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Fotografiska and Photography 4 Humanity Launch Global Open Call "HOME" — Exhibition at United Nations Headquarters on Human Rights Day

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 22:06:35 GMT

World-renowned photographer James Nachtwey joins as Guest Curator

Stockholm, Sweden, March 12, 2026: Fotografiska and Photography 4 Humanity today announced the launch of HOME, a global open call for emerging photographers, culminating in an international exhibition at United Nations Headquarters in New York on December 10, 2026, Human Rights Day.

The open call is presented in partnership with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN Human Rights), the Global Partner of Photography 4 Humanity.

Submissions are open from March 12 through July 12, 2026 at:

emerging.fotografiska.com/missions/home

A Global Call on the Most Universal Theme

In a world shaped by climate disruption, forced displacement, and migration, the meaning of home has never been more urgent. HOME invites emerging photographers from every region of the world to submit work exploring the essential human need for safety, identity, dignity, and place, whether intimate or expansive, documentary or conceptual.

Selected works will be exhibited in Gallery A at United Nations Headquarters, one of the world's most consequential civic spaces, viewed daily by ambassadors, diplomats, and international visitors for approximately six weeks. The exhibition will be dedicated on December 10, 2026, in recognition of Human Rights Day - supported by the 193 member states of the UN.

Selected artists will be notified in October 2026.

An Exceptional Curatorial Team

HOME brings together an extraordinary curatorial lineup. James Nachtwey, widely regarded as one of the most significant documentary photographers of the 20th and 21st centuries, joins as Guest Curator. Curatorial direction is led by Pauline Benthede, Global VP Artistic Direction and Exhibitions at Fotografiska, with Sophia Emmerich, Lead Editor of Fotografiska Emerging, as part of the editorial team.

Kaylois Henry, Acting Chief of Communications at UN Human Rights, said:

"The meaning of home lies at the center of human rights. As climate change increasingly disrupts communities and forces displacement, the defense of home becomes inseparable from the defense of fundamental rights. This exhibition brings those realities into focus within the United Nations itself."

James Nachtwey, Guest Curator, said:

" Some of the most urgent photographs of our time are not about conflict — they are about what conflict takes away. Home is one of those things. This exhibition asks photographers to look at that loss, and ask the world to look with them."

David Rose, President of Photography 4 Humanity, said:

"By presenting this exhibition at the United Nations, in partnership with Fotografiska and UN Human Rights, we are placing photography at the center of global civic reflection."

Yoram Roth, Executive Chairman of Fotografiska, said:

"With HOME, we are bringing photography into one of the world's most important civic institutions. This exhibition, at the United Nations on Human Rights Day, is our purpose made real."

Pauline Benthede, Global VP Artistic Direction and Exhibitions at Fotografiska, said:

"Home is the most intimate thing there is, and at the same time one of the most politically charged. With James Nachtwey as our guest curator, the bar for what this exhibition can become is extraordinary."

About the Open Call

Submissions open: March 12, 2026 Submissions close: July 12, 2026 Submit at: emerging.fotografiska.com/missions/home

Selected artists notified: October 2026 Exhibition: December 10, 2026, approximately six weeks, UN Headquarters, New York

Full submission guidelines are available at: emerging.fotografiska.com/missions/home

About UN Human Rights

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN Human Rights) represents the world’s commitment to the promotion, protection, and realization of the full range of human rights and fundamental freedoms set out in international human rights instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Through the leadership of the High Commissioner and a staff of 2,000 across 92 countries, the Office works to make human rights a reality in the lives of people everywhere.

About Photography 4 Humanity

Photography 4 Humanity is a global social justice photography initiative created by David Clark Cause in partnership with UN Human Rights. The platform invites photographers worldwide to capture powerful images that illuminate the dignity, struggle, and resilience of people whose rights are challenged or defended. Each year, selected photographs are shared globally through UN.org and frequently exhibited at United Nations Headquarters in New York, using visual storytelling to elevate human rights awareness and inspire action around the world.

About Fotografiska

Fotografiska is the global destination for photography, visual art, and culture. Founded in Stockholm in 2010 and led by Executive Chairman Yoram Roth, Fotografiska is guided by the belief that photography is the most influential, accessible, and inclusive art form of our time. With locations in Stockholm, Berlin, Shanghai, and Tallinn, and soon Oslo, each Fotografiska museum serves as a dynamic hub where culture and community intersect. Fotografiska's Emerging Artists Program champions new voices in photography through open calls, editorial platforms, and global exhibition opportunities.

Media Contacts

Fotografiska: press@fotografiska.com
Photography 4 Humanity: info@photography4humanity.com
UN Human Rights: ohchr-media@un.org

Sourav Das Wins 2025 High Note Global Prize in Photography

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 20:28:50 GMT

Award-Winning Photograph Captures the Human Toll of India’s Century-Long Coalfield Fires

(New York, NY — December 10, 2025) — Photography 4 Humanity, the photography pillar of the High Note Global Initiative since 2018, proudly announces Sourav Das as the winner of the 2025 High Note Global Prize in Photography. His haunting photograph, In Jharia’s Fire, Both Earth and Mothers Weep, provides a powerful visual testament to one of the world’s longest-running environmental disasters and the human dignity sacrificed in its wake.

The announcement, made today on United Nations Human Rights Day, underscores that climate, environment, and human rights are inseparable, and that the burden of environmental collapse falls hardest on the world’s most vulnerable communities. Das’s winning image, taken in Jharia in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand, captures an elderly woman collapsed in grief amid the smoldering coalfields — her tears rising through the smoke in silent witness to the lives lost and forgotten in the flames. The Jharia coalfields have been burning underground since 1916, with fires today smoldering across more than twelve square kilometers and an affected population of over one million bearing the daily cost in toxic air, respiratory illness, ground subsidence, displacement, and lives cut short by a decade or more.

In official partnership with United Nations Human Rights, Photography 4 Humanity invites both amateur and professional photographers from around the world to bear witness to the human dimension of our most urgent challenges. As one of the two founding pillars of the High Note Global Initiative — alongside High Note Music — the program has stood since 2018 for the conviction that a single image can move the conscience of the world.

“Sourav Das’s photograph does what only the greatest photography can do. It takes a story too vast to comprehend — a fire that has been burning for more than a century, a million lives shaped by smoke and loss — and gathers it into one woman’s grief. Announcing this year’s winner on UN Human Rights Day is a reminder that the climate crisis and the human rights crisis are the same crisis, and that the world’s most vulnerable communities carry the heaviest burden of both.” — David Clark, founder, High Note Global

This year, Photography 4 Humanity received submissions from across the globe, showcasing the work of photographers committed to illuminating the stories of those most impacted by the converging climate and human rights emergencies of our time. Das’s winning image and other top entries will be exhibited at the United Nations headquarters in New York on UN Human Rights Day, and viewed globally on UN.org.

For more information about Photography 4 Humanity, the High Note Global Initiative, and this year’s winning entries, visit www.photography4humanity.com.

Viviane Rakotoarivony Wins 2024 High Note Global Prize in Photography

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 22:09:50 GMT

Award-Winning Image Captures the Human Toll of Cyclone Freddy in Madagascar

(New York, NY — December 10, 2024) — Photography 4 Humanity, the photography pillar of the High Note Global Initiative, proudly announces Viviane Rakotoarivony as the winner of the 2024 High Note Global Prize in Photography. Her arresting photograph, Ambalakondro, Devastated by Cyclone Freddy — taken in Mananjary, Madagascar — provides a powerful visual testament to the human cost of climate disasters and the urgent need for global climate justice.

