With the final deadline looming for the 2021 BIFA, we look back onto past winners and some of their most interesting works. To successfully capture important moments, artists have to be attentive and fast, often for days to take that one perfect shit. The ten best event photographs at the 2020 Budapest International Foto Awards demonstrate what happens when the "perfect shot" is captured.
Intense and filled with grace: the cellist of the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra in Katowice walks upstairs right before the start of the concert.
The Carnival of Venice documented in the busiest time: San Marco Square occupied with hundreds of masked dancers in their colourful outfits.
Impeccable timing and a hard-to-achieve balance between black and white imagery. Long-time sports photographer Daniel ร strรถm captured this unknown surfer on Huntington Beach in California, USA.
A cute scene from a delightful wedding: the flower girls were supposed to help the bride by carrying her veil so it doesn't get caught on the grass. Instead however, they started playing with it - a happy surprise it seems for the bride as well.
The ruins of a theatre in Old Havana, youngsters practise for circus after so many years of training outside in parks. The goal: to become professionals in the circus through rigorous practise.
Rice dumplings master Mr. Xu Mingzhong has been a vital character in Taiwan playing Ba Jia Jiang, a protagonist brought to life with one mission: to capture ghosts and evil spirits and bring safety and good luck to the people. The master has been playing this role since he was only 12 years old.
A documentation of events that happened in the summer of 2020 in Belarus at the presidential elections. The demonstrations that followed after were a peaceful appeal for the true results of the elections.
Witnessing a traditional Taiwanese wedding is rare for foreigners: the aboriginal (Drekay) tribe members dress up in their conventional dresses before the festivities.
January, 2020 - a group of brave mountaineers face their fears when a storm hits on the way down on the Breithorn in the Swiss Alps. The looming clouds create an eerie view around the tiny figures racing down to reach safety as quickly as possible.
The hairstylist applies the last finishing touches to the bride's hair. This fairytale-like scene was captured just before the beginning of a wedding in Taiwan.
Sometimes, the only way to get connected to the word outside our own, is through the lens of a storyteller's camera. To be better informed about what is happening around us, we compiled the ten best editorial photographs at the 2020 BIFA.
If we go on trip to Toretsk, eastern Ukraine, we will soon learn about the abundant coal mines located there. Since 1990 in this region, the mines have closed down one after the other, but the Centralna Mine still remains. It is the deepest mine at 1124 meters, but there is severe structural damage and needs to be repaired. Since February 2020, miners have not been paid.
A photo series taken for a floral-fashion magazine in the United Kingdom, Lonely Prom resonates with us after the lockdowns sweeping through the world.
Clean drinking water is a luxury many of us take advantage - the impending change due to global warming are already seen in Kenya. Dead animals due to dryness, villages without a water source is just a reality people living there are froced to face on a daily basis.
Translating to Made in the Neighborhood, this photo series shows the lives of young people in the areas of Mexico where poverty is forcing them into gangs and criminal activity. Due to this, people are mourning their deaths (almost 35000 for 2019) while the government is unable to deal with these very powerful crime organizations.
One of the countries that has been hit the hardest by the Corona virus, Spain entered lockdowns early on in 2020. The photographer went to visit his grandfather in Pamplona in the countryside, where a lot of the elderly retreated from the cities for fear of contagion.
A heartbreaking story: David (which is not his real name) spent his whole life in Brussels, governed by laws that make him an asylum seeker. He is in danger of being deported back to the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo). His father refused him because he is homosexual and he now lives with three other gay refuge seekers.
The photographer ventured into the world of animals in captivity to show how hard a vet works in zoos to keep the animals healthy. The tusk of the animals had to be removed due to a disorder.
Since June 2019, anti-government demonstrations are ongoing due to a bill that would have allowed extraditions to mainland China. The protests, violent and filled with despair, were documented by the photographer.
Many of the elderly in Romania and Bulgaria live in old post communist farm communities. They spend their days collecting wild mushrooms and berries from the woods, while taking care of those few animals they have. Neighbours help each other, but the community is ultimately alone and living in poverty.
