Photography has the unique ability to completely transform real life places allowing the artist to reinterpret the world around them. Architectural photography requires the artist to take an already made space and recontextualize it using their own vision. It is not restricted to just images of buildings, a truly talented photographer is able to tell a whole story through their photo. Let us look through some of the 2023 TIFA winners in architecture and how they were able to craft a narrative through architecture.
Ruined Luxury by Evgenii Domanov
In this image shot in Tskhaltubo, Georgia, Domanov explores the abandoned sanatoriums of the Stalin era. Once beautiful palaces, they are now ruined and in despair.
Dark Soul: Scenes from Korea by Yoshihiko Wada
Taken during a trip across multiple Korean cities, this series by Wada explores the expanse of Korean architecture. The crisp and high contrast nature of the image composition adds life to the mega skyscrapers and bridges.
We Are All Water by Amanda Large
This series is comprised of images of the RC Harris Water Filtration Plant on Lake Ontario. Large explores the site over the course of a year, taking pictures as the scenery changes from season to season.
Desert Rose by Ahmed Thabet
Ahmed Thabet captures the Qatar National Museum beautifully in his image "Desert Rose". Titled after the design inspiration for the building, Thabet utilizes a stark blank sky to highlight all the curves and edges.
The Future Reflects the Past by Franklin Neto
This image by Franklin Neto was taken in the Centro de Interpretação do Românico in Portugal. A museum that is dedicated to romanesque art, it is at the same time a very modern design inside. Neto highlights and juxtaposes these two design ideas.
It's Like Two Different Worlds by Draco Wong
Taken in the small city of Macau in the residential area of Rua Nova à Guia, Wong captures the feelings of two worlds connected but seperate. The massive skyscrapers in the distance looms over the homes and apartments.
Through stylistic choices, layered images, and multi month projects, the 2023 TIFA winners were able to completely reinvent how these structures are seen. As fine art photography and architecture converge, we can view these structures in our daily life differently. To see all winners across all categories, click below!
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The Tokyo International Foto Awards is thrilled to present a captivating exhibition showcasing the talented winners of TIFA 2022 & 2023 at the House of Lucie Budapest gallery. These gifted photographers will be celebrated with a special two-week exhibition in the vibrant city of Budapest, Hungary.
The exhibited works encompass a wide variety, spanning from stunning nature and fine art photographs to captivating advertising and architectural wonders. Furthermore, the exhibition includes striking editorials that tell compelling stories, all captured through the lenses of both experienced professionals and gifted amateurs alike.
The 2022 & 2023 edition TIFA 1st and 2nd place winners were awarded in the following categories: Advertising, Architecture, Book, Editorial, Events, Fine Art, Nature, People and Portfolio and will be exhibited along with main prize winners: Photographer of the Year and New Talent of the Year.
The Exhibition will launch with an Opening Event on June 6th, beginning at 19:00, marking the start of an artistic journey. Running from June 7th to June 20th, 2024, the exhibition will be open to the public during official hours from 16:00 to 19:00. Don't miss the opportunity to experience this showcase of creativity at the esteemed House of Lucie Budapest Gallery, located at Falk Miksa utca 30, 1055 Budapest.
The 2023 TIFA winners whose work will be exhibited are:
Filip Fredrik Haglund, Ruisheng Zhu, Yoshihiko Wada, Mario Tarantino, Oyvind Hjelmen, Robert Yager, Iván Macías, Shervin Bashari, Eiichi Yoshioka, Thomas Semesky, Francis Leroy, Gita Montazer, Shirley Wung, Alexej Sachov, Ottavio Marino, Zixi Xia, Horst Kistner, Tomomichi Nakamura, Lukasz Larsson Warzecha, Christian Kleiman, Hsiaohsin Chen, Gareth Morgans, Kazuyuki Omori, Serena Dzenis, Hilda Champion, Bob Newman, Susana Cabanero, Alejandro Martinez Velez, Lenka Klicperová, Cain Shimizu, Fiorella Baldisserri, Michael Dorohovich, Alessandro Accordini, Olena Zubach, Sue Park, Jatenipat Ketpradit, Atoosa Alebouyeh, Jordi Cohen, Masumi Shiohara, Haruka Fujita, Brice Weaver, Yuliy Vasilev, Takeborn Nikukyu, Anna Wacker, Martin Wacker, Minghang Lai, Marco Casini, Tiziana Sonia Spelta, Wojciech Rutkowski, Yu Ling Ho, Kazuyuki Toriumi, Alexandros Othonos, Anniina Joki, Nataliia Hresko, Mariano Belmar Torrecilla, Chih Ming Chou, Arevik Martirosyan, Yanyan Zhao, Tina Salipante, Sina Nasr, Yu-han Yeh, Adam Neuba, Monia Marchionni, Pattanawit Suntiniwat, Katya Teller, Thamarong Wanarithikul, Maik Koerhuis, Dale Niles, Damiano Mongelli, Ka Chon Chiang, Man Hei Leung, Alessandro Bosio, Yichi Wang, Andrew Rovenko, Makiko Kitagawa, Martin Morávek, Shota Ishino, Pierluigi Ciambra, Tharaka Bibulewitharana, Andres Gallego, Mitsuko Taniguchi, Lorenzo Poli, Jana Stross.
