Documenting The Birth of Cyprus’s Bouldering Legacy

• Prize
  Bronze in Editorial/Sports
• Photographer
  Silvio Augusto Rusmigo

I was invited to document a unique project: the creation of Cyprus’s first bouldering guidebook. This grassroots effort, led by climbers from Cyprus and abroad, is mapping the island’s untouched climbing potential, starting with over 700 lines in Akamas. Experiencing this sport for the first time, I witnessed more than climbing—it was about adventure, community, and love for a rugged, contested landscape. Through my images, I sought to reflect this vision of Akamas as not just a natural treasure but a symbol of what sustainable exploration could achieve for Cyprus.

Freelance documentary and commercial photographer, based in Cyprus. My work engages topics that deal with the outdoors, nature conservation and heritage. Coming from a Mediterranean island that formed the backdrop to my childhood dreams, I came to feel inspired by people, folklore and nature, and all the stories these have to tell. I hope that my work inspires others to discover and care for our world's rich natural and cultural heritage, and in this way contribute to its urgent need for preservation. When I am not holding my camera, I like to grab my hiking sticks and take to the mountains.