The Spirit of the Voodoo | Benin

• Prize
  Honorable Mention
• Photographer
  Aga Szydlik, United States
• Studio
  Aga Szydlik Photography
• Website
  https://agalphotography.com
• Instagram
  https://www.instagram.com/aga_szydlik/

The Spirit of Voodoo | Benin story is part of a long-term project focused on understanding the roots of Voodoo and tracing its influence across the world's cultures. Voodoo originates in the kingdom of Dahomey, now Benin, and is a vibrant religion deeply intertwined with the region's culture. It is the most prominent religion in Benin, West Africa, as well as in parts of the Caribbean, South America, and the southern United States. The central dogma of Voodoo is animism, which posits that all beings possess a spirit; it is a way of life that encompasses culture, art, music, and medicine.

Aga is a highly accomplished photographer specializing in cultural, documentary, and environmental photography. She has a deep passion for exploring the world and immersing herself in the cultures she documents, capturing the essence of diverse societies.

Her photography focuses on understanding and documenting the rich cultural heritage of various tribes and their rituals while exploring how these traditions intersect with modern and traditional knowledge. Aga's work has been exhibited and published internationally.

Awards reFocus Awards | 2023 Black & White Bronze Winner
Travel Photographer of the Year – 2023 | Finalist
20th Pollux Awards | Spain 2023
Global Business Awards 2022 | UK, Culture Category
Monovision Photography Awards | UK 2022
Dante Alighieri International Award | Palermo 2021
International Prize Raffaello & Canova | Venice 2021
New York City | International Award 2020
50 International Contemporary Artists | Guide to Investing in Art
14th Julia Margaret Cameron Award, Spain 2020
14th POLLUX AWARDS, Spain 2020
International Prize Leonardo da Vinci | Italy 2020
13th Julia Margaret Cameron Award, 1st Place in Documentary Series, Spain 2019
Dodho Magazine | Dodho Color Awards 2017
IPA | 1st place in Extreme Sports 2015
Honorable Mention in People Category, IPA
Honorable Mention in Home Category: Perception, IPA 2015
Honorable Mention in Family of Man, 2016 Winning entry “Medicine Man”