A multi-layered field of art, advertising photographers must juggle the need of their clients with their own artistic vision. This can make for very unique visions as artists have to work within certain restraints. Advertising photography, for many professional and student photographers, forces them to go beyond their comfort zones and work with new ideas, new people, and in new places. Let us look at some of the most captivating advertising images from around the world through the lens of the 2023 TIFA winners.
I Am Here by Filip Fredrik Haglund
This image by Filip Fredrik Haglund was awarded Gold in advertising by the TIFA jury. His series explores models from minority backgrounds bringing new talent to the forefront of photography.
Dancing In Zhuhai City by Ruisheng Zhu
Dancing in Zhuhai City, 2023's silver winner in advertising, is a beautiful example of travel and tourism photography as Zhu explores the coastal city. By mirroring the city with dance, Zhu makes it look elegant and welcoming.
The Golden Princess by Rie Shinoda
Mimicking the makeup on her face, Shinoda has large swipes of color across her image. This brings the viewers eyes right onto the subject and makes her pop off the background.
Make It All Go Away by Wizard Tang
This image of the band 'Make It All Go Away' brings the musicality of the group into the image. As the members sway, Wizard Tang paints with light to show their movement as if they are the music themselves.
Porsche // Dreams In Colours by Kai Hartmann
In this futuristic image, Hartmann photographs a Porsche amongst a cyberpunk background. The color scheme on this image is particularly interesting as it is moody and bright at the same time.
The Wisdom of Japanese Winter by Naoya Yoshida
This tourism photo in support of Wakihonjin Okuya welcomes the viewer to the ancient facility once used by the government. This image is moody and interesting and really makes the viewer want to explore this unique location.
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The awe-inspiring photography exhibition of the 2023 TIFA winners has come to a close in Tokyo. Running through the entirety of March, the exhibition featured images from the award winning first and second place photographs across the TIFA categories. Spanning 11 different genres of photography, the imagery brought together unlikely photographs from nature photography, editorial photography, fine art, and travel.
Located in the Shin-Tokyo building, the Marunouchi Gallery is home to international photography and art exhibitions. The exhibition featured both professional and non-professional photographers giving a voice to artists emerging and established. The photographs also came from all across the globe, bringing culture and politics from every corner of the world. The diverse imagery and breadth of work featured allowed the Tokyo art community a special look into what makes contemporary photography so special; the ability to speak through images no matter the country of origin.
The images were displayed all across the gallery, wrapping around the entire space. There was also special cabinet featuring the top winners from the competition. With the 2024 TIFA competition now open, there is only a short time until another amazing set of winners is announced and introduced to the Tokyo photography community.
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TIFA proudly launched a highly successful exhibition featuring its 2022 & 2023 Winners on March 5 at the Marunouchi Photo Gallery and Art Space in Tokyo.
Photography books are a very special medium as they allow viewers to become very intimately knowledgeable with the work. Unlike a museum, the photographs can be viewed over and over again, shared with friends, and appreciated whenever and where ever you would like. Photography books also allow for new formats and ways of displaying one's photos. Take a look at 2023's top photography books carefully curated by the TIFA jury. These books represent some of 2023's greatest photos set in the most well designed and printed books. From portrait photography, to landscape photography, to documentary photography, the TIFA winners cover every genre and represent the most elite group of photography.
Broken Shadow by Oyvind Hjelmen
Based on his life and memories, 'Broken Shadow' explores life from childhood to adulthood. Hjelmen uses high contrast black and white to evoke the highs and lows of life. The shadows of despair and the light of happiness.
Playboys by Robert Yager
In this book, Yager documents the LA street gang Playboys 13. Starting in 1993, this historic book documents the gang over 10 years. Jury member Professor William Snyder remarked that it was an "intimate look at an insular society. Great moments and intimate perspective."
Cha-Gyeong : Borrowed Scenery by Dong-Wook Lee
Starting as a hobbyist, Dong-Wook Lee's project evolved over the years. Now, 'Borrowed Scenery' is a fully fledged documentary work that explores climate change and Korean culture.
