E.X.C.E.L.L.E.N.C.E

• Prize
  Silver in Advertising/Fashion
• Photographer
  Kunal Kohli, Norway
• Date of Photograph
  Augst 26th 2023
• Socials
• Website
  http://kunalkohli.com

In 2019, I began a series emphasizing the vital role of diversity
before it became a corporate buzzword or a bigger movement than it is today, and I’m glad there is progress, but still a way to go. For me, diversity transcends skin color to include gender, sexual orientation, religion, and more. My aim was simple: to showcase that talent knows no bounds, focusing solely on merit regardless of identity markers. Rejecting advice to only photograph women for profit in the fashion industry, I instead prioritized talent (and kindness), capturing subjects from all walks of life.

• Biography
  Kunal Kohli is a narrative photographer from Norway. His work explores self-identity, diversity, and connections between people seen as “different.” With roots in India, his reflective photography draws from observation to create emotionally resonant images. Kunal’s work has earned multiple awards and has been exhibited in cities including New York, San Francisco, London, Milan, York, Tokyo, and Cape Town.
• Awards
  The Independent Photographer: Finalist in "black and white" category for “Absolution”, 2017 Tokyo International Foto Awards: Winner/ Honorable mention for “Absolution”, 2017 International Photography Awards (IPA): Honorable mention for “Absolution”, 2017 Life Framer, Winner/ Honorary mention, 2018 (July, judged by Brian Paul Clamp), “Absolution” Life Framer, Winner/ Honorary mention, 2018 (November, judged by Martin Parr), “Absolution” Moscow International Foto Awards, Gold Award for “Absolution”, 2019 Budapest International Foto Awards, Silver Winner for “Absolution”, 2019 C2A, Creative Communication Award, Fashion category, 1st Prize for “A Joe’s story”, 2019 Muse Photography Awards, Editorial Photography, Gold Winner for “E.X.C.E.L.L.E.N.C.E”, 2021 International Photography Awards (IPA): 2nd place for “E.X.C.E.L.L.E.N.C.E”, category in fashion, 2021 Budapest International Foto Awards, Silver Winner for “E.X.C.E.L.L.E.N.C.E”, 2021 NY Photography Awards, Gold Winner for “E.X.C.E.L.L.E.N.C.E”, 2021 C2A, Creative Communication Award, Fashion category, 1st Prize for “E.X.C.E.L.L.E.N.C.E”, 2021 Aesthetica Art Prize 2022, “E.X.C.E.L.L.E.N.C.E”, 2022 London Photography Awards, Platinum award for “E.X.C.E.L.L.E.N.C.E”, 2023 Life Framer, Winner/ Honorary mention, 2024 (May, judged by Marta Weiss), “Absolution” Prix de la Photographie, Paris, PX3, Advertising/ Fashion (Professional), Silver for E.X.C.E.L.L.E.N.C.E (part II), 2024 NY Photography Awards, Silver Winner for “E.X.C.E.L.L.E.N.C.E” (part II), 2024 Muse Photography Awards, Editorial Photography, Gold Winner for “E.X.C.E.L.L.E.N.C.E” (part II), 2025