Four exceptional young photographers have been recognized for their outstanding photojournalism work through the 2025 Ian Parry Photography Grant, highlighting emerging talent from around the world. Omar Ashtawy, a 20-year-old photographer from Gaza, has been awarded this year's prestigious grant, while Laura Riis from Denmark (23), Jordan Tovin from the United States (21), and Armina Ahmadinia from Iran (36) received high commendations for their compelling visual narratives.

The grant's partner organization, Save the Children, has selected Ashtawy for a special commission, recognizing the powerful impact of his documentary photography work. The Ian Parry Photography Grant, which honors the memory of photojournalist Ian Parry, continues to support and encourage emerging photographers who demonstrate exceptional skill in capturing important social and humanitarian stories.

Ashtawy's award-winning portfolio documents the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza through a series of deeply moving images. His work includes the heartbreaking photograph of Khaled al-Shinbari's mother holding her son's shoes during his funeral at al-Shifa hospital on August 28, 2025. The Palestinian teenager was killed by Israeli fire while seeking aid in northern Gaza, representing one of many civilian casualties in the ongoing conflict.

The young photographer's comprehensive documentation extends beyond individual tragedies to capture the broader humanitarian situation. His images show internally displaced Palestinians carrying bags of flour near a food distribution point at a beach in northern Gaza on July 30, 2025, and the struggle for survival as humanitarian aid is airdropped over destroyed buildings on August 6, 2025. Additional photographs reveal the desperate conditions in refugee camps, where displaced Palestinians, including women and children, struggle to obtain food during aid distribution on May 14, 2025.

Ashtawy's work also captures the devastating aftermath of Israeli airstrikes, including a powerful image from April 13, 2025, showing an injured woman being carried on a stretcher after being rescued from the rubble of a house hit by an Israeli strike in Jabaliya. His portfolio further documents how tents sheltering internally displaced Palestinians fill the void amid the remains of infrastructure and buildings destroyed by airstrikes in Gaza City on June 15, 2025.

Among the highly commended photographers, Armina Ahmadinia from Iran presents a compelling narrative about life along the Caspian Sea coast. Her work focuses on the environmental and social challenges facing ethnic Turkmen communities in Golestan province. One striking image shows young Mina visiting the pier with her mother every evening to look out at the Caspian Sea, which serves as a valuable source of life for local residents. However, Ahmadinia's photography also highlights the environmental damage caused by an influx of tourists to the coast, raising concerns among local communities.

Ahmadinia's portfolio captures both traditional and contemporary aspects of Iranian coastal life. Her photographs include intimate moments such as ethnic Turkmens Adeleh and her husband Ali relaxing after iftar during the holy month of Ramadan in Golestan province. She also documents cultural preservation through images of Asheghan-e-Malavan (Lovers of Malavan), one of the oldest cafes in Anzali port, where the interior and furnishings have preserved the traditional style of old teahouses, serving as a popular gathering spot for older people.

The Iranian photographer's work addresses pressing social issues, including a poignant image of four young people fixing their hair in Torkaman port, which illustrates the broader challenge of rising youth unemployment and poor economic conditions. This economic hardship has led to increased migration of young Turkmens to larger cities or neighboring countries in search of work opportunities.

Jordan Tovin, the 21-year-old American photographer, contributes a deeply personal exploration of family life in Washington, D.C. His intimate portraiture work includes a photograph of Brad and Reece posing in their apartment living room in the Shaw neighborhood on May 6, 2025. Tovin's storytelling approach captures everyday moments that reveal larger truths about contemporary American family life.

Tovin's portfolio demonstrates his ability to capture both quiet domestic scenes and emotionally charged moments. His work includes an image of three children - Nyles, Braylen, and Billie - watching YouTube in their bedroom on January 25, 2025, as well as a more emotionally intense photograph showing Nyles crying on his father's shoulder after getting upset at not being able to hold his younger brother Brent in the family's apartment on January 26, 2025. He also documents daily routines, such as Reece sautéing onions in her kitchen on January 25, 2025.

Laura Riis, the 23-year-old Danish photographer, presents a fascinating documentation of the Kalash community in Pakistan, focusing on the complex dynamics between traditional culture and religious conversion. Her work explores the challenging decisions faced by community members who convert from the Kalash religion to Islam. One particularly moving portrait shows Hima, who converted from Kalash to Islam in her youth for the sake of her children. As a mother to eight children, she represents the complex reality of religious transition - two children were born before her conversion and remain part of the Kalash community, while six born after are being raised as Muslims.

Riis's documentation extends to the next generation, showing how religious conversion affects family dynamics and cultural continuity. Her photograph of Hania playing with a friend in December 2024 in Rumbur reveals the innocence of childhood amid cultural transformation, as Hania's mother Majina had converted from Kalash to Islam many years earlier.

The Danish photographer also captures the vibrant cultural traditions that the Kalash community works to preserve. Her images from the Chawmos festival in December 2024 show community members gathering to celebrate their traditional new year. Large fires are lit and traditional dances are performed to mark the end of purification rituals. These dances, passed down through generations, represent a vital part of their cultural and spiritual identity, reinforcing community bonds and honoring ancestral beliefs.

Riis's commitment to documenting cultural preservation is further evident in her photograph of three boys sitting in a classroom at Kalasha Dur, the only school dedicated to Kalash language and culture in the Kalasha valleys area. The school serves approximately 80 students, offering education rooted in their own traditions, representing a crucial effort to maintain cultural identity in the face of external pressures.

The 2025 Ian Parry Photography Grant recipients collectively demonstrate the power of photojournalism to illuminate important global stories, from conflict and displacement to cultural preservation and family dynamics. Their diverse perspectives and geographic locations underscore the universal nature of human experiences while highlighting unique regional challenges and cultural narratives that deserve international attention and understanding.