El Ojo De Salem by Salem McBunny
Made up entirely of self portraits, Salem McBunny explores their own mental psyche and the problems that they have. This set of self portraits acts to heal the artist and explore their inner demons.
2023 My Photography Album by Minghang Lai
For over ten years, artist Minghang Lai explored the natural beauty of his home country of Taiwan. During this time, he mainly documented the various bird species he saw culminating in this photography album.
Artifacts by Marco Casini
A book of mixed media art, Marco Casini uses photography, sculpture, and found objects. In this book, Casini explores consumer culture and the ways that previously useful technology quickly becomes obsolete and the waste that it creates.
The Rocketgirl Chronicles by Andrew Rovenko
Made during the height of the pandemic, these photographs explore the isolation that many faced. Using his daughter as the subject, Rovenko documents the adventures they had together while locked down and the way this made him and many feel.
While this is only a small highlight of the talent that the 2023 TIFA winners possess, there are many new and innovative ideas amongst all of last year's books. Take the time to view some of the most creative photography put to paper and finely curated by our esteemed jury. The best photography worldwide awaits!
Join us for an extraordinary exhibition in Tokyo
Commencing with an opening event on March 5th, the TIFA Winners exhibition will be open until March 31st. Held at the prestigious Marunouchi Photo Gallery and Art Space in Tokyo, Japan, this venue will be the backdrop for showcasing the exceptional works of TIFA 1st and 2nd place winners from the years 2022 and 2023. Join us for a celebration of talent and creativity that spans 11 categories.
Displayed in the exhibition will be an array of captivating works from awe-inspiring nature and fine art photography to enthralling advertising and architectural wonders, the showcase is a testament to the multifaceted world of visual storytelling. The exhibition will also show striking editorials that unfold profound narratives on important current issues, each skillfully captured through the lenses of both seasoned professionals and talented amateurs.
Join us and explore the rich tapestry of creativity and storytelling that awaits you at our event.
Location:
Marunouchi Photo Gallery and Art Space
1st and 2nd Floor, Shin-Tokyo bldg
3-3-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
100-0005 Japan
Duration:
March 5 - 31, 2024
Weekdays 8:00-20:00
Saturdays 8:00-17:00
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TIFA is proud to announce this year's winning photographs! After sorting through thousands of entries, the highly esteemed TIFA jury has selected 20 first place category winners as well as the photographer of the year and discovery of the year. The entries were highly diverse in both style and country of origin. Both non-professional photographers and professional photographers alike can be seen breaking boundaries and exploring new themes in photography that have previously gone unrepresented.
Program Director Hannah Lillethun reflects upon this year's winning images: "It's been a privilege to observe the impactful images and exquisite artistry presented by thousands of photographers worldwide in the 2023 Tokyo Foto Awards. Each image narrates a vivid story, and we are privileged to highlight these remarkable works.". Let us celebrate these grand achievements in the world of photography through the imagery of the 2023 Tokyo International Foto Award winners!
Photographer of the Year
Shifting Sand, Beach Dream by Francis Leroy
Using aerial photography, Francis Leroy captures hundreds of moments at once across sandy beaches. In his innovative take on landscape photography, Leroy captures the essence and dreaminess of a beach day. With the ever-changing tide and waves, Leroy pays tribute to the enchantment and beauty of a world effected by climate change.
Discovery of the Year
Free Palestine. by Tiziana Sonia Spelta
'Free Palestine', the award winning editorial photography by Tiziana Sonia Spelta, documents Palestinians in Italy. The powerful and heart-wrenching series is meant to stand as a symbol of solidarity between Palestine and Spelta's home country of Italy.
