This is the first time for Visa pour l’image. The international photojournalism festival that has just ended in Perpignan (Pyrénées-Orientales) awarded the Visa d’or News on Saturday 4 September to an anonymous photographer, rewarding his work in the “spring revolution” in Burma. The photojournalist did not reveal his identity for security reasons, as the bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protesters has left more than 1,000 dead in recent months.
“When I learned that a coup d’etat had just taken place in Burma on February 1st, it was obvious to appeal to him, he’s probably the best photographer in the country.”Mikko Takkunen da New York Times, came to collect the prize instead. “Maintaining the photographer’s anonymity is not a light decision and is always linked to the safety of our employees, which is our priority”, insists this photo manager for Asia in New York Times who has collaborated with the Burmese photographer for years.
The photos in the exhibition portray civilians, sometimes “armed” slingshot, facing soldiers firing real ammunition. The photographer also focuses on wounded or bereaved families in a country in chaos since the junta toppled the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.
“Since February 1st, I have been on the streets every day. I found it very difficult, having to work in the midst of gunfire, tear gas and shock grenades.”, explains the Burmese photographer in a text. “In the field, we stopped wearing our helmets marked ‘PRESS’ when we realized the military was targeting photographers.”, he adds, saying he is aware of “risking your life”. During the ceremony, Mikko Takkunen thus, he specified that the winner has dedicated his prize to all Burmese photographers who work at the risk of their lives
Visa d’or Magazine was won by Jérémy Lempin, international daily press by Asger Ladefoged, ICRC humanitarian Visa d’or by Antoine Agoudjian, Visa d’or for digital information France Info has award-winning Tyler Hicks , Julie Turkewitz and Manuela Andreoni. Photojournalist Canon Woman’s scholarship goes to Acacia Johnson, the Pierre and Alexandre Boulat Prize goes to the work of Mary F. Calvert, the Camille Lepage Prize goes to Ana Maria Arévalo Gosen and the City of Perpignan Rémi Ochlik Prize goes to Fatima Shbair.
The festival’s 25 exhibitions are free and open to the public until 26 September.