The announcement, made today on United Nations Human Rights Day, underscores that climate change is not only an environmental issue but a profound human rights crisis. The winning photograph portrays children sheltering beneath the remnants of their roof after Cyclone Freddy destroyed 90 percent of homes in their village. Rakotoarivony’s image is accompanied by the description: “In the village of Ambalakondro, Cyclone Freddy devastated 90 percent of the homes, leaving these residents to take refuge beneath a fragment of their roof.”

Cyclone Freddy, one of the longest-lasting and most intense tropical storms ever recorded, devastated southeastern Africa across more than five weeks in 2023, leaving widespread destruction and displacement in its wake. Madagascar — where most communities have contributed nothing to the climate crisis but bear among its sharpest edges — was among the hardest hit. Rakotoarivony’s image is the human face of that asymmetry.

“Viviane Rakotoarivony’s photograph captures not only a moment of immense hardship but the strength and resilience of communities on the frontlines of climate change. Announcing this year’s winner on UN Human Rights Day is a powerful reminder that climate change is a human rights crisis, and we must act decisively to protect those most vulnerable.” — David Clark, founder, High Note Global

In official partnership with United Nations Human Rights, Photography 4 Humanity invites amateur and professional photographers from around the world to bear witness to the human dimension of our most urgent challenges. As one of the two founding pillars of the High Note Global Initiative — alongside High Note Music — the program stands for the conviction that a single image can move the conscience of the world.

This year, Photography 4 Humanity received thousands of submissions from across the globe, showcasing the creativity and passion of photographers committed to illuminating the stories of those most impacted by the climate crisis. Rakotoarivony’s winning image and other top entries were featured at the United Nations headquarters on UN Human Rights Day, and viewed globally on UN.org.

For more information, visit www.photography4humanity.com.

Kristina Varaksina Wins 2023 High Note Global Prize in Photography

Sun, 10 Dec 2023 19:22:18 GMT

Image of Schoolgirls Beside the Vanished Aral Sea Honored on UN Human Rights Day

(New York, NY — December 10, 2023) — Photography 4 Humanity, the photography pillar of the High Note Global Initiative, proudly announces Kristina Varaksina as the winner of the 2023 High Note Global Prize in Photography. Her arresting photograph, The Seashore is No Longer Here — taken in Karakalpakstan, in northwestern Uzbekistan — captures schoolgirls standing in an abandoned seaport beside an installation marking where the Aral Sea once reached, a visual testament to one of the most devastating man-made environmental disasters in modern history.

The announcement, made today on United Nations Human Rights Day, underscores that climate and environmental collapse are inseparable from human rights, and that some of the world’s most vulnerable communities have already lost what most of the world is still trying to protect. Once the world’s fourth-largest lake, the Aral Sea has lost roughly ninety percent of its volume since the 1960s, when Soviet irrigation diverted the rivers that fed it to support cotton production.

What remains is a desert of salt, sand, and the rusted hulls of fishing boats — and a Karakalpak population whose health, livelihoods, and culture have been catastrophically reshaped: the World Health Organization has documented anemia rates of 80 to 90 percent among women and children in the region.

“Kristina Varaksina’s photograph is the visual archive of a sea that should still exist. Two schoolgirls stand exactly where their grandparents once fished, beside a marker that exists only because the water does not. It is a quiet, devastating reminder that environmental loss is generational loss — and that the children who inherit a vanished landscape have inherited a vanished future, unless the world chooses otherwise.”

— David Clark, founder, High Note Global

This year, Photography 4 Humanity received thousands of submissions from across the globe, showcasing the work of photographers committed to illuminating the stories of those most impacted by the climate and environmental emergencies of our time. Varaksina’s winning image and other top entries were featured at the United Nations headquarters in New York on UN Human Rights Day, and viewed globally on UN.org.

For more information, visit www.photography4humanity.com.

Picture Climate Justice announced by Photography 4 Humanity and Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Alliance

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 15:44:51 GMT

Inspiring individuals worldwide to capture and share powerful images that champion climate justice.

BOULDER, CO, March 1, 2023 -- Picture Climate Justice is a global initiative created by United Nations Human Rights supported Photography 4 Humanity and Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Alliance, to empower people around the world at a grassroots level to capture images of people and the planet being impacted by climate change - then instantly upload them to a platform where they will be on display for the world to see.

By encouraging and empowering everyone around the world to take pictures of climate justice issues with their phones, 365 days a year, Picture Climate Justice seeks to engage and empower people to document what is actually taking place on the ground in local communities around the world. Through a crowd sourced photo platform that displays images on Instagram, Picture Climate Justice provides a public forum for people to capture and post images that convey that climate change is a human rights crisis, to help democratize and humanize the issue so everyone will have the ability to be seen and heard.

By highlighting compelling imagery - illustrating courage, despair, hope, injustice, and compassion, in ways small and large, Picture Climate Justice encourages the public to personally get involved and to take a stand for climate justice.

“The average person feels hopeless when it comes to climate change, as they don’t feel their voices are heard over those of the special interests that seek to continue the status quo.” Said David Clark, Founder and CEO of the Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Alliance. “With Picture Climate Justice, we provide a voice to those who all too often have none. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then the average person now has the ability to add their voice to the global dialogue through their lens.”

ABOUT

United Nations Human Rights

United Nations Human Rights represents the world’s commitment to the promotion, protection, and realization of the full range of human rights and fundamental freedoms set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Through the voice and the work of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, and a staff of 1,800 in 103 countries, the Office aims to make human rights a reality in the lives of people everywhere. For more info visit: www.ohchr.org

Photography 4 Humanity

Photography 4 Humanity is an international initiative that calls on photographers around the world to bring to life the power of human rights through their images. The annual Photography 4 Humanity Global Challenge is a unique call to action for amateur and professional photographers alike, to submit images for a global competition where, each year, photos from the Photography 4 Humanity Global Prize Recipient and the Top 10 finalists are exhibited by global partner United Nations Human Rights at the UN headquarters in New York each year on Human Rights Day. For more info visit: www.photography4humanity.com

Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Alliance

The Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Alliance is an international initiative created to take on climate change as the human rights crisis that leading scientists and human rights advocates, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, have declared it to be. Since Right Here, Right Now was launched at the UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland (COP26) by United Nations Human Rights and supporters led by Leonardo DiCaprio, Right Here, Right Now has emerged as the largest public/private climate partnerships to promote climate justice in the world. For more info visit: www.righthererightnow.global

# # #

Masood Sarwer Wins 2022 High Note Global Prize in Photography

Wed, 30 Nov 2022 14:43:03 GMT

New Delhi-Based Photographer Honored for Image Capturing the “Slow Violence” of Ganges Erosion in West Bengal

(New York, NY — November 30, 2022) — Photography 4 Humanity, the photography pillar of the High Note Global Initiative, proudly announces Masood Sarwer as the winner of the 2022 High Note Global Prize in Photography. His evocative photograph, The Endless Dance of Erosion — taken in Malda, West Bengal — provides a poignant visual narrative of the devastating human toll of land erosion along the Ganges, and the slow-motion displacement of communities whose homes are being dismantled, piece by piece, by the river itself.

The winning image depicts Nurul Islam, an 80-year-old man seated in a chair amidst the dismantling of his own home. His testimony accompanies the photograph: “Last week my wife died due to cardiac arrest, and the following week we started dismantling our house when we heard the Ganges started eroding the land again.” Sarwer, a New Delhi-based documentary photographer whose practice focuses on the cultures and crises of West Bengal’s Murshidabad district where he grew up, has long documented what he calls the region’s slow violence.

“The reason I took this photograph is to show the slow violence of the region and how it has created a permanent impact on the socioeconomic conditions and demographic dislocation. The slow and steady riverbank erosion has not only given birth to a class of environmental refugees but also has denied the right to rehabilitation.” — Masood Sarwer

“The selected photographs in this exhibit show both the devastating humanitarian impacts of climate change and the urgency with which we must act to prevent further harm. These images have the power to shape our understanding of this global crisis in ways that words cannot.” — David Clark, founder, High Note Global

Sarwer’s winning image and more than thirty finalist photographs were unveiled this week at CU Boulder, host of the Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit (December 2–4) in partnership with United Nations Human Rights. The exhibit will remain on display at NEST Studio for the Arts throughout the Summit before moving to the United Nations headquarters in New York for UN Human Rights Day on December 10.

For more information, visit www.photography4humanity.com.

UN and Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Alliance Launch International Photography Contest

Wed, 25 May 2022 13:45:04 GMT

Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Alliance and global partner United Nations Human Rights launch the 2022 Photography 4 Humanity Global Challenge and name Photography 4 Humanity as a preferred partner.

Winning images to be exhibited at United Nations Headquarters, and at the inaugural Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit in Boulder, CO held Dec. 1-4, 2022

Photography 4 Humanity and the Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Alliance are calling upon photographers around the world to capture images that help convey the climate change crisis through a human rights lens and inspire people to take critical action.As the new preferred platform of the Global Climate Alliance, Photography 4 Humanity is a leading international initiative galvanizing the talents of both professional and amateur photographers to help reframe climate change as the human rights crisis that leading scientists and human rights advocates, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, have declared it to be.

The Photography 4 Humanity Global Challenge this year will serve as a call to action to bring to life the most compelling imagery that illustrates how the most vulnerable among us are affected by the escalating climate crisis . By showcasing their courage, despair, hope, and compassion, Photography 4 Humanity seeks to humanize the issue in order to engage people to act.

“Imagery that vividly demonstrates the very personal impact of climate change helps us all focus on how these things affect each other. Rising sea levels, increasingly intense weather events, floods, droughts, and other natural disasters unfold at scale but ultimately devastate individual people,” said award-winning photographer David Rose, who serves as president of Photography 4 Humanity. “Using the power of photography to keep that front and center helps us all remain compassionate as we collectively address this existential crisis together.”

The Photography 4 Humanity Global Prize Recipient and top 10 finalists will first be revealed at the University of Colorado Boulder’s NEST (Nature, Environment, Science & Technology) Studio for the Arts on Dec. 1 to help celebrate the opening of the inaugural Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit. The exhibit will then move to the United Nations Headquarters in New York City on Dec. 10—UN Human Rights Day. In addition, the winning images will be displayed globally online at UN.org.

“As co-host of 2022 Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit with United Nations Human Rights, CU Boulder is proud to be exhibiting the Photography 4 Humanity winning images during the inaugural summit,” said CU Boulder Chancellor Philip DiStefano. “As the world’s foremost human rights, scientific, political, educational, cultural, and industry leaders assemble to address the adverse effects of climate change on human rights for the most vulnerable among us, these powerful images will be a stark reminder of who we are doing this important work for.”

Erin Espelie, co-director of NEST Studio for the Arts and associate professor of cinema studies and critical media practices at CU Boulder, said artists and scientists must work collaboratively in attending to the effects of climate change.

“Creative vantages, in both the scientific and artistic disciplines, must shift in response to the ongoing ecological destruction,” Espelie said. “These powerful images allow for specificity, not more generalizations, of people, places, and communities being unevenly impacted by the global crises. The NEST exhibition during this gathering of world leaders offers a place for contemplation.”
For more information, visit Photography4Humanity.com .

About

UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS

Global Partner of Photography 4 Humanity and the Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Alliance, The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN Human Rights) has a unique mandate to promote and protect all human rights for all people. Under the leadership of the High Commissioner, with a staff of 1,300 working in more than 70 countries, it aims to make human rights a reality in the lives of people everywhere. For more information, visit ohchr.org .

PHOTOGRAPHY 4 HUMANITY

Photography 4 Humanity is an international initiative supported by global partner UN Human Rights that calls on photographers around the world to bring to life the power of human rights through their images. At the core of the Photography 4 Humanity initiative is a global call to action for amateur and professional photographers alike, to submit images for an annual competition where the Photography 4 Humanity Global Prize Recipient and the top ten finalists are recognized each year through an art exhibit on December 10th – Human Rights Day at the United Nations HQ in NYC. For more information, visit Photography4Humanity.com .

RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW GLOBAL CLIMATE ALLIANCE

Designed to be one of the largest public/private climate partnerships in the world, this global movement is committed to working with policy-makers, NGOs, foundations, businesses, academics, celebrities, artists, scientists, and all people to fight climate change and preserve our common future. For more info visit righthererightnow.global .

UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO BOULDER

CU Boulder is a leader in many fields, including aerospace engineering, earth, and environmental science, physics, and environmental and human rights law. The school partners with many notable federal research labs, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). For more info visit colorado.edu .

DAVID CLARK CAUSE

Photography 4 Humanity creator David Clark Cause is a global leader in creating Cause Brands and purpose-driven initiatives that both inspire and endure. For more than two decades, founder David Clark has leveraged the iconic stature and cultural currency of world-renowned individuals and organizations to build successful Cause Brands that have raised millions of dollars and unprecedented awareness for some of the most significant causes of our time. For more info visit davidclarkcause.com .

Photography 4 Humanity and Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Alliance Call on Photographers Worldwide to Capture Climate Change through a Human Rights Lens

Tue, 03 May 2022 01:09:43 GMT

The alliance and its global partner United Nations Human Rights name Photography 4 Humanity as a preferred partner and launch the 2022 Photography 4 Humanity Global Challenge.

Winning images to be exhibited at United Nations Headquarters, and at the inaugural Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit in Boulder, CO held Dec. 1-4, 2022.

NEW YORK (May 3, 2022) - Photography 4 Humanity and the Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Alliance are calling upon photographers around the world to capture images that help convey the climate change crisis through a human rights lens and inspire people to take critical action.

As the new preferred platform of the Global Climate Alliance, Photography 4 Humanity is a leading international initiative galvanizing the talents of both professional and amateur photographers to help reframe climate change as the human rights crisis that leading scientists and human rights advocates, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, have declared it to be.

The Photography 4 Humanity Global Challenge this year will serve as a call to action to bring to life the most compelling imagery that illustrates how the most vulnerable among us are affected by the escalating climate crisis. By showcasing their courage, despair, hope, and compassion, Photography 4 Humanity seeks to humanize the issue in order to engage people to act.

“Imagery that vividly demonstrates the very personal impact of climate change helps us all focus on how these things affect each other. Rising sea levels, increasingly intense weather events, floods, droughts, and other natural disasters unfold at scale, but ultimately devastate individual people,” said award-winning photographer David Rose, who serves as president of Photography 4 Humanity. “Using the power of photography to keep that front and center helps us all remain compassionate as we collectively address this existential crisis together.”

“As co-host of the 2022 Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit with United Nations Human Rights, CU Boulder is proud to be exhibiting the Photography 4 Humanity winning images during the inaugural summit,” said CU Boulder Chancellor Philip DiStefano. “As the world's foremost human rights, scientific, political, educational, cultural and industry leaders assemble to address the adverse effects of climate change on human rights for the most vulnerable among us, these powerful images will be a stark reminder of who we are doing this important work for.”

“Creative vantages, in both the scientific and artistic disciplines, must shift in response to the ongoing ecological destruction,” Espelie said. “These powerful images allow for specificity, not more generalizations, of people, places and communities being unevenly impacted by the global crises. The NEST exhibition during this gathering of world leaders offers a place for contemplation.”

For more information, visit: Photography4Humanity.com

ABOUT

UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS

PHOTOGRAPHY 4 HUMANITY

Photography 4 Humanity is an international initiative supported by global partner UN Human Rights that calls on photographers around the world to bring to life the power of human rights through their images. At the core of the Photography 4 Humanity initiative is a global call to action for amateur and professional photographers alike, to submit images for an annual competition where the Photography 4 Humanity Global Prize Recipient, and the top ten finalists are recognized each year through and art exhibit on December 10th – Human Rights Day at the United Nations HQ in NYC. For more information, visit: Photography4Humanity.com

RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW GLOBAL CLIMATE ALLIANCE

The Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Alliance supported by global partner United Nations Human Rights is an international initiative created to take on climate change as the human rights crisis that leading scientists and human rights advocates declare it to be. Designed to be one of the largest public/private climate partnerships in the world, this global movement is committed to work with policy-makers, NGOs, foundations, businesses, academics, celebrities, artists, scientists, and all people to fight climate change and preserve our common future. For more info visit: righthererightnow.global

UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO BOULDER

At the foot of the Rocky Mountains, CU Boulder is nationally recognized as one of only 35 AAU public research universities. Established in 1876, CU Boulder is a Tier 1 public research university with five Nobel laureates, nine MacArthur fellows and is the No. 1 public university recipient of NASA awards. CU Boulder is a leader in many fields, including aerospace engineering, earth and environmental science, physics and environmental and human rights law. The school partners with many notable federal research labs, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). For more info visit: colorado.edu

DAVID CLARK CAUSE

Photography 4 Humanity creator David Clark Cause is a global leader in creating Cause Brands and purpose-driven initiatives that both inspire and endure. For more than two decades, founder David Clark has leveraged the iconic stature and cultural currency of world-renowned individuals and organizations to build successful Cause Brands that have raised millions of dollars and unprecedented awareness for some of the greatest causes of our time. For more info visit: davidclarkcause.com

Apratim Pal Wins 2021 High Note Global Prize in Photography

Fri, 10 Dec 2021 20:20:34 GMT

Image of Women Searching for Water in West Bengal Honored on UN Human Rights Day

(New York, NY — December 10, 2021) — Photography 4 Humanity, the photography pillar of the High Note Global Initiative, proudly announces Apratim Pal as the winner of the 2021 High Note Global Prize in Photography. His haunting image, A Thirsty Earth — taken in the cracked, drought-stricken plains of West Bengal, India — captures women walking long distances in search of water amid one of the most existential pressures of the climate crisis: the slow, irreversible disappearance of a basic human resource.

The announcement, made today on United Nations Human Rights Day, draws a clear line between climate change and the lived reality of those who bear its costs first. Across India and beyond, the deepening drought cycles of recent years have placed extraordinary burdens on women and girls, who in many rural communities walk farther and farther each season to bring water home — work that pulls children from school, exhausts the body, and erodes economic possibility long before the well runs fully dry. Pal’s image distills that vast and gendered crisis into a single, unforgettable frame.

“The climate crisis does not arrive everywhere at once — it arrives first at the well, at the riverbed, at the empty bucket. Apratim Pal’s photograph captures the moment millions of women face every morning, and the burden the world has yet to lift from their shoulders. Recognizing his work on UN Human Rights Day is a reminder that access to water is not a development goal alone — it is a human right.” — David Clark, founder, High Note Global

Pal’s winning image and the work of the Top 10 Finalists were exhibited at Fotografiska New York on UN Human Rights Day, December 10, 2021, before being published by the United Nations on UN.org for global audiences.

For more information about Photography 4 Humanity and the High Note Global Initiative, visit www.photography4humanity.com.

Photography 4 Humanity – An Image Revolution.

Fri, 05 Mar 2021 14:25:21 GMT

Announcing the new exhibition to be viewed around the world via the United Nations virtual exhibition. Dynamically bringing to light issues of humanity from around the world, Photography 4 Humanity are inspiring photographers to capture striking images as a tool for change.

IMAGO previously featured their Global Prize competition earlier this year. Welcoming photographers of all skills and abilities in providing a voice for those who have been silenced, a platform for revolution and a tool for documenting and distilling moments of courage, change and despair the finalists were exhibited at Fotografiska New York.

Following the successful Photography 4 Humanity exhibit that opened on UN Human Rights Day with their Global Partner UN Human Rights, Photography 4 Humanity is honored that the 2020 Photography 4 Humanity Global Prize winner, along with the images of the ten Finalists can now be viewed around the world via the United Nations virtual exhibit.

With the United Nations presenting the powerful human rights images, submitted from 142 countries, Photography 4 Humanity has been provided with a global platform to shine a spotlight on issues that reflect the human condition – both human rights triumphs and challenges. As the organization was initially founded to empower people everywhere and take a stand for human rights by documentation, this is an important step.

“We believed that if amateur and professional photographers knew they could share their photos with the world via Photography 4 Humanity, a global movement would be created that would exponentially grow – because it’s driven by people who are passionate about capturing and sharing images that have the ability to inspire positive change.”

Photography 4 Humanity is proud to help convene this Image Revolution with the support of the United Nations, Fotografiska New York, David Clark Cause, leaders in the photography world, and people everywhere who capture the images to move and inspire us.

To view the entire TheGame.Photos article, please visit them here: https://www.thegame.photos/en/artists/photography-4-humanity-an-image-revolution/

FROM THE FIELD: Focusing a lens on courage, despair and hope

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 14:55:06 GMT

Human rights are not just a theory: they have an immediate impact on people’s lives. Photography 4 Humanity, a UN-backed competition, is inspiring photographers to capture striking images of grief, inequality and resilience.

People sleep rough on a train platform in Chittagong, Bangladesh, oblivious to trains speeding past in either direction; an Argentinian man playing with his daughter, ignoring his lack of arms and legs, a consequence of the drug thalidomide; and an Indonesian teenager literally sees the light, as it streams into the prison cell where he is being held after recovering from the effects of powerful synthetic street drugs which rendered him aggressive.

Here you can see more of the powerful stories, told in images, which have been submitted by professional and amateur photographers for this year’s Photography 4 Humanity exhibition.

“Photography has the ability to transcend borders”: Photography 4 Humanity, An Interview

Thu, 17 Dec 2020 17:49:08 GMT

The United Nations supported initiative, Photography 4 Humanity is dynamically bringing to life the power of human rights through compelling photography as a tool to ignite real change.

Illustrating the courage, hope and injustice of many from around the world alongside human rights victories and failures large and small, Photography 4 Humanity are authentically and successfully, bridging gaps between continents, communities and governments alike. Their one goal? To inspire people to personally get involved, take a stand for human rights and invoke change. World wide.

