backdrop, she noted that the photo also holds a glimmer of hope.
German photographer Oliver Weiken received the second prize for his work on child labor in Afghanistan, while Russian-born Natalya Saprunova was awarded the third prize for her photographic series capturing the lives of indigenous children in Russia. The competition, which annually honors outstanding photographs and photo reportages that depict the lives of children, will feature seven additional honorees, including a series about diabetic warning dog Enya and her owner Johannes in Berlin.
The public display of these photographs, commencing at the Willy Brandt House in Berlin, will provide valuable insights into the lives and experiences of children across the globe. Visitors will have a unique opportunity to appreciate the power of photography as a means of generating awareness and prompting positive change. Through these images, we can better understand the joys, difficulties, and dreams of children worldwide, fostering empathy and solidarity.
Source: www.stern.de
