A time for love

• Prize
• Photographer
  Stefanos Kouratzis, Cyprus
• Studio
  Freelance
• Website
  https://www.Kouratzis.com
• Instagram
  https://www.instagram.com/stefanos_kouratzis/

Cyprus LGBTI’s community marked its first civil union in a private
Nicosia ceremony on January 29, 2016, in a ceremony open only to
allies and friends of the couple.But while the event was largely a
private affair, dignity, commitment and celebration were very much on
show to those privileged enough to share the occasion. I was allowed
to photograph the couple (who desired anonymity to preserve privacy
in their professional spheres) as they chose garments for their special
day, partied on the eve of their union and basked in the aftermath of
the ceremony at the Nicosia District Office the day after. They quietly
stepped into the history books but the change they represented was
resounding. The island’s civil union law that was approved on
November 26, 2015, the fruit of a protracted, hard-won battle by the
island’s LGBTI lobby, marked one more step towards a progressive
society.

Stefanos Kouratzis is an award-winning photographer and writer based in Cyprus, and Artistic Director of LiPhoFe (Limassol Photography Festival). His photobook "Ammochostos - The Algos of Nostos" (2024) is held in libraries including the MoMA Library. He was a participating artist in the Cyprus Pavilion at the 16th Venice Architecture Biennale (2018). His work was shown at Le Corbusier's Unité d'habitation in Marseille in 2023 and exhibited in the Triennial of Photography Hamburg in 2026. His photography has received recognition from the Gomma Photography Grant, the PDN Photo Annual, IPA, PX3.

Awards 2022
The Gomma Photography Grant 2021
Finalist, Black and White Category

​2018
PDN, Photo Annual, 2018
Winner, Category: Personal Project

2017
IPA, International Photography Awards, 2017
2nd Place, Category: Special –Other & Honorable mention in categories: Architecture/Interiors (x1), Architecture/Other (x1)

MIFA, Moscow International Foto Awards 2017
3nd Place Winner x 2 Categories : People/Wedding & Event/Wedding & Honorable Mention in categories: Fine Art/Abstract (1), Architecture/Interiors (x1)

PX3 Prix de la Photographie Paris, 2017
Bronze Winner, Category: Portraiture/Wedding & Honorable Mention in categories: Fine Art/Abstract (x3), Advertising/Architecture (x2), Press/General News (x1)

2016
PX3 Prix de la Photographie Paris
Silver Winner, Category: Nature/ Wildlife

MIFA, Moscow International Foto Awards 2016
2nd Place Winner, Category: Architecture-Industrial & Honorable Mention Category: Sports

2015
PX3 Prix de la Photographie Paris
Third Prize (People's Choice), Category : Nature/Sky &
Honorable Mention, Category Fine Art/Abstract

2007
Pancyprian Photo Competition by the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO)
1st Place, Category “Cyprus Gastronomy”

2004
Fujifilm Euro Press Awards 2004 – Cyprus
Winner in Categories “Nature and “Technique”

2002
Fujifilm Euro Press Awards 2002 – Cyprus
National Winner, Overall
Winner in Categories “News” and “Features”.