When the Corona virus was raging in the country, thousands of demonstrators gathered in front of the Prime Minister's Official Residence on Balfour street in Jerusalem every week to protest against corruption and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's continued governance. Protesters dressed up in colorful clothes and sang "Let the sunshine in" and give flowers to the police, similar to past hippie demonstrations.
The work of the following photographers was the part of the exhibition: Eduardo Lopez Moreno, Sabrina Komรกr, Amyn Nasser, Luca Rosati, Austin Irving, Jose Roberto Bassul, Simon Johansson, Jorge Novominsky, Daniel Antalfi, Lebohang Kganye, Gita Montazer, Torleif Lie, Fรถldi Lรกszlรณ, Wei Ding, Arseniy Neskhodimov, Lara Alcantara, Nicoletta Cerasomma, Austin Irving, Tomoya Matsuura, Fabio Galvez, Gรกbor Hegyi-Kovรกcs, Oliver Raschka, Karina Bikbulatova, Marco Marcone, Domenico Iannantuono, Werner Roelandt, Mieke Douglas, Irma Szabรณ, Mea Barรกth, Natalia Krezel, Simone Francescangeli, Irina Petrova, Sebastiano Bellomo.
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BIFA was created not only for those photographers who make their primary income from capturing magical shots, but also to provide students and amateurs with a platform to showcase their immense talents and get feedback from industry professionals. Here are the ten most breathtaking student photographers at Budapest International Foto Awards 2020. If you are in Budapest and would like to view our exhibition of BIFA 2020 winners, please contact us for an appointment! The exhibition will be live from 1st July 2021 to the 14th of July.
Our self-appreciation and reflection, it always depends how we see ourselves and others in the mirror. But who are we, really? This is the existential question raised through this image.
A way to refocus our attention to the historical landmarks in London and to forget the busy elements that draw our attention away from them, the photographer shone the spotlight onto these architectural wonders so we can appreciate them more.
Often due to judgements and bullying, people are afraid to show their bodies and remain hidden in large T-shirts and hoodies. This photo series symbolizes the isolation and anxiety caused by body-shaming in people who are beautiful - being different should not be something to be shameful of.
Maloja, Switzerland - an unforgettable moment of serenity of a curvy road in the mountains.
Macro photography series of the creatures in the deep, taken underwater in the waters of Egypt and Indonesia.
The song of life, death and colours is represented in this image taken on a meadow, showing the intricacies of nature.
A pure and translucent pool encapsulates the bride in her white dress. The image series symbolizes the followings in marriage: the water is life, while the white dress is equivalent of purity and loyalty. The flowers in the water are the representations of happiness.
South Gloucestershire, in the Southwest of England: these rows of trees align perfectly next to each other, symmetric and pristine.
A mixture of paintings and photography, is the way the artist best communicates with the world. Through this form of expression can the photographer really understand.
Cuba, La Habana, November. Generations supporting each other in Cuba represented in this photo: a child staying in a facility for the elderly to keep them company is.
The Budapest International Photography Awards jury panel is always curious to receive works from the Science category. The best science photos of 2020 BIFA uncovered a completely different world for us, one full of wonders and art - all found within nature and the world that surrounds us.
Modern tourism and nature, unharmed - is that an oxymoron? Show Caves explores the renovations and - often highly destructive - changes done to make these caves more flashy for tourists. It all ends in a dilemma: is the transformation of these caves an act of vandalism for profit, or does it rather draw attention to beauties of nature that we would not be able to access normally?
This photography series is a work in progress looking at concepts in cosmology about the nature of our universe. How do we perceive the universe? How can we demonstrate it with the help of technology and a lens? The images are created through a combination of astrophotography and the small details in objects in the photographer's environment.
A balance between ecology and urban life, the photographer decided to merge object and places that might seem out of place at first. Upon further investigation, we realize that the environment has been blurred to provide a way for our urban life - this is what we need to be aware of and try not to exploit it.
Almost like a work of Dalรญ, the moment this 747 airplane was captured along with its curvy and strong contrail leaves a mysterious impression on the viewer.
A random, yet extraordinary discovery that made this image one of the best science photos of 2020. An inverted 50mm and 18-55mm lens stacked together on top of a cellphone front camera.
