The Tokyo International Foto Awards has always been proud to receive the trust of up and coming photographers, who have the courage to share the way they see the world. The following compilation of photos hold a special place in our hearts.
Strawberry and Peach Dessert by Leka Huie - Gold in Advertising / Food
The Hong Kong native photographer finished Photography school in Canada, ever since then, beautiful images have been the main protagonists in his works. This photo was a result of studio work combining strawberry and peach, captured with One Flash Light and honeycomb grid.
Pray by Lawrence Cheung - Silver in Architecture / Interiors
This photo was taken in a mesmerising temple. The photographer decided to study the way the light and shapes move, resulting in this almost supernatural picture.
The Truths by Peng Zhou - Gold in Fine Art / Abstract
The series symbolizes the existing dilemma in all our lives: is the Truth what we hear from others? People receive many stories from the outside, from daily hassles to the most important events. The answers to the stories hold diversified opinions, and there is much to be said on both sides. However, have we thought about whether these differing opinions can reflect upon universal truths? Who can offer us a firm answer? Do we actually even need an answer?
Deena Lean by Joshua Tate - Silver in Editorial/Fashion
This photo represents a brief moment captured during a music video of the photographer's good friend.
Fly Around by Satoshi Kawashima - Gold in Nature/Landscapes
This truly magical photo was taken in Nagano, Japan. The small green light flashes were firefly flying in front of the waterfall, making the scene look like
Microcosmic Portraits of The Little Earthlings by Irina Petrova - Bronze in Science / Other
This series of macro portraits of insects was taken with two retro manual focus lenses, which were made in 1982, connected by a filter ring adapter. Each image was obtained by focus stacking a tens or hundreds of shots. The purpose of this project is to show usual insects from unusual angles. That is why all insects were collected within the territory of the South Urals, where it would seem there are no exotic, bright species such as, for example, in Southeast Asia or Africa.
Scarlet Crusade by Aitor Del Arco - Gold in People / Self-Portrait
Scarlet Crusade speaks of blind faith. According to the photographer, having faith in something most of the time means something positive although it also ties us to a series of beliefs that can lead us to deplorable acts. Throughout history there have been many leaders who have got people to have blind faith in them and this has triggered wars and genocides. In the series you can see Catholic religious connotations, this is because it has been the cause of numerous bloodshed both globally, in wars, and personal beliefs / dogmas / doctrines that sometimes makes us carry out unusual situations.
Flow #2 by Lawrence Cheung - Gold in Architecture / Interiors
Lawrence Cheung's inspiration was Swiss artist Paul Klee, who said, “Art does not reproduce what we see; rather, it makes us see.” This photo depicts a staircase as the subject. The photographer studied lines and curves and found movements within frames.
Plant Mischief by Makiko Kitagawa - Gold in Fine Art / Nudes
The focus of this highly creative photographer's work is always the deep human consciousness and nature, and imagination. Her photography always uses natural light. The model's name is Mituski.
Wonder Room: Homo Artificialis by Cara Louwman - Gold in Science / Medicine
For the past thousands of years, our technologies have been aimed outward. Now, however, we have started a process of aiming our technologies inward. With new trends, technology is nesting itself within us. The way in which the new technologies are shown in this photo series is based on an anatomy cabinet, what the photographer calls a wonder room. The anatomical cabinet of Frederik Ruysch (1638-1731) is a great source of inspiration for her.
Get inspired by the beauties of nature around us! See the top 10 nature photos from the Tokayo International Foto Awards here.
The human condition is always changing - good times and hard, we all have our battles to fight. The People category in Tokyo International Foto Awards was created to show unadulterated photographs of real people - here is the 10 best from 2019.
The Damned of the Earth by Julien De Wilde
The photo series which won First Place in the Tokyo International Foto Awards in the People category depicts the people who work in the rice fields under the burning sun and feet in the mud, for hours. Their faces and bodies are completely covered. One might think they have no identity. Who are they? How old are they, what is their story? Impossible to know who is under the hood.
Unknown Garden by Saene Esmee Heidenrijk
A Garden full of diverse mixed cultures where more and more fall outside of traditional understandings. Do we let them bloom naturally? All girls are mixed raced children (also of mixed race parents), growing up within different cultural backgrounds. These kids feel happy to grow up within the best of different worlds. History shows that this wasn't always the case. Why did the outside world create an environment were some kids seems to battle Racial Imposter Syndrome?