Creating a deeply inclusive community, Photography 4 Humanity also brings together photographers of all abilities, trained professionals or not, for the Global Prize each year. The open competition, with no restriction on entry, welcomes photographers to tell their stories and share images that capture moments in time, preserving them, to showcase internationally and spark reform. In bringing to light the lives of those who are all too often unseen, Photography 4 Humanity utilizes the power of photography in today’s society for good.

Announced on World Human Rights Day, Dec 10, this year’s winner was the incredibly memorable and emotionally charged, “The Last Rites” by Indian photographer, Anindito Mukherjee. Encompassing the many effects COVID-19 has had on humanity worldwide, it is a deserved winner and demonstrates the true potential of photography.

This year’s ten finalists also featured our very own IMAGO photographer, Maryam Majd from Iran. Her photograph, “Freedom in Freedom”, depicting Iranian women celebrating at a soccer game for the first time since 1980, is both emotive and strong. Change is happening.

IMAGO was lucky enough to sit down with David Clark, creator behind Photography 4 Humanity and the David Clark Cause, to learn more about the evolution of his initiative and its triumphs over the years.

For over two decades, David Clark Cause, has successfully engaged world leaders, dignitaries, celebrities, governments, corporations, charities and the public at large to create innovative and sustainable Cause Brands that educate, empower and inspire people to action.

Read his full interview below to find out more about this cultural movement and get inspired by the photography from this year’s Global Prize.

Photo: Their Home - Mohammed Shajahan (Chittagong, Bangladesh / April 2020)

First of all, thank you for taking the time to chat a little today. Congratulations on this year’s Global Prize competition in partnership with the United Nations. As always some beautiful photography from around the globe and some great emerging artists to inspire us with.

How did it all get started and how has it evolved over the years to become the Photography 4 Humanity we see today?

Over the last 25 years I’ve had the good fortune to work with iconic people like Muhammad Ali and President Nelson Mandela to create purpose-driven initiatives that promote human rights and social justice issues, and during those initiatives, one of the most powerful forms of communication and education was always through photography. Over the course of my career I’ve known that the most powerful way to instantly convey a message is with a dramatic picture, and with the advent of social media, where an image can go viral to a global audience – we’ve entered an era where we know an image can impact and inspire the viewer.

With the support of our global partners United Nations Human Rights, the lead agency within the United Nations system to promote and defend human rights, and internationally-renowned Presenting Partner Fotografiska New York, driven by a mission to inspire a more conscious world, we are able to promote Photography 4 Humanity photographers and their images around the world with the hope of inspiring people to take a stand for human rights.

Photo: What Love Can Save - Constanza Portnoy (Buenos Aires, Argentina / August 2020)

What were the initial goals you set for yourself when starting out the initiative?

The initial idea was ambitious for sure. I wanted to fuse human rights and photography into one purpose-driven initiative called Photography 4 Humanity, because I believed that photographers, both professional and amateur alike, could bring the power of human rights to life with their images and inspire people around the world to take action. I believed, with our partners at United Nations Human Rights, we could create a unique platform that could give a voice to those who all too often have none. I believed that if we attracted renowned people in the photography world, as well as those working to promote human rights around the world, a unique organization would be created that could authentically promote human rights through photography. And with the support of United Nations Human Rights, the lead agency that promotes human rights to the 193 member states of the UN, I believed that with the “Photography 4 Humanity Global Prize,” we could create a truly unique and premier global award that would appropriately be presented annually on Human Rights Day (December 10th) – the day the UN commemorates the ratification of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights every year. Adding gravitas to the global competition is that the images are judged by an esteemed jury that includes a range of renowned photo industry professionals, and that the Photography 4 Humanity Global Prize Recipient’s winning image, and the Top 10 finalists are exhibited annually by the United Nations and Fotografiska New York.

Photo: Conflict of Cultures - Joédson Alves (Amazon, Brazil / July 2020)

What are the core principles and ethics of Photography 4 Humanity?

Photography 4 Humanity was created as an international initiative that calls on photographers around the world to bring to life the power of human rights through their images, highlighting the most compelling photos — illustrating courage, despair, hope, injustice, compassion, human rights failures or victories in ways small and large. It is our belief that these images will serve to inspire people to personally get involved and take a stand for human rights.

We also believe that photography should be democratic, that both amateur and professional photographers alike should be encouraged and inspired to participate, because we wanted to empower everyone to help promote human rights – wherever they are, by taking the time to capture a compelling human rights image – and share it with the world. What were the initial goals you set for yourself when starting out the initiative?

Photo: Protest Embrace - Louis Mack (Paris, France / June 2020)

What do you see as the power of photography and its place in today’s society? Have you always believed it to be a tool for change and inspiration?

Now that most people can easily take high-quality photos on their phones, and so many people have access to social media, we believe this is an amazing time and opportunity for photographers from around the world to take a stand for human rights with their photos. One only has to think of the image of the little boy in Aleppo sitting in an ambulance bloodied from a Syrian bomb, or see images of children locked in cages at the US and Mexico border, to understand the power of photography. We believe that images are like facts, they are very difficult to ignore.

Photo: Faith - Sharwar Hossain Apo (Mawa, Bangladesh / May 2020)

Why do you think Photography 4 Humanity resonates so well globally?

We believe Photography 4 Humanity resonates because there is no barrier to entry, we welcome any photographer, from anywhere, to help tell their stories and share their images that capture a range of human rights issues and triumphs.

In your opinion, what allows photography to transcend borders and build connections in a way other mediums may not?

Photography has the ability to transcend borders because it allows people to see the world from different points of view they never knew existed, in a frozen moment. It also has the ability to provoke emotion and generate instant empathy, as people can relate to genuine human emotion and are affected by the powerful stories being told when they see it.

Photo: Covid-19 Funeral - Totok Wijayanto (Jakarta, Indonesia / July 2020)

Creating connections through galvanizing global change and giving a platform to emerging artists are two things Photography 4 Humanity attains. How do you think you achieve these elements so well?

We’re able to authentically create powerful connections for global change because we have the ability, through our partners, to select and promote images that speak to authentic human rights issues, that are submitted by photographers who bear witness to them first-hand. When you see a story visually, told by the very person who took the image – it’s compelling. That’s one of the reasons we encourage all photographers to provide as much context for their images as possible, and during our award show and exhibits, we encourage videos of the photographers so they can explain the context of their images – in their own voice.Why do you think Photography 4 Humanity resonates so well globally?

Photo: Heroes 3 - Emeke Obanor (Nigeria / January 2020)

The inspiration for change and to act as a catalyst for people to personally get involved are two things you write as important to Photography 4 Humanity. What examples come to mind of people being moved to act?

One example that immediately comes to mind, is this year’s Top 10 Finalist image entitled “Freedom in Freedom” that depicts women in Iran celebrating at a soccer game at Azadi Stadium in Tehran. For the first time since 1980, Iranian women are allowed to watch football in the same stadium as men. For roughly 40 years, the Islamic republic had barred female spectators from football and other stadiums with clerics arguing that women must be shielded from the masculine atmosphere and the sight of semi-clad men. This shift in rules was the result of protests that gained global attention and increased public pressure on FIFA, who after years of lobbying, left open the possibility of banning Iran from qualifying matches for the 2022 World Cup.

