The Photography Program recognizes and supports talented international storytellers whose still photography documents their changing cultures and communities. Each year four photographers are awarded a financial prize, and their photo essays are exhibited at the All Roads Film Festival and other venues. They also receive photographic accessories and, through workshops, get valuable training to assist in their fieldwork.

Candidates are nominated by an advisory board of leaders from the photography industry and representatives from National Geographic Society.

Selection Criteria

• Award recipients must be from an indigenous or minority culture within their countries of origin.
• Award recipients’ work must document their changing cultures and community and represent a recent body of work (within the last two years).
• Potential recipients must be living in the countries that they are documenting.
• Awards are based on artistic merit in combination with the photojournalistic focus of the project.

2008 AWARDEES

• Alejandro Chaskielberg (Argentina)
  The High Tide: Native Islanders and the Community of the Paraná River Delta
  Website: http://www.chaskielberg.com/

• Rena Effendi (Azerbaijan)
  Khinaliq Village: A Staircase to the Sky 2003–2006
  Website: refendi.com

• Khaled Hasan (Bangladesh)
  Living Stone: A Community Losing Its Life
  Website: http://www.khaledhasan.com/

• Farzana Wahidy (Afghanistan)
  Afghan Women
  Website: http://farzanawahidy.com/
  
  

2007 AWARDEES

• Akintunde Akinleye (Nigeria)
  The Troubles of a Blessed Country
  Website: akintunde1.com

• Oded Balilty (Israel)
  Along the Lines

• Altaf Qadri (Kashmir)
  Kashmir: Paradise in Pain
  Website: altafqadri.com

• A Yin (China, Inner Mongolia)
  Highland Mongolian Life
  Website: ayinphoto.com

2006 AWARDEES

• Saiful Huq (Bangladesh)
  Stolen Dreams: The Story of the Abandoned Victims of Political Violence
  Website: saifulhuq.com

• Larry McNeil (United States)
  Fly By Night Mythology
  Website: larrymcneil.com

• Sandra Sebastián Pedro (Guatemala)
  Inherited Violence

• “Newsha Tavakolian (Iran)
  Tehran: Not East, Not West
  Website: newshatavakolian.com

2005 AWARDEES

• Andre Cypriano (Brazil)
  Rocinha: An Orphan Town
  Website: andrecypriano.com

• Neo Ntsoma (South Africa)
  South African Youth ID – Kwaito Culture
  Website: neontsoma.com

• Sudharak Olwe (India)
  In Search of Dignity and Justice: The Untold Story of Mumbai’s Conservancy Workers

• Marcela Taboada (Mexico)
  Women of Clay
  Website: marcelataboada.com
  
  

2004 AWARDEES

• Tenzin Dorjee (India)
  Tibetan Exile Community
  Website: http://www.marcelataboada.com/

• Fanie Jason (South Africa)
  Living in Denial, AIDS in South Africa
  Website: http://www.fiftycrows.org/photoessay/jason/index.php

• Ahikan Seri (Israel)
  Bedouin Society Transition
  Website: ahikamseri.com