Newlyweds in Venice by Tomasz Budzynski
Magic in the first rays of sunlight: the photograph taken early in the morning on San Marco Square in Venice, during a wedding session.
Dedicating The Most Faithful Souls to Gods. by Yu Han Wei
The festival-like ritual Hakata Gion Yamakasa has been held over 770 years in Hakata, Japan. It is believed the origin of this ritual is to prevent the spread of diseases in summer. Generations after generations carry on this tradition proudly. It has become a grand festival and participants show great passion on the streets every year. Every July 15th, at 4:59 a.m., the Taiko is banged and the elaborately decorated floats(Yamakasa)start to race. The one-ton floats are symbols of the blessing from gods.
Lithium Pink by Grace June
This is a self portrait that explores what it means to be in mental health recovery as well as the experience of being a mental health patient. Stigma from others or stigma one gives themselves is often connected to whether or not one takes medication.
Headstrong: The Women of Rural Uganda by Dan Nelken
The objective of the photographer is to combine the power of photography & give voice to the women in rural Uganda on issues that impact them & their families. These are the women who will face the new challenges to traditional customs posed by rapid population growth & unemployment over the coming decades.
Infinite Dream by Pino Coduti
Italian-born photographer Pino Coduti is a multi-awarded professional photographer specializing in wedding and portrait photography. This photo was meant to capture the wedding day, a divine light in the room, the veil of the bride: an infinite dream.
One Man-Many Style by Matej Dereck Hard
A series of staged double self-portraits. The creator born is Prague poses as six couples - fans of certain genres of music. On all portraits he acts both characters - man and women. Genres: Punk, Hip-Hop, Indie Rock, Free Techno, Reggae, Metal.
Family Portrait by Tetsuo Kurita
Taj Mahal, it is the most famous historic site in India. It is a memorial photo with all the family in front of the Taj Mahal. The family did not go to the Taj Mahal, but in the end, they will have one photo made there.
Baby in a Bag by Jonas Borg
This is a portrait of the photographer's son. He was only two days old when he was put in the camera bag next to the window to take the picture.
Nature is the ever-changing constant in our lives that amazes at every corner. Last year's nature photography entries to the Tokyo Foto Awards left us in awe at just how beautiful the things that surround us are. We have compiled our favourite ones!
Suk Eun Kim - Story of Tree Family
Suk Eun Kim is a Korean photographer drawing from his past experiences. His series depicts the tree family story of the sea. Modern people are too busy to meet family members. But we don't forget your family like those trees that always look at each other.
Craig Bill - Moonquest
Going on a nighttime hike in Antelope Canyon, Arizona, USA, you might be able to find the same magical scene!
Tomáš Neuwirth - Cemetery
Tomáš Neuwirth is a freelance international award-winning photographer that specializes in drone photography. His silver award winning photographs shows us a small cemetery outside of a village named Rejvíz in Jeseníky Mountains, Czech Republic.
Reiko Takahashi - Playing with the Waves
Taken at Vava'u in Tonga, this photo shows us a humpback whale at about 4 months old. A curious calf approached the photographer, flew and tapped his hand on the sea surface.
Rémi Masson - The Garden of Eden
As diver and photographer, Rémi Masson's first intention was to photograph the leaves of the water lilies. But once he was under the surface he was surprised to discover that, for a mysterious reason, several lily pads had opened under the water, forming incredible submerged gardens.
Sarah Alsharhan - Wild Acrobats
A leopard leaps to his safety as a tiger approaches his territory. The coexistence of these two wild cat species is inspiring to watch at Nagarahole National Park in India.
Shirley Wung - Rolling in Clouds
This mysterious photo shows us what happens when technology is used in a different way: a slow shutter was used to shoot the flow of clouds at night, to symbolise walking in the clouds.
Serge Melesan - Bullshark Dance
The moment when nature photography becomes an extreme sport... A group of 20 bullsharks were swimming around the photographers head.
Stas Bartnikas - Eye of the Earth
One of our favourite photos from the 2019 Tokyo Internatonal Foto Awards, this aerial capture shows a small glacial lake surrounded by ice was taken from a float plane in Denali National Park, Alaska.
Kwanghoon Oh - Underwater Tomb of King Munmu and Tomb Keeper
A popular spot to check out the sunrise, 200m away form the shore of East sea, this tomb, is King Munmu's - the 30th king of Silla(661-181). This is the first submerged burial place in the world.