This was a historic moment for Iranian women and very personal for photographer, Maryam Majd, a long-term sports photographer and documentarian who has fought for women’s rights and the right of women to enter the stadium in Iran for many years. In 2011, Maryam was herself arrested because she was the only Iranian female photographer to receive accreditation and an invitation by FIFA to take part in the Women’s FIFA World Cup in Germany.

While women were allowed into the stadium that day, for some reason unknown to Maryam, women photographers were not allowed to photograph the game, and she needed to sneak her camera into the stadium to take photos from the crowd. For Maryam, this photo is not just a photo of football fans but a captured moment of the screams and cries of excitement from voices that were silenced for 40 years. Shouts of freedom reigned throughout Azadi Stadium, which ironically translates to Freedom Stadium – Freedom in Freedom.

Photo: The Last Rites - Anindito Mukherjee (New Delhi, India / May 2020)

The yearly Global Prize competition always features such great photography from around the world. What elements of a photograph make for a great image and for finalists status?

First and foremost, the images must convey a human rights message and subjects that are compelling, and even better if it’s captured in an artistic manner that makes it all the more engaging.

What were some of the competition highlights for you so far? Any photographs that stand out in your memory over the years?

We received so many incredible images and heard so many unbelievable stories, it’s very difficult to select only a few to highlight. But given the year we’ve all endured in 2020 with the global pandemic raging, the Photography 4 Humanity Global Prize winning image this year by Anindito Mukherjee from India epitomizes this most difficult time and encapsulates both the human and systemic costs of COVID-19. His dramatic image “The Last Rites” is a truly memorable photo as it depicts a person who lost their life to COVID-19 being buried by municipal workers in hazmat suits, while the deceased’s family is forbidden to say goodbye or perform religious last rites.

Photo: Hope to Get Well - Arie Basuki (Tangerang, Indonesia / September 2019)

Bringing together professional and amateur photographers is something that Photography 4 Humanity does so well. Why do you think it is important to showcase a range of artists alongside each other?

Since our primary goal is to promote human rights and social justice images, we thought it was essential to build an inclusive community – open to everyone and anyone who wants to share their human rights stories and imagery with the world. For us, it was critical to allow everyone to be eligible to participate in the Photography 4 Humanity Global Prize Competition because every story is important to share regardless if you are a trained professional or not. We thought about all the historically impactful photos that were taken by amateurs and bystanders that riveted the world. For example, those of us old enough to remember, will recall that iconic image of the man in China standing peacefully in front of a row of tanks in Tiananmen Square. Can you imagine if we couldn’t allow a similarly poignant photo because the person who took it was an amateur? We’ve actually heard from a lot of the professional photographers who participate with Photography 4 Humanity and they love the fact that it’s open to anyone. This isn’t a traditional competition that’s more reliant on skill and technique, the subject matter here is dependent on diverse viewpoints and demands it be open to amateur and professionals alike.

Also, it’s our hope that as the public gets to know that Photography 4 Humanity is a platform open to anyone who documents human rights, that more people who witness human rights violations will take pictures when they encounter them – and submit them to our platform where we continually feature compelling photos on our @Photography4Humanity Instagram feed and social channels. Once this begins to be more pervasive, then the mere fact that someone is documenting a human rights abuse may help to stop it, as the cause of the violations may be more exposed by Photography 4 Humanity.

Photo: The Evolution of Species - Luis Teixeira Mendes (Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil / March 2020)

Do you have any tips for photographers looking to start out in the industry?

I think it’s important to begin by first focusing in on what you’re most passionate about, and then figuring out how you’d like to convey that passion to the world through your images. Once you have your north star identified, plan on how to capture images that drive you there.

“Thank you for bringing attention to Photography 4 Humanity and raising awareness of the importance of human rights.” – David Clark Cause.

On display at Fotografiska, New York , for one month, all the images from the 2020 finalists will then move on to be exhibited virtually by the United Nations internationally.

You can also head to their @Photography4Humanity social channels to submit your compelling photography.

For more information on the work Photography 4 Humanity are doing, visit photography4humanity.com and davidclarkcause.com .

Photography 4 Humanity | 2020 Global Prize

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 20:57:53 GMT

Award-Winning Image Bears Witness to Delhi’s Lonely Pandemic Burials

(New York, NY — December 10, 2020) — Photography 4 Humanity, the photography pillar of the High Note Global Initiative, proudly announces Anindito Mukherjee as the winner of the 2020 High Note Global Prize in Photography. His unflinching image, Last Rites — taken in New Delhi at the height of the global pandemic — captures the lonely, contracted burials of COVID-19 victims whose families were forbidden from a final goodbye.

The announcement, made today on United Nations Human Rights Day, underscores how the COVID-19 pandemic became not only a public health emergency but a human rights crisis — exposing the inequalities of who lives, who dies, and who is permitted to grieve in dignity. Mukherjee’s image, taken in New Delhi, India, depicts municipal workers performing the final rites of pandemic dead, their loved ones absent, their funerals stripped of nearly every ritual humans have built around death.

Mukherjee, an Indian photojournalist whose work has been published by Reuters, Getty Images, Bloomberg, CNN, CBC, and VICE World News, would go on to document India’s catastrophic second wave with the same unflinching eye, photographing the overflowing crematoria of New Delhi that would come to define one of the pandemic’s most devastating chapters. His winning image stands as both an act of witness and an act of memorial — preserving the names, the silence, and the loss that the world’s reporting too often reduced to a number.

“In any human rights crisis, the right to dignified mourning is among the first to fall, and the last to be restored. Anindito Mukherjee’s photograph insists on the personhood of those the pandemic took, and on the personhood of those who were not permitted to say goodbye. To make work of this gravity in a year of unprecedented danger to photographers themselves is an act of courage as well as art.” — David Clark, founder, High Note Global

This year, Photography 4 Humanity received thousands of submissions from across the globe. Mukherjee’s winning image and the top ten finalists will be exhibited at Fotografiska New York from December 10, 2020 through January 24, 2021, before traveling to a virtual exhibit hosted by United Nations Human Rights and viewed globally on UN.org.

For more information, visit www.photography4humanity.com.

Fotografiska New York + United Nations Human Rights & David Clark Cause = the Annual ‘Photography 4 Humanity’ Global Prize Competition & Exhibitions

Tue, 12 May 2020 21:37:45 GMT

2019 Photography 4 Humanity Global Prize Recipient

2019 Photography 4 Humanity Global Prize Recipient: Sameer Al-Doumy

Description: “A married couple drink coffee in the remains of their home in Souma.”

Location: Syria. Courtesy Fotografisks

Fotografiska New York, the photography museum located in the Flatiron District of Manhattan, announced today their partnership with United Nations Human Rights and David Clark Cause as the exclusive presenter of the annual Photography 4 Humanity Global Prize Competition and subsequent exhibitions.

Submissions for the 2020 Photography 4 Humanity Global Prize Competition open today, May 8th, and will be open until August 31, 2020.

Photography 4 Humanity is an initiative created by David Clark Cause. The project calls on photographers around the world to bring the power of human rights to life through their images, and submit their work for an annual competition. The Photography 4 Humanity Global Prize Recipient and the Top 10 Finalists will be announced and exhibited on December 10th, UN Human Rights Day, at Fotografiska New York. Following the month-long installation, the images will move and be displayed at the United Nations. The Global Prize Recipient will also receive a $5,000 USD cash prize.

