Five Photojournalists Receive Latest Getty Images Grants for Editorial Photography

Getty Images also named two student winners in the grants program: Ed Ou, (Canada) studying at the University of Southern California, and Carl Kiilsgaard, (United States) a student at Western Kentucky University. Each will receive $5,000 and editorial support to pursue their projects.

Aidan Sullivan, vice president of photo assignments for Getty Images, marked the occasion by saying, "We're very grateful to our judges who carefully considered 199 applications and proposals from professional photojournalists across 26 countries, along with 24 student proposals from 8 countries." The grant judges included:

-- Cheryl Newman, Picture Editor, Telegraph Magazine (UK)

-- Jean-Francois Leroy, Director General, Visa Pour l'Image (France)

-- Volker Lensch, Department Head, Stern Magazine (Germany)

"Getty Images is honored that in its first five years, our grants have empowered 24 photojournalists to bring eye-opening visual essays to the world's attention," added Sullivan. "We're delighted with the judges' choices of the newest winners, whose projects deal with some of the most compelling issues of our time."

Krisanne Johnson's project, "I Love You Real Fast," examines the lives of young women in Swaziland, where women have a life expectancy of close to 31, due to the country's high rate of HIV infections. "My intent is not only to shed light on their struggle, but to present the full spectrum of their experiences and to capture deeper, truer visual references that are distinct from a sea of status quo images that define Africa to most of the world," said Johnson.

Brenda Kenneally's project, "Upstate Girls: What Became of Collar City," studies the issues of class and poverty in Troy, New York, a once-prosperous city whose traditions and culture have been disrupted by numerous economic and social issues. "My project has followed seven women for five years as their escape routes from poverty have led to further entrapments," said Kenneally. "In compiling a generational history of the emotional spiral of those resigned to the lower class in the United States, I will use my grant to continue this work over the next year, as the need for nuanced and sustained journalism will be crucial to reflect the social fallout from the economic crisis."

Zalmai's project, "Promises and Lies," reveals the human cost of the war on terror in Afghanistan. "As most of the western media focuses on what is taking place militarily, I feel strongly that the extensive human tragedy taking place in my country is being ignored by Western eyes and is going unnoticed to the rest of the world," said Zalmai. "I also believe that one can never find a solution to such tragedy if one does not look at the whole picture."

Carl Kiilsgaard's project, "The White Family," follows a family that has lived in rural Kentucky -- where, in 1964, President Lyndon Johnson declared a war on poverty that has not yet been won -- for generations. Kiilsgaard notes that, "The Getty Images grant will allow me to continue to raise awareness about those struggling in a region that most Americans have forgotten."

Ed Ou's project, "Perilous Journey," documents the full journey that Somali refugees take as each year thousands flee from the violence in Mogadishu to the port city of Bosasso and the perilous boat journey to Yemen begins, as they seek work as laborers in the oil-rich Persian Gulf.

More information about the new grant winners and judges, as well as previous winners and their completed projects, can be found at www.gettyimages.com/grants.

About Getty Images

Getty Images is the world's leading creator and distributor of still imagery, footage and multimedia products, as well as a recognized provider of other forms of premium digital content, including music. Getty Images serves business customers in more than 100 countries and is the first place creative and media professionals turn to discover, purchase and manage images and other digital content. Its award-winning photographers and imagery help customers produce inspiring work which appears every day in the world's most influential newspapers, magazines, advertising campaigns, films, television programs, books and Web sites. Getty Images believes in the power of imagery to drive positive change, educate, inform, and entertain. Visit Getty Images at www.gettyimages.com to learn more about how the company is advancing the unique role of digital media in communications and business, and enabling creative ideas to come to life.

SOURCE: Getty Images

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