Cultural Practices
Quick links: Introduction / Categories / Rules / Judges / Moderators / Coordinators / Awards / Sponsors / Key Dates / Who Can Participate? / How to Participate? / Archives / FAQs
At the Kirkpinar oil wrestling festival, the competition takes place in an open, grassy field, with the contestants naked except for trousers made of leather, which extend to just above the knees. Victory is achieved when one wrestler either pins the other to the ground or lifts his opponent above his shoulders. The dream of each wrestler (Pehlivan in Turkish) is to win the Kirkpinar Golden Belt and become a “chief wrestler” (Baspehlivan). Turkish oil wrestlers (all men) usually start wrestling from a very young age, as young as seven years old. Many of them do not start wrestling by choice, but upon the wish of their father in order to continue a family tradition.
Award of Excellence
Pehlivan
Onur Coban
Independent
Turkey
Onur Çoban was born in Denizli, Turkey, in 1980. He studied photojournalism at Gazi University in Ankara (Year 2004). In 2007, he photographed internally displaced people suffering from cataract in Darfur. The same year, he reported on the living conditions of war victims in Kabul, Afghanistan. Meanwhile, he conducted projects in Turkey about the Romani and Shia communities. He also documented the working conditions on Turkish shipyards, where dozens have died in accidents. In 2009, he travelled several times to Calais (northern France) to photograph migrants and their so-called “jungle”, days before its destruction. Over the past years, he completed assignments in Haiti, Fukushima (Japan), Tunisia, Somalia and on the Libyan frontline.
[ CULTURAL PRACTICES ] A set of photographs that increases the understanding and appreciation of a cultural practice. It can be about festivals, religion, traditions, or contemporary cultural trends. Submissions do not have to adhere to documentary principles. Alternate processes and digital manipulations are allowed. Each submission consists of 5 to 20 images. Each participant is allowed to enter up to 2 submissions. All images must be taken in 2023.
Judges for Cultural Practices
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
Quick links