“Photography 4 Humanity was created to highlight some of the greatest human rights challenges of our time. With the outbreak of the Coronavirus global pandemic, an emphasis on human rights has never seemed so important, and we assume many of the photo submissions will address the human rights implications of COVID-19,” said Photography 4 Humanity Creator David Clark. “Photography 4 Humanity has the ability to highlight courage, hope, injustice, despair, compassion, human rights failures and victories which hopefully will serve to inspire people around the world to get personally involved.”

“Through Photography 4 Humanity, we look forward to shining a light on the rights of the most vulnerable,” said Laurent Sauveur, Chief of External Outreach, UN Human Rights. “While the world is facing a pandemic that tests our societies, we believe these images will expose, promote, educate and build awareness of the importance of human rights around the world and inspire people to take a stand for human rights.”

This esteemed award is unique in the field of human rights and photography, as it is presented annually by Global Partner United Nations Human Rights – the lead agency within the United Nations system to promote and defend human rights – and internationally renowned Presenting Partner Fotografiska New York. The laureates will also be selected by an eminent jury that includes renowned photographers, journalists, photo editors and human rights champions such as Robert Pledge, Elisabeth Biondi, Robert Clark, Kristen Ashburn, David Rose, Amanda Hajjar and Laurent Sauveur.

“We are honored to have been selected as the Global Presenter of Photography 4 Humanity in support of UN Human Rights, as our founding principle is to inspire a more conscious world through the art of photography,” said Amanda Hajjar, Director of Exhibitions at Fotografiska. “By helping to provide a platform to share these human rights images with the world, we hope to give voice to those who have none.”

All professional and amateur photographers are encouraged to enter the 2020 Photography 4 Humanity Global Prize Competition by visiting Photography4Humanity.com and submitting your images. The competition will close August 31st, and our esteemed jury will then select the 2020 Photography 4 Humanity Global Prize Recipient, and the Top 10 Finalists.

About Photography 4 Humanity Global Initiative

Photography 4 Humanity is an international initiative that calls on photographers around the world to bring to life the power of human rights through their images. Highlighting the most compelling human rights imagery – illustrating courage, despair, hope, injustice, compassion in ways small and large, the images serve to inspire people to personally get involved and take a stand for human rights. For more info, visit: www.photography4humanity.com

Fotografiska New York is the new destination for photography and culture, located in a treasured landmarked building in NYC’s Flatiron District. The Museum offers an unexpected mix of world-class art, vibrant cultural programming, exceptional dining, music, nightlife and curated retail.

Founded in 2010 in Stockholm, Fotografiska is guided by the principle of inspiring a more conscious world through photography. Fotografiska has built a safe haven of innovation, inclusivity and self expression. The presentation of photography is powerful and unparalleled,  and includes over 220 exhibitions to date, such as David LaChapelle, Annie Leibovitz, Bettina Rheims, Sally Mann, Sebastião Salgado, Robert Mapplethorpe, Ren Hang, and Zanele Muholi. For more info, visit: www.fotografiska.com/nyc/

About the UN Human Rights

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN Human Rights) is the leading UN organization on human rights with a unique mandate to promote and protect all human rights for all people. Under the leadership of the High Commissioner and with a staff of 1,300 working in more than 70 countries, it aims to make human rights a reality in the lives of people everywhere. For more info, visit: www.ohchr.org

About David Clark Cause

David Clark Cause (DCC) is a global leader in creating cause-related brands and initiatives that both inspire and endure. For over two decades, founder David Clark has leveraged the iconic stature and cultural currency of world-renowned individuals, organizations, and brands, from President Nelson Mandela to President Barack Obama, Muhammad Ali to Oprah Winfrey, The Anne Frank Center to the United Nations, and Coca-Cola to IBM, all to raise millions of dollars and create unprecedented awareness for some of the most significant causes of our time. For more info, visit: www.davidclarkcause.com

Sameer Al-Doumy Wins Inaugural 2019 High Note Global Prize in Photography

Tue, 10 Dec 2019 20:26:08 GMT

Franco-Syrian Photojournalist Honored for Image Captured in the Rubble of His Besieged Hometown of Douma

(New York, NY — December 10, 2019) — Photography 4 Humanity, the photography pillar of the newly launched High Note Global Initiative, today unveils a landmark photography exhibit at the United Nations headquarters in New York featuring the work of the inaugural High Note Global Prize in Photography recipient, Sameer Al-Doumy. His piercing image — taken in the broken remains of his hometown of Douma, Syria — captures a married couple sharing coffee inside the rubble of their home, a quiet, defiant testament to the unbroken dignity of ordinary life amid the wreckage of war.

The announcement, made today on United Nations Human Rights Day, marks the founding of Photography 4 Humanity as one of two founding pillars of the High Note Global Initiative, alongside High Note Music. Created by David Clark Cause in official partnership with United Nations Human Rights, the program calls on amateur and professional photographers from around the world to bring the power of human rights to life through their images — illustrating courage, despair, hope, injustice, and compassion in ways both small and large.

Al-Doumy, a Franco-Syrian photojournalist born in Douma in Eastern Ghouta, began documenting the Syrian uprising as an activist in 2011, became a freelance photographer for Agence France-Presse in 2014, and escaped his besieged hometown through a rebel-dug tunnel in 2017. Douma would later become the site of one of the war’s most horrific chemical-weapons attacks. His winning image — captured before his escape — refuses to let the dignity of ordinary life be erased by the violence that surrounded it. He is a previous recipient of the World Press Photo Award, the Istanbul Photo Awards, and the International Photography Awards.

“We are proud to support Photography 4 Humanity, as art has the ability to transcend borders and speak truth to power. It also has the power to galvanize global mobilization for human rights, and at the same time honor artists who passionately use their work to promote and protect the rights of others.” — Laurent Sauveur, Chief External Outreach, United Nations Human Rights

“Sameer Al-Doumy’s image takes a war the world had grown numb to and gives it back its humanity. Two people, one cup of coffee, four shattered walls — and the unmistakable insistence that a life, and a love, persists. There could be no more fitting first recipient of the High Note Global Prize in Photography.” — David Clark, founder, High Note Global

The exhibit at the United Nations features Al-Doumy’s winning image alongside ten finalist photographs from around the world, on view through UN Human Rights Day, and viewed globally on UN.org. For more information, visit www.photography4humanity.com.

Photography 4 Humanity supported by United Nations Human Rights culminates with December 10th Exhibit at United Nations Headquarters in NYC on Human Rights Day

Tue, 10 Dec 2019 18:40:09 GMT

The global photo competition and exhibit features the Photography 4 Humanity Global Prize Recipient and ten finalist images from around the world.

NEW YORK and GENEVA, Dec. 10, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — On this Human Rights Day, global partner UN Human Rights, Photography 4 Humanity and creator David Clark Cause unveil a unique photography exhibit at the United Nations that features the work of the 2019 Photography 4 Humanity Global Prize Recipient Sameer Al-Doumy, an image that captures a married couple drinking coffee in the remains of their home in Douma, Syria. Also, on display are the top ten finalist images from around the world.

At the core of the Photography 4 Humanity initiative is a global call to action for amateur and professional photographers alike, to submit images for an annual competition where the top finalists are recognized each year.

