We are pleased to announce the results of Pictures of the Year Asia 2022 competition which was judged 8 — 10 April 2022.
Modelled after the prestigious Pictures of the Year International (POYi), POY Asia was created in 2020 by and for photographers from Asia. POY Asia is an official program of POYi.
Inspired by POYi’s guiding principle of “Show truth with a camera,” POY Asia is committed to seeing the world from an Asian perspective.
The 10 judges awarded the 2022 Photographer of the Year, Asia to Roman Pilipey, a China-based Ukrainian photojournalist with EPA.
In addition, the judges also recognized 29 Finalists, 31 Awards of Excellence in 10 categories.
The winners this year came from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Canada, China, Hong Kong, France, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Palestine, Philippines, Russia, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, USA.
11 winners won in more than one category, and 11 of the overall winners are won by women/non-binary photographers.
40 awards are won by independent photographers.
Quick links to award categories: COVID-19 / Spot News / Portraits / Nature & Environment / Recreational & Traditional Sports / Covid Picture Story / Covid Expressions / Issue Reporting Picture Story / Cultural Practices / Photographer of the Year, Asia
Brief history of POY Asia
First created in 2021, the Pictures of the Year, Asia competition is the annual hallmark event of POY Asia, an initiative committed to promoting Asia-based photographers and stories.
An official program of Pictures of the Year International, POY Asia was created by and for photographers working and living in Asia. Kay-Chin Tay of Singapore is serving as a Co-Director. Prashant Panjiar of India, Tanya Habjouqa of Jordan and Maye-E Wong, a Singaporean based in USA, are the Founding Advisors. POYi Director Lynden Steele is a Co-Director and will serve in a supporting role.
Inspired by POYi’s guiding principle of “Show truth with a camera,” POY Asia is committed to seeing the world from an Asian perspective.
The first competition in 2021 started with nine categories with the Photographer of the Year, Asia being the premier prize. In 2022, a new category — Recreational & Traditional Sports — was added.
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First Place
Ulet Ifansasti
Independent
Indonesia
Finalist
Garry Lotulung
Independent
Indonesia
Finalist
Anindito Mukherjee
Independent
India
Finalist
Meysam Maleki Qazvini
Independent
Iran
Finalist
Anupam Nath
AP
India
Award of Excellence
Karma Bhutia
Zuma Press
India
Award of Excellence
Shin Wei Chang
Central News Agency
Taiwan
Award of Excellence
Firdaus Latif
Malay Mail
Malaysia
First Place
Ali Khara
Independent
Iran/Afghanistan
Finalist
Myay Ni Gone
Sacca Photo
Myanmar
Finalist
Erdem Sahin
EPA
Turkey
Finalist
Ohad Zwigenberg
Haaretz
Israel
Award of Excellence
Mustafa Hassona
Anadolu Agency
Palestine
Award of Excellence
Lauren DeCicca
Independent
USA/Thailand
Award of Excellence
Dar Yasin
AP
India
First Place
Marcus Yam
Los Angeles Times
USA
Finalist
Jai Thakur
Independent
India
Finalist
Majid Saeedi
Independent
Iran
Finalist
Santanu Dey
Independent
India
Finalist
Sergei Stroitelev
Independent
Russia
Award of Excellence
Watsamon Tri-yasakda
Women Photograph
Thailand
Award of Excellence
Aytaç Ünal
Anadolu Agency
Turkey
First Place
Amin Nazari
Independent
Iran
Finalist
Jianxing Zhu
Xijiang Daily
China
Finalist
Agoes Rudianto
Independent
Indonesia
Award of Excellence
Erdem Sahin
EPA
Turkey
Award of Excellence
Sebnem Coskun
Anadolu Agency
Turkey
Award of Excellence
Ezra Acayan
New York Times
Philippines
First Place
Ata Ranjbar Zeydanloo
Independent
Iran
Finalist
Qiang Li
Yihe Images
China
Finalist
Ebrahim Alipoor
Independent
Iran
Award of Excellence
Nikolay Losev
Independent
Russia
Award of Excellence
Ebrahim Alipoor
Independent
Iran
Award of Excellence
Yam G Jun
Independent
Malaysia/Kyrgyzstan
Award of Excellence
Sorrow & Defiance: Under Taliban rule, Afghan women navigate a landscape of loss
Marcus Yam
Los Angeles Times
USA
Award of Excellence
Self-Immolation among the Kurdish Women
Shaghayegh Moradiannejad
Independent
Iran/Canada
Winner
Roman Pilipey
EPA
Ukraine/China
Finalist
Marcus Yam
Los Angeles Times
USA
Finalist
Ezra Acayan
Getty Images/New York Times
Philippines
Finalist
Ta Mwe
Sacca Photo
Myanmar
Award of Excellence
Sergei Stroitelev
Independent
Russia
Award of Excellence
Dar Yasin
AP
India