In order to support and honour the outstanding work of both professional and amateur photographers around the world during the COVID-19 crisis, TIFA will match ALL cash prizes that are awarded this year with an equal cash donation to the charity of the winning photographer’s choice in their community.
(Monday, January 7, 2019)
The Tokyo International Foto Awards is excited to announce the winners of its 2018 Photography competition in both professional and amateur divisions. The 3rd Edition of the TIFA competition received over 5000 entries from 88 countries around the world, showing some truly stunning works of photography from across the globe.
TIFA’s international jury of renowned photography experts judged all the great entries to finally select the winners in each category, from which were chosen these outstanding winners of TIFA’s top 2 prizes—Photographer of the Year for the Professional categories, and New Talent of the Year for the Non-professional / Student categories.
Hossein Farmani, Founder and President of TIFA and its parent company Farmani Group commented: “It is a testament to the power of photography, that the whole world can be brought together through a single image. It is so powerful and moving, and this year’s selection of entries to the Tokyo International Foto Awards has taken us on a truly thrilling journey. We are so proud to be part of bringing this incredible photographic artistry to the world, and particularly the creative community in Japan. I look forward to celebrating with the winners in Tokyo!”
JURY FOCUS:
Kenro Izu was born in Osaka, Japan, studied at Nippon University College of Art, and subsequently moved to New York City where, after further studies in Fine Art Photography and working as an assistant to professional photographers, he established Kenro Izu Studio in 1975, to specialize in still life photography, both commercial and fine art. In 2000 Izu started developing his trademark technique of printing Cyanotype over Platinum to achieve infinite deep blue-black images which express the inner sanctuary of within the human body and other objects. Izu has traveled to over 30 countries in the past 40 years and continues his series of portraits in Bhutan and still-life work in studio. Other current projects include “Requiem” in Pompeï, “The Sacred Land” in Fuzhou and “Noh Masks” in Japan. Read more about Izu’s life and photographic career.
For a full list of TIFA’s international Jury, click here!
2018 TIFA WINNERS:
After evaluating so many truly remarkable images, the Jury selected Joachim Bergauer as the 2018 “Photographer of the Year”, for his illustrated book, “Life in a Leprosy Village”. The grand prize in the professional division earned Bergauer a $3,000 Cash Prize and the TIFA trophy.
“Does leprosy still exist in the 21st century? Yes, this village called M’balling. It is 84 km away from Dakar, the capital of Senegal. Here, healthy and sick people are trying to defy a cruel fate. The sick make up a third of the population. My book is a journey through M’Balling Since 2009, showing the life, the village, the inner and outer beauty, but also the dark side. It is a journey into a country where people’s will to survive despite their devastating living conditions is so great that they still smile.”
Evelyn Bencicova took the top spot in the amateur/student categories, and was named 2018 “New Talent of the Year” for her searching series of self-portraits, “Alice”. Bencicova also received the TIFA trophy and a $2,000 Cash Prize.
“Alice is a self-portrait done through another character. It reflects the certain moment of my life through the state of mind experienced in a mental-health center. Diary notes from the time still remind me of questioning ones own existence, of doubt and mistrust towards the space and institution that draws a very thin line between cure and torture.”
The category winners have also been announced and can be found on the winner’s page of the TIFA website HERE. The first place winners in each category receive a cash prize and all winners are awarded the TIFA winning seal and a winner certificate.
Representing Japan in the Winners List are:
Takashi Nakazawa—1st Place, Nature, Professional
Comyu Matsuoka—1st Place, Nature, Non-Professional
Masahiro Masuda—2nd Place, Editorial, Non-Professional
Hitomi Hasegawa—2nd Place, Book, Non-Professional
The grand-prize winners and all 1st and 2nd place category winners will be exhibited from February 20th-24th, 2019 at the Shibuya Art Center in Tokyo from 10 am to 6 pm.
Opening evening will take place on 20th February from 6 pm to 9 pm.
Address: 23-21 Sakuragaoka-cho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0031
Due to the current situation in Japan with the Covid-19 Coronavirus, we have decided to postpone the TIFA exhibitions in Tokyo (March/April) until further notice.
We are genuinely sorry and disappointed not to be able to exhibit the outstanding work of our 2019 winners as planned; we have not taken this decision lightly. We are hoping to reschedule for some time in late summer or autumn.
