/ 2017 / Portraiture / Wedding
A time for love
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 (b. 1975, Athens, Greece) is a photographer living and working in Cyprus since 2001.
For the last years has been working for “Phileleftheros Group” and the European University of Cyprus. Over the years collaborated with international media News Agencies.
Studied at Focus, School of Art Photography, Video and New Technologies (Athens, Greeece) and took online courses at MoMA (Museum of Modern Art, New York).
His career in Photography starts at the same time with his studies in 1994.
Has travelled and covered stories in different countries around the globe including Cuba, Lebanon, Palestine and Iran among others.
He participates at the 16th Venice Biennale of Architecture in 2018, part of the Cyprus Pavilion (I Am Where You Are).
For his work he has received international awards and distinctions from organizations such as PDN (Photo Annual), IPA (International Photography Award), PX3 (Prix de la Photographie), MIFA (Moscow International Foto Awards ), Fujifilm EuroPress Awards etc.
His photos are in books and private collections in Cyprus, Greece, Spain and Brazil.
The way he constantly explores Photography as medium, makes his work quite diverse, multidimensional and multilayered. From Photojournalism to Fine Art Photography and from Abstract to Contemporary as he constantly balances between everyday news coverage and long term projects while entering different realms of expression.
"Photography unlocks the chains of reality as we know it"
Awards ΙPA, 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
FAPA, Fine Art Photography Awards, 2nd Edition, 2015-2016
Nominee, Categories : Architecture, Abstract, Wildlife / Animals, Panoramic and People
MIFA, Moscow International Foto Awards 2016
2nd Place Winner, Category: &
Honorable Mention, Category: Sports
The EPSON International Pano Awards 2016
Silver Award, Category: Open Nature / Landscapes
IPA, International Photography Awards 2016
Honorable Mention, Categories: Fine Art/Abstract, Architecture/Industrial, Architecture/Other and Nature/Wildlife
2015
PX3 Prix de la Photographie Paris
Third Prize (People's Choice), Category Nature/Sky
&
Honorable Mention, Category Fine Art/Abstract
2014
Black & White Spider Awards
Honorable Mention, Category, Sport
2007
Photo Contest “Beijing – An Olympic City in View” 2007
Beijing Foreign Cultural Exchanges Center
Certificate of Excellence
Venice International Photo Contest
2nd place
Category “Photojournalism” (colour)
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”.