The exhibit that opens today, Human Rights Day, highlights the Photography 4 Humanity Global Prize Recipient’s winning image, as well as the top ten finalists of the Photography 4 Humanity Global Prize Competition and will serve to inspire photographers to document the power of human rights around the world. Photography 4 Humanity is created and organized by David Clark Cause (DCC) in collaboration and support of UN Human Rights.

“We are proud to support Photography 4 Humanity, as art has the ability to transcend borders and speak truth to power. It also has the power to galvanize global mobilization for human rights, and at the same time honor artists who passionately use their work to promote and protect the rights of others,” said Laurent Sauveur, Chief External Outreach, UN Human Rights.

“The Photography 4 Humanity Global Challenge was created to inspire not only photographers, but the entire photography community to develop a platform to promote social justice around the world,” said David Rose, President of Photography 4 Humanity. “We are honored to celebrate the amazing photographs from across the globe that are on display at the United Nations today, but would also like to thank the eminent jury who worked diligently to select them.”

2019 Eminent Judges included:

Shahidul Alam – Photographer, Author

Kristen Ashburn – Photographer, Author

Elisabeth Biondi – Photography Editor, Author

Robert Clark – Photographer

Yan Cong – Photographer

Ruth Eichhorn – Photography Editor

Robert Pledge – Photography Publisher, Author

“The results from this year’s global competition were truly overwhelming,” said Alexandra Buffer, Executive Director of Photography 4 Humanity. “We received thousands of incredible submissions from around the world from both amateur and professional photographers alike. We hope to inspire positive change with the exhibition of these remarkable images. In addition to announcing the 2019 Photography 4 Humanity Global Prize Recipient, we are honored to also announce the global finalists.”

2019 Photography 4 Humanity Global Prize Winner: Sameer Al-Doumy

2019 Photography 4 Humanity Top 10 Finalists:

Javier Arcenillas

K M Asad

Enayat Asadi

Pouya Bayat

Ester Perez Berenguer

Rui Caria

Luca Catalano Gonzaga

Saiful Islam

Marco Panzetti

Mohammed Rubel

For more information on Photography 4 Humanity and to view the 2019 winning photo and the top ten finalists, please visit: Photography4Humanity.com

About

Photography 4 Humanity Photography 4 Humanity is an international initiative that calls on photographers around the world to bring to life the power of human rights through their images. Highlighting the most compelling human rights imagery – illustrating courage, despair, hope, injustice, compassion in ways small and large, the images serve to inspire people to personally get involved and take a stand for human rights. At the core of the Photography 4 Humanity initiative is a global call to action for amateur and professional photographers alike, to submit images for an annual competition where the Photography 4 Humanity Global Prize Recipient, and the top ten finalists are recognized each year through a global art exhibit on December 10th – Human Rights Day. For more information, visit: Photography4Humanity.com

UN Human Rights (Global Partner of Photography 4 Humanity)The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN Human Rights) has a unique mandate to promote and protect all human rights for all people. Under the leadership of the High Commissioner, with a staff of 1,300 working in more than 70 countries, it aims to make human rights a reality in the lives of people everywhere. For more information, visit: ohchr.org.

David Clark Cause (DCC)David Clark is the Creator of The Photography 4 Humanity Global Initiative. David Clark Cause is a global leader in creating cause-related brands and initiatives that both inspire and endure. For over two decades, founder David Clark has leveraged the iconic stature and cultural currency of world-renowned individuals, organizations, and brands, from President Nelson Mandela to President Barack Obama, Muhammad Ali to Oprah Winfrey, The Anne Frank Center to the United Nations, and Coca-Cola to IBM, all to raise millions of dollars and create unprecedented awareness for some of the most significant causes of our time. In 2018, Clark founded and created the Call for Code Global Initiative to help solve social challenges with innovative tech solutions. In support of UN Human Rights, Call for Code is the largest tech developer challenge in history with participation by software developers from 165 nations. For more information, visit: davidclarkcause.com .

Originally posted on Marketwatch.com.

Photography 4 Humanity supported by United Nations Human Rights culminates with December 10th Exhibit at United Nations Headquarters in NYC on Human Rights Day

Tue, 10 Dec 2019 18:24:41 GMT

On this Human Rights Day, global partner UN Human Rights, High Note Global, and Photography 4 Humanity unveil a unique photography exhibit at the United Nations that features the work of the 2019 Photography 4 Humanity Global Prize Recipient Sameer Al-Doumy, an image that captures a married couple drinking coffee in the remains of their home in Douma, Syria. Also, on display are the top ten finalist images from around the world.

“We are proud to support Photography 4 Humanity, as art has the ability to transcend borders and speak truth to power. It also has the power to galvanize global mobilization for human rights, and at the same time honor artists who passionately use their work to promote and protect the rights of others,” said Laurent Sauveur, Chief External Outreach, UN Human Rights.

“The Photography 4 Humanity Global Challenge was created to inspire not only photographers, but the entire photography community to develop a platform to promote social justice around the world,” said David Rose, President of Photography 4 Humanity. “ We are honored to celebrate the amazing photographs from across the globe that are on display at the United Nations today, but would also like to thank the eminent jury who worked diligently to select them.”

2019 Eminent Judges included:

Shahidul Alam – Photographer, Author

Kristen Ashburn – Photographer, Author

Elisabeth Biondi – Photography Editor, Author

Robert Clark – Photographer

Yan Cong – Photographer

Ruth Eichhorn – Photography Editor

Robert Pledge – Photography Publisher, Author

2019 Photography 4 Humanity Global Prize Winner: Sameer Al-Doumy

2019 Photography 4 Humanity Top 10 Finalists:

Javier Arcenillas

K M Asad

Enayat Asadi

Pouya Bayat

Ester Perez Berenguer

Rui Caria

Luca Catalano Gonzaga

Saiful Islam

Marco Panzetti

Mohammed Rubel

Originally posted on: APnews.com.

Photography Competition for Amateur and Professional Interested in Human Rights

Wed, 31 Jul 2019 17:45:19 GMT

The United Nations-supported project – Photography 4 Humanity is an international initiative that calls on photographers around the world to bring to life the power of human rights through their images. Highlighting the most compelling imagery — illustrating courage, despair, hope, injustice, hate, compassion, human rights failures or victories in ways small and large, the images will serve to inspire people to personally get involved and take a stand for human rights.

The Competition Details:

Photography 4 Humanity is a unique call to action for amateur and professional photographers alike, to submit images for a global competition where photos from the Top 10 finalists each year will be exhibited at the General Assembly Gallery at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on UN Human Rights Day – December 10th, 2019.

Prize:

The Photography 4 Humanity Global Prize will be announced at the exhibition opening gala, attended by invited dignitaries, media, photography professionals and human rights champions. Along with a $5,000 USD cash award, the Global Prize will bring a large amount of industry recognition and prestige to the winning photographer. Select photos will be featured on the Photography 4 Humanity website throughout the year. This will garner large amounts of exposure for the photographer as well as highlight the human rights issues depicted in the images.

Rules:

You must be at least 18 years of age or older to enter.

All entries must be submitted between May 1, 2019, and October 15, 2019.

All photography must relate to human rights issues.

All images must be taken within three years of entry date.

Image file extensions accepted: JPG, JPEG.

Accepted file size: 5MB – 20MB.

Color must be RGB or sRGB format.

All entrants may submit up to five photographs.

A high-resolution file will be required for finalists.

All rights to photographs remain with the photographer.

Originally posted on: Mina7.net.