Standard journalist wins inaugural Nation photo award

Veteran Photojournalist from Associated Press Azim Sayyid presents an award to Standard Photojournalist Joseph Kipsang during the Nation Photo festival awards at the National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, on December 18, 2024. [Courtesy]

A Standard Group journalist has emerged the winner of the inaugural Nation Photo Awards contest organised by the Nation Media Group and sponsored by Tecno.

Joseph Kipsang was recognised for his outstanding achievement as the winner in the Sports and Action Category.

Kipsang also emerged the first runner-up in the same category while Nation Media Group’s Sila Kiplagat received an honorable mention in the same category.

“It feels great to be recognised for what I passionately do— telling stories through the lense. Capturing the action-packed raw moments of emotions during sports— the thrills and sweat takes passion and skill,” Kipsang said.

With a career spanning almost a decade, Kipsang’s outstanding photography encompasses everyday news to action-packed events,  capturing the climate impacts in the changing world, diverse yet interesting Kenyan cultures, disasters and insecurity tales through the lens and many more.

In 2023, he emerged first runner-up under the Sports Reporting category in the Media Council of Kenya’s Annual Journalism Excellence Awards.

The festivals celebrated art, culture and the power of lenses. The event started off with exhibitions of outstanding photography over the years at the National Museums of Kenya before culminating in photography contests where outstanding photographers were feted in different categories.

The judging panel, who included veteran and renowned photojournalists among them, Azim Sayyid of Associated Press and Thomas Mukoya of  Thomsons Reuters received over 300 entries.

“I have participated as a judge in different photography awards across the continent including countries like Uganda and Nigeria. Having been a judge in this competition, I can testify that creativity among the Kenyan photographers is outstanding,” said Mukoya.

He added: “If continental awards were held today, it would not be surprising to see these photographers who have been feted today taking similar slots,” he said.

He added that more such photography contests should be held to spark creativity and recognise outstanding photographers for their exemplary work.