I was raised in the Yarmouk Palestinian Refugee camp on the outskirts of Damascus. In the camp, I'm not Palestinian. in the city of Damascus, I'm labeled as a refugee. Where ever I go, I'm treated as a stranger. I don't have a way out, neither a passport nor a family. I never had a home. I'm afraid of being stuck here, though I constantly seek reasons to stay. I find myself possessed with loose ends. The love and intimacy we share in a deserted place is a layer of poetry that allows us to survive in the midst of uncertainty and daily trauma. The events that started in 2011 Is still present in my mind. We have lost the smell of the land we love.
First Place
How Was Everything, Before All This Ruin?
Ameen Abo Kaseem
Independent
Syria
Palestinian-Syrian Multidisciplinary visual artist, documentary photographer, and Cinematographer, Based in Damascus. Member of ADPP, Magnum Foundation, Prince Claus Fund, and Al-AYOUN. graduated in 2023 from the Higher Institute for Dramatic Arts where he studies BA in visual arts. Ameen started using photography in 2016 as a way to communicate and express himself, his work focuses on personal surroundings looking at toxic lifestyles and methods of survival. recently received a mentorship by “AFAC” for he’s first Project “How Was Everything, Before All This Ruin?” which participated in “AN EXPRESSION OF ABSENCE” exhibition at Magnum Foundation & BDC in New York, an exhibition with Fondazione imago mundi in Italy, also received a production grant from Ettijahat for he’s second project “my Short-term memory”. And currently working on his cinematic debut with the support of Südkulturfonds.
[ ISSUE REPORTING PICTURE STORY ] A long-term project on a single topic. It could focus on science, news, politics or any number of topics, ranging from coverage of a single person to an entire community. The project must convey a deep understanding of the subject. Each submission consists of 10 to 40 images. Each participant is allowed to enter up to 3 submissions. All images must be taken in 2022.
Judges for Issue Reporting Picture Story
Quick links to award categories: Spot News / Portraits / Nature & Environment / Recreational & Traditional Sports / Sports Action / General News / Daily Life / Daily Life Picture Story / Portrait Series / Issue Reporting Picture Story / Cultural Practices / Photographer of the Year, Asia
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