These photos were taken a month after the bushfire in Luk Chau Shan, Hong Kong. It shows us that even though bushfires are considered destructive, we often forget that these bushfires help return nutrients into the soil. This photography series was made to remind people of the usefulness of these fires as well.
A large part of last year was centered on the COVID-19 pandemic, a global crisis that affected all of us. With this image, the photographer wished to convey the feeling of being locked away, each person from their community, during the months of self-quarantine.
Breathtakingly beautiful, but heartbreakingly in danger of vanishing, the Athabasca Glacier is located in the heart of Canada. The ice-cave in this photo series collapsed a few weeks after the photographer visited it disappeared, bringing an end to a many thousand year-old glacier.
A photograph full of action, captured of the Blue Impulse, a Japanese acrobatic flight team. Usually, six aircrafts can be visible in their forms, but in this "corkscrew" performance, two aircrafts are in the air. One aircraft makes a reverse flight, at which time the other aircraft flies around in a circle.
Federica, a 12 year-old girl was born with a rare genetic disease called Spinal Muscular Atrophy with Respiratory Distress, a disease for which no cures exist at this time. She is forced to live her life laying down due to her muscles slowly degenerating. Despite her struggles, she remains a happy, kind soul.
Selecting the most deserving photographs each year is no ordinary task - our esteemed jury members live and breathe photography, but even for them, it takes time and debate to choose the top works. This year, the best advertising photographs from 2020 BIFA winners reflect a smart stance on each subject, creative angles and a burst of colour.
An image exploring the concept of creativity: making mistakes is just a part of the process and should not be frowned upon.
What happens when increasingly we use GMO's to make our food? This project is a playful, yet serious representation of how genetically modified foods could work - in an extreme scenario, or just the near-future.
A video installation that helps us switch off, even for a couple of minutes. The world we live in is characterized by rushing everywhere, our attention divided into a million little pieces and directions. Meditation and relaxation is crucial to find inner peace. View the video here.
A photo series for the Toyota Group, with all its models in one picture, grouped together in unity.
A Chinese herb mixture that helps with the treatment of aquaculture products. The consumer and seller often do not realize what additives they are consuming or selling - this is said to be a safer way.
Food packaging and the discovery of colours: a combination of these tins with recipes and food to kill time during the isolation in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Time to take a look at what lies inside of us: in ancient Japanese culture, the masks were made to ward off evil. However, what can we do if it lies deep within us?
In a drying factory, Bangladeshi women are working tirelessly to sort out only the best red chilies for selling. More than 1000 workers work a minimum of 10 hours each single day for less than 2 USD.
A beautiful story under water: the dancer move with grace, their dresses capturing the light and shadows.
A playful session where a number of different colored bottles were combined with straws and effects.
We often define Fine Art as "art for art's sake," which provides the viewer with a sense of visual aesthetic, an escape from the everyday life. To salute the best fine art photographers of BIFA 2020, we have compiled the ten most creative and alluring photographs.
A striking experimental image that shows us the deepest animal-like attributes a human can have. The photographer has been capturing beauty in the ordinary for the past 36 years, uncovering meaning under the superficial.
Ever wondered what birds soaring high see when they look down at us, humans? These photos were captured above public places with a drone, the multiple images combines to have an almost surreal effect upon taking a closer look.
The perfect symbol of beauty born in murky places: the pink lotus is given life in the muddiest places on Earth, and is one of the most beautiful flowers. Looking at this photo, one would think that such pure, unadulterated grace can only emerge from a less than ideal environment.
Stark vision and a photo that even when sitting, causes vertigo in the viewer. In Hong Kong, we can find the tallest skyscrapers in the world, the buildings that house thousands of people tower above the people walking minding their daily business.
An homage to those who are always looking at the open road, to those who are always looking for a new adventure and those as well, who do not know what they will be facing at the end of the bend: this minimalistic image evokes feelings that all of us face at one point in our lives.
A mixture of surrealism and noble Dutch art, the photographer's aim was to depict the young eyes of children who are our future: their decisions will have an impact for generations to come, just like ours had as well.
Our inner monologue: everyone has it. In some cases, the personalities within us live in harmony with each other, but in some instances, there is a war going on. The artist aimed to show this never-ending battle within ourselves through the lens of her camera.
