Hürriyet photojournalists honored with 10 awards

ISTANBUL

The photo of an African woman working in Turkey by Murat Şaka.

Five Hürriyet photojournalists – Fahir Arıkan, Sefa Özkaya, Levent Kulu, Selçuk Şamiloğlu and Murat Şaka – shared a total of 10 awards between them at the annual Press Photos 2015, which is organized by the Turkish Photojournalists Association (TFMD).

Şamiloğlu took the third award in the news photography category, second award in the European Union reflections category and first award in the portrait photograph category, as well as the Sebahattin Yılmaz-Cem Emir Special Award. 

Şaka was honored with a mention in the European Union reflections category, as well as the top award in the daily life category. The second award in this category went to Kulu.

The second award in the political photograph category was given to Arıkan, who also won the Rafet Hüner Special Award. Özkaya, meanwhile, won the TFMD Special Award. 

Also, AFP photojournalist Bülent Kılıç was presented with the press photo of the year award as well as the news photo of the year award. 

TFMD Chairman Rıza Özel said they did not organize a celebration for the the 30th year of the awards due to recent terror events. 

“We are tired of photographing our flag on coffins. The only place where this beautiful flag is not suitable is a coffin,” he said. 

During the ceremony, Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu was presented with an honorary membership.