We look forward to presenting the images of TIFA 2019 grand-prize winners and all 1st and 2nd place category winners to the creative circles of Tokyo later this year.
TIFA launched a tremendously successful exhibition of its 2017 Winners on May 13 at ICA Space in Tokyo.
Over 100 photography enthusiasts came together to celebrate some of the best and brightest in photography and to meet and greet members of our distinguished Jury, including Tomohide Yoshida, and TIFA 2017 competition winners such as Jun Ishikura, Masumi Shiohara, Hajime Yoshida, and Krishna Valdez. The event was also graced by a surprise visit from the great art model Anna Uchiyama!
Exhibition Announcement
Every year Tokyo International Foto Awards presents the year’s most outstanding photography at the annual TIFA Exhibition held in galleries in Tokyo. Winning photographs will be also included in the “Best of Show” traveling exhibition.
This Year, TIFA2017 the grand-prize winners and all 1st and 2nd place category winners will be exhibited from May 13th – 16th, 2018 at the ICA Gallery in Tokyo, while other winners and Honorable mention works will be projected.
The event opening will take place on Sunday 13th of May afternoon from 3pm onwards including a “Meet & Greet” with TIFA team.
ICA Gallery, ICA3 Bldg E 2F
(Tuesday, April 3, 2018) The Tokyo International Foto Awards has announced the winners of its 2017 Photography competition in both the professional and amateur divisions. The 2017 TIFA photography competition received over 5,000 entries from 82 countries around the world, with some of the very best of photography from across the globe being submitted and giving the Jury a truly challenging task in selecting the year’s winners.
2017 TIFA WINNERS:
After viewing and evaluating so many truly outstanding images, the Jury selected Constanza Portnoy as the 2017 “Photographer of the Year”, for her exceptional work, “Life Force: What Love Can Save”. The grand prize in the professional division earned Constanza a $3,000 Cash Prize and the TIFA trophy.
http://www.tokyofotoawards.jp/winners/special/2017/225/
Yoshihiko Wada of Japan took the top spot in the amateur division, being named 2017 “New Talent of the Year” for their work in “The City Of Juncture”. Yoshihiko Wada also received the TIFA trophy and a $2,000 Cash Prize.
http://www.tokyofotoawards.jp/winners/special/2017/226/
Hossein Farmani, Founder and President of TIFA and its parent company Farmani Group comments: “I am so proud of this year’s amazing selection of entries to the Tokyo International Foto Awards. It has exceeded our expectations and is bringing the very highest level of photographic artistry to the world, and particularly the creative community in Japan. This is truly photography at its best!”
The category winners have also been announced and can be found on the winner’s page of the TIFA website HERE. The first place winners in each category receive a cash prize and all winners are awarded the TIFA winning seal and a winner certificate.
The grand-prize winners and all 1st and 2nd place category winners will be exhibited from May 12th – 16th, 2018 at the ICA Gallery in Tokyo, at the address below.
ICA3 Bldg E 2F
3 Chome-4-6 Higashinihonbashi, Chūō, Tokyo
103-0004 Japan
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The Tokyo International Foto Awards (TIFA) is a photography competition dedicated to recognizing, honoring and connecting talented photographers from around the world to new audiences and new eyes in the creative circles of Tokyo, Japan. The competition is open to everyone and we invite photographers from all over the world to enter their work. Tokyo International Foto Awards winners receive significant international publicity and extensive media exposure through our magazine and newspaper partners distributing and promoting winners works.
Farmani Group is a leading organization curating and promoting photography, design and architecture across the globe since 1985.The company’s key mission is to discover and promote talent in these areas through competitions, awards, exhibitions, developing artist communities, providing networking opportunities and education.
Exhibitions
Every year TIFA foto Awards presents the year’s most outstanding photography at the annual TIFA Exhibition held in a galleries in Tokyo. Winning photographs will be also included in the Best of Show traveling exhibition.
2016 TIFA Winners Exhibition was Feb 25 -28, 2017
TIFA（東京インターナショナルフォトアワード）受賞者展
Tokyo International Foto Awards, was exhibited at OWADA Gallery, Shibuya Tokyo.
Presented by Shibuya City Tourism Association
Photos from the event can be seen at the TIFA Facebook photo gallery
TIFA Winners
