The opening of the exhibition featuring the winning works of the XI Andrey Stenin International Photojournalism Contest took place in Tehran at the Gallery of the Iranian Photographers' House, organized by Art Bureau, on Monday.
The event was the result of a joint effort between the media groups 'Russia Today' and 'Mehr Media Group', as well as the Iranian Photographers' House. At the beginning of the ceremony, a video message from Alexander Stol, the contest's executive director, was shown.
He announced that this year the contest attracted over two thousand applications from 40 countries. The exhibition in Tehran showcases 30 photographs taken by young reporters from Russia, Indonesia, China, Egypt, Brazil, Bahrain, and other nations.
Alexander Stol emphasized that the Stenin contest helps discover young talents and gives them the opportunity to take their first confident steps in the world of photography. He noted that the exhibition demonstrates the amazing, unique, and fragile nature of the world, and also shows that despite differences among people from different parts of the planet, they share similar problems, experience common moments, rejoice in the same events, and are inspired by similar stories. Therefore, in his opinion, the contest unites people from Brazil to China, from Serbia to South Africa.
He also mentioned that cooperation with 'Mehr Media Group' allowed the best photos from the contest to be presented in the heart of one of the world's oldest countries—Tehran, a capital that inspires respect and admiration—and exhibited in the magnificent Hojeh Khanari Complex (Art Bureau).
Stol invited Iranian photographers to participate in the contest next year, where he will personally present the awards.
It was decided that the Iranian Photographers' House will serve as the secretariat for the contest in Iran, which will increase opportunities for Iranian photographers to participate.
Speeches were also given at the ceremony by Mohammad Mahdi Rahmati, CEO of 'Mehr Media Group'; Mohammadreza Norouzpour, Deputy Minister of Media and Advertising of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance; Vladislav Egorov, Press Attaché of the Russian Federation Embassy in Tehran; and Sayyed Amir Javid, Deputy Director of Art Bureau.
Rahmati spoke about a wonderful common understanding of aesthetics in the world. He noted that although people may encounter different forms of beauty through diverse experiences and cultural backgrounds, composition, subject selection, and principles of photo evaluation often reflect a common global aesthetic.
He expressed satisfaction with the participation of photographers from other countries and their receipt of awards for works dedicated to topics such as Gaza and Arbaeen pilgrimage.
Norouzpour pointed out that the US has waged wars against various nations, including Iran, for many years under different pretexts. However, according to him, it is important to understand that such wars begin not on the battlefield, but in the sphere of narratives.
He stressed that the main arena for preparing and initiating aggression worldwide is often self-representation. First, the image of a nation is distorted, and its people are dehumanized through how they are portrayed. Only when a negative image of that nation is formed in public opinion do its residents begin to be depicted as worthy of destruction and extermination. Only after that does physical attack follow.
Norouzpour stated that if war begins before weapons, tanks, and airplanes are deployed—if it starts in the camera frame—then one of the best ways to defend oneself is to start the fight in that same sphere. It is necessary to arm and strengthen oneself in this area and counter these narratives through photography itself.
He insisted that if an image is used to distort or humiliate people, the camera must be used to restore their dignity and humanity, and to neutralize this tactic. Every photographer bears a professional and international responsibility to depict the truth and ensure that their shots do not serve the cruel militarism of hostile states. Photographers must not allow framing and visual representation to be used as tools of dehumanization or preparation for attacks, killings, and aggression.
Concluding his speech, he addressed the photographers, saying that their value lies precisely in preserving the moments that many hostile states in the world have tried to erase from collective memory.
In a brief address, Vladislav Egorov from the Russian Embassy in Tehran noted that these photographers strove to become voices for people whose voices could otherwise not be heard. He added that the cooperation of 'Mehr Media Group' in organizing the exhibition is an important opportunity to promote courage, professionalism, and social responsibility in the field of photography, and it can serve as a platform for cultural dialogue between Iran and Russia, inspiring young photographers.
For his part, Sayyed Amir Javid called 'Mehr News Agency' a key player in press photography among the information agencies of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which is home to some of the best examples of professional photography in the country. He suggested that 'Mehr Media Group' and the Iranian Photographers' House function as a permanent secretariat for this contest in the Islamic world, which, in his opinion, would be a valuable development and contribute to raising the profile and quality of the festival.
Javid also expressed hope that around this time next year, if world events permit, the exhibition could take place simultaneously in Tehran, Beirut, Baghdad, Sanaa, and Isfahan, as well as in one or two other major and important cities of the Islamic world. He concluded that photography is the fastest, most accurate, and most durable form of documentary storytelling in the world, and he hopes that 'Mehr Media Group' can open offices in strategically important locations around the globe to present its own picture of global events.
The Andrey Stenin Photojournalism Contest is held annually with the aim of discovering young talents, supporting professional standards in photojournalism, and promoting the guidelines of documentary photography in Russia and worldwide. The works presented at the exhibition include visual narratives by young photographers about contemporary global events and issues, capturing social and human development, crises, the environment, daily life, and other realities of the modern world.
Andrey Stenin (1980–2014) began his career as a journalist writing for 'Rossiyskaya Gazeta' in 2003. In 2008, he switched to photojournalism, and from 2009, he worked as a photo correspondent for 'RIA Novosti'. He was an experienced war photojournalist who worked in Egypt, Syria, Libya, the Gaza Strip, and other places. He went missing while covering the war in Donbas and was officially declared dead on September 3, 2014, although his death occurred on August 6, according to the Investigative Committee of Russia. Stenin was posthumously awarded the Order of Courage of Russia.
The exhibition of the contest winners' works will be available to the public until September 21 at Art Bureau.