/ 2023 / Portraiture / Culture

• Prize
  Honorable Mention
• Photographer
  Roberto Pazzi, Italy
• Date of Photograph
  03/03/2023
• Website
  https://robertopazziphoto.com
• Instagram
  https://www.instagram.com/roberto_pazzi_photo/

Portrait of a sadhu (Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India).
The pose of the sadhu and the birds on his back are intendeed to represent the liberation after death (moksha) from the cycle of reincarnations which, as per Hinduism belief, is possible only in a few sacred places such as Varanasi.
On the background, the Manikarnika ghat, one of the oldest and most sacred cremation grounds in all of Hinduism.

Born in Italy, Roberto Pazzi found his true passions in travelling and photography remote cultures.
His immersive approach to photography has earned him acclaim from both critics and peers alike, having been recognized in several prestigious international competitions.
Roberto's work has reached the pages of renowned publications all over the world and he published HUMANKIND, a premium limited-edition book.
Currently based in Spain, Roberto organizes and leads photographic expeditions to the farthest corners of the world.

Awards 2026
Photographer of the Year - London Photography Awards
Finalist - Siena International Photo Awards (SIPA)

2025
Winner - 23rd Smithsonian Magazine Photography Contest
Photographer of the Year - European Photography Awards
Photographer of the Year - 500px Global Photography Awards
Category Winner of the Year - Global Photography Awards
Category Winner of the Year - New York Photography Awards
Category Winner of the Year - London Photography Awards
Bronze Winner - Budapest International Foto Awards (BIFA)
Finalist - Hamdan International Photography Award (HIPA)

2024
Category Winner of the Year - New York Photography Awards
Silver Winner - ND Awards (Series)
Silver Winner - Prix de la Photographie Paris (PX3)
Bronze Winner - Chromatic Photography Awards

2023
Winner - 21st Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest
Winner - Chromatic Photography Awards
Winner - The Artist Gallery Annual Awards
Gold Winner - Tokyo International Foto Awards (TIFA)
Silver Winner - Vienna Photography Awards (VIEPA)
Bronze Winner - reFocus Awards

2022
Silver Winner - Prix de la Photographie Paris (PX3)

2021
Photographer of the Year - Global Photography Awards
Photographer of the Year - 500px Global Photography Awards
Category Winner of the Year - Moscow International Foto Awards (MIFA)
Winner - MonoVisions
Winner - Visual International Photography Awards
Gold Winner - ND Awards
Silver Winner - Vienna Photography Awards (VIEPA)
Bronze Winner - Tokyo International Foto Awards (TIFA)
Bronze Winner - Budapest International Foto Awards (BIFA)
Bronze Winner - Chromatic Photography Awards

2020
Winner - Photo Is Light World Contest
Silver Winner - Tokyo International Foto Awards (TIFA)
Silver Winner - ONE EYELAND
Runner-Up - Nikon Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY)