Irish photojournalist Ivor Prickett of The New York Times has been awarded the prestigious Visa d'Or News prize at the Visa pour l'Image international photojournalism festival in Perpignan, France. The award recognized his powerful documentation of the ongoing war in Sudan, specifically his coverage of the battle for Khartoum between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) from 2023 to 2025.
Prickett expressed his "great surprise" at receiving the honor, calling it "a great honor" for him personally. Speaking about his Sudan assignment, the photographer highlighted the challenges of gaining access to the conflict zone. "For this work on Sudan, the problem was having access to this war. I'm lucky to have been able to access it," he stated during the award ceremony.
His photographs capture the daily reality of civil war, showcasing both the material destruction and, more importantly, the suffering of a population struggling to survive under extremely difficult conditions while remaining "strong despite what's happening." The images provide a stark glimpse into life in a war-torn capital where civilians continue to endure amid ongoing military conflict.
The Visa d'Or Magazine award was presented on Friday evening to South African photographer Brent Stirton of Getty Images for his work documenting Virunga National Park, Africa's oldest and largest national park located in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Several armed groups supported by Rwanda and Uganda operate in the region, with some pillaging the DRC's natural resources.
Stirton's photographs reveal the devastating impact of conflict on wildlife, showing a decapitated elephant killed for its ivory and a massacred gorilla in the jungle. His work also documents park rangers patrolling to combat illegal charcoal production and arresting poachers. The photographer described his project as a "modest attempt to pay tribute to this extraordinary place on the occasion of its centennial anniversary."
The 37th edition of Visa pour l'Image in Perpignan showcases images from a world that is "increasingly cruel to the innocent," with victims of climate crisis and global conflicts from Ukraine to Gaza. This premier international photojournalism event continues to highlight the most pressing issues facing humanity through the lens of professional photographers.
Among other awards presented, the Visa d'Or of the City of Perpignan Rémi Ochlik was awarded to Alfredo Bosco for his work documenting the fight against synthetic drug trafficking in Iraq, where sales and distribution have dramatically increased. The images reveal the ongoing battle against narcotics trade in a region already facing multiple challenges.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Humanitarian Visa d'Or, which annually recognizes a professional photojournalist covering humanitarian issues related to armed conflict, was awarded to Saher Alghorra of Zuma Press for his work in the Gaza Strip. The 26-year-old photographer, who remains trapped in the Palestinian enclave, captures moments of resilience amid devastation.
Alghorra's photographs show young girls in beautiful dresses walking to school, children playing on swings, others smiling in front of an oil change stand, and kids on the beach trying to escape the reality of war. While his work documents death and hunger, the photojournalist reveals the population's resilience as they "continue this semblance of reality," according to Aruallan, a photographer in constant contact with the Gaza-based journalist.
The Figaro Magazine Honorary Visa d'Or, designed to recognize the career achievements of an established and active photographer, was awarded to George Steinmetz. This year in Perpignan, the American photographer showcased images of mega-farms, overfishing, and massive livestock operations, captured from elevated perspectives using motorized paragliding and drones to provide complete "transparency" about global food production and its "significant environmental impact."
"It's interesting to know where what you eat comes from," Steinmetz explained. "We need to be aware of our choices when we shop for groceries." His aerial perspective offers viewers a comprehensive view of industrial agriculture's scale and environmental consequences, encouraging greater awareness about food consumption choices.
This exhibition, along with 25 other displays at the festival, remains open to the public free of charge through September 14 in Perpignan's historic city center. The festival continues to serve as a crucial platform for photojournalists to share stories from around the world, bringing attention to conflicts, humanitarian crises, and environmental challenges that might otherwise remain unseen by global audiences.
