Italian photographer Federico Borella was named the World Photography Organisation’s 2019 Photographer of the Year. He received $25,000 (USD) last night for his winning photo series Five Degrees. The jury praised the work for its sensitivity, technical excellence, and artistry in highlighting a global issue.
The 12th edition of the competition received a record 326,977 entries from photographers in 195 countries and territories. Borella was selected from the ten category winners in the Professional competition announced last night, along with the second- and third-place winners in each Professional category. The overall winners of the Open (best single image), Youth, and Student Focus competitions were also revealed.
Five Degrees is a project by 35-year-old Italian photographer Federico Borella from Bologna. With a degree in classical literature and a master’s degree in photojournalism, Borella is an internationally recognized freelance photojournalist with more than ten years of experience as a news photographer and teacher of photography and photojournalism.
I feel an enormous responsibility because, as a photojournalist, I was able to witness and document this situation
The series Five Degrees examines suicide among men in the farming community of Tamil Nadu, South India, which was facing its worst drought in 140 years. Drawing on a University of California, Berkeley study that found a correlation between climate change and increased suicide rates among Indian farmers, Borella explored the impact of climate change on this agricultural region and its community through a poignant and powerful mix of images of the farming landscape, mementos of deceased farmers, and portraits of those left behind.
Borella’s response: “This award is one of the most important things for my career and my life. This kind of visibility is amazing because it allows me and my work to reach a global audience. It is a ‘golden ticket’ that comes your way once in a lifetime. I feel an enormous responsibility because, as a photojournalist, I was able to witness and document this situation. This award proves to the people portrayed that they can trust me—and that is fundamental to my profession.”
Hawaiian photographer Christy Lee Rogers was selected as the Open winner from the 10 category winners for the world’s best single image. She was recognized for her work Harmony and received a prize of $5,000 (USD). Rogers is an internationally renowned artist known for using water and lighting in her photographic work to create dramatic effects.
Photo above: "Shot underwater in Hawaii. This image is part of my Muses Colllection. What started to work best for me was having a perspective from outside of the water, looking in and using the surface of a pool as a canvas, utilizing natural effects like the refraction of light with movement to bend reality, and shooting at night so I could really control my light."
The Student Photographer of the Year was Sergi Villanueva (25). The Valencia-based student was chosen by the judges for his photograph La Terreta. The work presents a vivid depiction of his homeland through the local orange-growing and harvesting process. Villanueva won €30,000 worth of Sony photography equipment for his school.
Atlanta-based American student Zelle Westfall was honored for her photograph Abuot, a striking single-image entry on the theme of Diversity. Westfall said of her winning work: "Abuot is my friend from school and she is one of the funniest people I know. In today’s society, with skin-bleaching products and colorism in the media, it is important to highlight the beauty of women with darker skin, who are often told they are ‘too dark.’"
The Youth Photographer of the Year competition was open to all photographers between the ages of 12 and 19.
That year, London-based photographer Nadav Kander received the Outstanding Contribution to Photography award. His acclaimed commercial, portrait, figurative, and landscape work has a distinctive style that often evokes feelings of stillness and unease.
The Netherlands won twice in the Professional competition that year: Marinka Masséus was named the winner of the Professional Creative category for her series Chosen [not] to be, and Jasper Doest won first prize in the Professional Natural World & Wildlife category with his series Meet Bob. Read here for more information.
All winning and shortlisted images were on display at Somerset House in London from April 18 through May 6.
More information: www.worldphoto.org.