Professional Category Winners of 2023
ADVERTISING - I Am Here by Gareth Morgans
ARCHITECTURE - Dark Soul: Scenes from Korea by Yoshihiko Wada
BOOK - Broken Shadow by Oyvind Hjelmen
EDITORIAL - Acapulco After The Passage of Hurricane Otis. by Iván Macías
EVENTS - Japanese Tradition by Eiichi Yoshioka
FINE ART - Shifting Sand, Beach Dream by Francis Leroy
NATURE - Horses Running At Sunset by Shirley Wung
PEOPLE - L'Albero Di Giovanni by Ottavio Marino
PORTFOLIO - My Vintage World by Horst Kistner
SCIENCE - Eastgrip - Ice Core by Lukasz Larsson Warzecha
SPECIAL - Planets of A Tiny Prince by Christian Kleiman
Student/ Non-Professional Category Winners of 2023
ADVERTISING - 50 Shades of Pasta by Yuliy Vasilev
ARCHITECTURE - Curvatures by Anna Wacker
BOOK - 2023 My Photography Album by Minghang Lai
EDITORIAL: Free Palestine. by Tiziana Sonia Spelta
EVENTS - Sport Competitions by Yu Ling Ho
FINE ART - Disturbia by Alexandros Othonos
NATURE - "I collect flowers to live" by Nataliia Hresko
PEOPLE - 日式京都婚紗 by Chih Ming Chou
PORTFOLIO - A Room of One's Own by Yanyan Zhao
SCIENCE - Infection by Sina Nasr
SPECIAL - When Nature Meets Technics by Adam Neuba
artdaily – Tokyo International Foto Awards announces the winners of 2023
2023 was an exciting year for the Tokyo International Foto Awards and the many photographers that TIFA is dedicated to supporting and exhibiting. The Tokyo Foto Awards brings photographers from around the globe and shows their work to one of the hearts of the photo world; Tokyo, Japan. 2023 saw new photography being displayed and new boundaries being pushed. Both professional photographers and non-professional photographers saw their work reach new heights through TIFA and spread worldwide. Let us look back on the award-winning photography from last year.
2022 TIFA Photography Competition
With the 2023 TIFA photography awards winners being announced recently, let us look back on last year’s winners and their great accomplishments. From the global submissions, only a handful of winners are chosen by the esteemed jury. Below are some of our top photos from 2022:
Photographer of the Year
Desolation by Alejandro Martinez Velez
Alejandro Martinez Velez explores the Russia Ukraine war through his eclectic photojournalism. His images show the devastation that the war has caused.
Below is an excerpt from TIFA 2022 Photographer of the Year photographer Alejandro Martinez Velez:
“The photographic report ‘Desolation’, made up of nine images, documents the first weeks of war in Ukraine. All the photos have a story behind them, but I will talk about the first photo of the series. On March 17, 2022, I went with two photojournalist colleagues to a destroyed building in a residential neighborhood in Kyiv. When we arrived we met Oleksandr Shvets, 36, crying next to the lifeless body of his mother, 67- year-old Ukrainian theater actress Oksana Shvets. Mother and son were together at home when the remains of a Russian missile, shot down by the Ukrainian Air Defense, fell into their apartment. Oksana was crushed to death by a wall that collapsed on her.”
Read the full interview with Velez here: https://www.tokyofotoawards.jp/interviews/alejandro-martinez-velez/
Discovery of the Year
Hopper Essence by Andres Gallego
Inspired by painter Edward Hopper, Andres Gallego plays with light, windows, and the drab colors that make up Hopper’s work.
Advertising Photography
Blueberry Waffles by Gareth Morgans
A playful and captivating image by Gareth Morgans shows waffles, blueberries & maple Syrup dripping on a fork.
Architecture Photography
2021 ± 2: Utopia Broadcasting by Serena Dzenis
Capturing the Icelandic landscape, Dzenis plays with themes of sci-fi, dystopia, and futurism. A possible look into the future of our world.
Book Photography
Shadows of Emmett Till by Bob Newman
In his book “Shadows of Emmett Till”, Bob Newman explores the Mississippi Delta and the history of what remains of Emmett Till’s time. Newman explores the racism, poverty, and socio-economic problems that lead to and resulted from Emmett Till’s murder.
Event Photography
Chairs by Cain Shimizu
A surreal and meditative image by Cain Shimizu breaks the boundaries of event photography.
Fine Art Photography
Life On A Prosthesis by Michael Dorohovich
Michael Dorohovich uses his camera to capture the life and work of Tetyana Litus: the girl who overcame oncology lost her leg, but did not lose herself.
Nature Photography
Watercolors by Olena Zubach
Olena Zubach takes an artistic and unique look with her nature photography as she mimics the brushstrokes and beauty of watercolors.
People Photography
Ethiopia : The Ethnic Earth by Jatenipat Ketpradit
Jatenipat Ketpradit explores the eight different tribes of the Lower Omo River in south west Ethiopia. Each tribe has a unique culture and way of life that creates a beautiful array of life in Ketpradit’s images.
Portfolio Photography
Bullfighting: Art, Religion and Death by Jordi Cohen
Jordi Cohen uses bullfighting as a way to explore the themes of art, religion, and death. The controversial practice in Spain lends itself to these themes as the intensity and heritage of the sport is unmatched.
Press Mentions
The TIFA community’s photography has reached far and wide with help from fellow organizations and magazines. Look back through the press mentions highlighting the fantastic photography featured this year.
