A Light in the Blood-Stained Darkness

Ali Kiafar

At a time when Iran is engulfed in massacres claiming tens of thousands of lives—children, youth, and the elderly alike—when blood has been spilled across the streets and pellets have lodged in the eyes of tens of thousands, any piece of good news, however small, that brings joy to the heart and offers a sign of the resilience and vitality of the long-suffering people of Iran is a precious gain, and unquestionably a source of solace. In these days, such heartening news emerged from the revelation of the names of the winners of the Sony World Photography Awards.

On February 17, 2026, the prestigious Sony World Photography Awards announced its main winners and shortlisted photographers in the Open Competition. Now in its nineteenth year, this event is regarded as one of the world’s most highly regarded photography competitions, distinguished by its particular artistic significance.

This year’s competition recorded a remarkable new high in the number of submissions. For the 2026 Sony Photography Awards, more than 430,000 images were submitted from 200 countries and regions across the globe. This impressive figure encompassed participants from the Open, Professional, Students, and Youth categories.

The submitted photographs were evaluated across ten categories, as follows:

Architecture
Creative
Landscape
Lifestyle
Motion
Natural World and Wildlife
Object
Portraiture
Street Photography
Travel

The Sony World Photography Awards recognize the finest single images captured over the course of the past year. Unlike other comparable competitions, where participants may submit a series of photographs, the Sony Open Competition is focused entirely on submission of a single image. In this format, the photographer has just one opportunity to submit an image, to make an impact through photographic artistry, to be selected as a winner.

In this event, both the shortlisted and the winners’ works presented a wide and compelling spectrum of photography: from striking landscapes to thought-provoking portraits, from visually arresting scenes to even humorous perspectives on nature. Together with the announcement of the winners in each category, the photographers shortlisted for the 2026 Open Competition were officially introduced.

Notably, among the selected top images from across the world, the names of three Iranian photographers proudly stand out.

Siavosh Ejlali, in the Creative category

Shabnam Maleki in the Creative category

Ali Zolghadri in the Creative category

From among the 130 top images at this stage, ten photographs—one from each category—were selected as category winners. In the Creative category, the winning photograph was “Lost Hope” by Siavosh Ejlali.

Lost Hope is a meticulously composed portrait that, through carefully staged and symbolic elements, offers a sorrowful yet powerful ode to Iranian women. Ejlali has explained that the “black plastic covering most of the woman’s face” symbolizes “dark thoughts and the imposition of beliefs,” while the red balloon falling toward the ground may signify “her lost hope.”

The background of the image evokes Iran’s urban society—the very setting in which, for years and most recently during the protests of the past months, popular demonstrations against the ruling system have unfolded, marked by the prominent presence of Iranian women. Within this framework, the photographer underscores that “the red clothes and lips are the bloody price that women have paid.”

It is fitting that, for the wider recognition of this talented young artist and accomplished photographer, additional works by Siavosh Ejlali be brought into view—especially noting that several of his photographs have received awards in other competitions as well, including a 2024 competition in Macedonia, where one of his images was selected and receiving a gold medal.

On April 16, 2026, at the awards ceremony in London, one individual will be selected from among the ten finalists of this stage of the Sony World Photography Awards to become

the ultimate winner, earning the title “Open Photographer of the Year.” The winner’s work will be showcased at the major exhibition at the Somerset House. In addition to this honorary distinction, the final winner will receive a cash prize of USD 5,000 along with a selected package of Sony photographic equipment.

In closing, it is my hope—and I have no doubt this is the heartfelt wish of all who love Iran and Iranians, and who crave the success of Iranians, especially the younger generation—that Siavosh Ejlali will be named Photographer of the Year and the recipient of the final award.

* Dr. Ali Kiafar, architect, urban planner, and university professor in California, United States, holds photography in high esteem and has himself practiced photography continuously for more than half a century.