Designed to support photographers who sometimes work under difficult conditions in dangerous areas, this award aims to reward a photographer who, through his or her personal commitment, involvement in the field, his or her capacity to take a stand, as well as the quality of his or her work, will have demonstrated their commitment to the freedom of information.
Participants will have to present a report on a conflict (civil or military wars, riots, attacks or public demonstrations), a revolution, a natural disaster, or their consequences on civilians.
Organised in partnership with the Mairie de Paris, Polka Magazine and with the support of Reporters sans Fronti?res, the Lucas Dolega Award will reward one photographer every year. The winner will receive an endowment by Nikon of 10.000 Euros, and will have their work displayed at an exhibition in Paris and published in the RSF album. Furthermore, the winner will have part or all his report published in an issue of Polka Magazine, and will be offered the production of another story by Polka Magazine.
Author: Shahidul Alam
Time Magazine Person of the Year 2018. A photographer, writer, curator and activist, Shahidul Alam obtained a PhD in chemistry before switching to photography. His seminal work “The Struggle for Democracy” contributed to the removal of General Ershad. Former president of the Bangladesh Photographic Society, Alam set up the Drik agency, Chobi Mela festival and Pathshala, South Asian Media Institute, considered one of the finest schools of photography in the world.
Shown in MOMA New York, Centre Georges Pompidou, Royal Albert Hall and Tate Modern, Alam has been guest curator of Whitechapel Gallery, Winterthur Gallery and Musee de Quai Branly. His awards include Mother Jones, Shilpakala Award and Lifetime Achievement Award at the Dali International Festival of Photography.
Speaker at Harvard, Stanford, UCLA, Oxford and Cambridge universities, TEDx, POPTech and National Geographic, Alam chaired the international jury of the prestigious World Press Photo contest. Honorary Fellow of Royal Photographic Society, Alam is visiting professor of Sunderland University in UK and advisory board member of National Geographic Society.
John Morris, the former picture editor of Life Magazine describes his book “My journey as a witness”, (listed in “Best Photo Books of 2011” by American Photo), as “The most important book ever written by a photographer.”
View all posts by Shahidul Alam
