Altaf Qadri
Encyclopedia
Altaf Qadri, born in Srinagar
, the summer capital of Kashmir
, India, is an outstanding photojournalist of his generation. Altaf studied science at Kashmir University and began his working life as a computer engineer before he took photography
as a profession. It was not long before Altaf gained his first freelance assignment and, in 2001, he became a staff photographer on a local newspaper. In 2003, he joined the "European Pressphoto Agency
", for which he provided extensive coverage of the conflict in Kashmir till May 2008. Now based in Amritsar, India, Qadri works for The Associated Press since September 2008. He has covered news stories from Afghanistan, Nepal, Cambodia, Saudi Arabia and numerous provinces of India. His photographs and stories have appeared in prestigious newspapers, news magazines around the globe including National Geographic, Time
, Newsweek, The Guardian
, The New York Times
, International Herald Tribune
, Washington Post and The Times
among others. He has had many exhibitions in several cities like, Los Angeles, Washington DC, San Francisco, New Mexico, Cambodia, Houston, New York, Beijing, France, New Delhi and Mumbai.
Srinagar
Srinagar is the summer seasonal capital of Jammu and Kashmir. It is situated in Kashmir Valley and lies on the banks of the Jhelum River, a tributary of the Indus. It is one of the largest cities in India not to have a Hindu majority. The city is famous for its gardens, lakes and houseboats...
, the summer capital of Kashmir
Kashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
, India, is an outstanding photojournalist of his generation. Altaf studied science at Kashmir University and began his working life as a computer engineer before he took photography
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
as a profession. It was not long before Altaf gained his first freelance assignment and, in 2001, he became a staff photographer on a local newspaper. In 2003, he joined the "European Pressphoto Agency
European Pressphoto Agency
European Pressphoto Agency B.V. is an international news photo agency.Images from all parts of the world covering news, politics, sports, business, finance as well as arts, culture and entertainment are provided by a global network of over 400 professional photographers and included in the epa news...
", for which he provided extensive coverage of the conflict in Kashmir till May 2008. Now based in Amritsar, India, Qadri works for The Associated Press since September 2008. He has covered news stories from Afghanistan, Nepal, Cambodia, Saudi Arabia and numerous provinces of India. His photographs and stories have appeared in prestigious newspapers, news magazines around the globe including National Geographic, Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
, Newsweek, The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, International Herald Tribune
International Herald Tribune
The International Herald Tribune is a widely read English language international newspaper. It combines the resources of its own correspondents with those of The New York Times and is printed at 38 sites throughout the world, for sale in more than 160 countries and territories...
, Washington Post and The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
among others. He has had many exhibitions in several cities like, Los Angeles, Washington DC, San Francisco, New Mexico, Cambodia, Houston, New York, Beijing, France, New Delhi and Mumbai.
Awards
- First place in People in News category by the World Press PhotoWorld Press PhotoWorld Press Photo is an independent, non-profit organization based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Founded in 1955 the organization is known for holding the world's largest and most prestigious annual press photography contest....
, 2011 - Second place in General News category by Media Federation of India, 2011
- Finalist in the World Understanding Award category by POYi, 2011
- Award of Excellence in General News category by POYi, 2011
- Third place in the feature photography by National Headliner Awards 2010
- Winner of First place in General News Story category in India Press Photo Contest 2008 by The Indian ExpressThe Indian ExpressThe Indian Express is an Indian English-language daily newspaper. It is published in Mumbai by Indian Express Group. After Ramnath Goenka's death in 1991, the group was split in 1999 among his family members into two with the southern editions taking the name The New Indian Express, while the old...
Ramnath Goenka Foundation - Awarded The Paola Biocca International Reportage Award 2008 by International Journalism Festival, Italy. http://www.journalismfestival.com/festivaldelgiornalismo.php?article6#pagination_gallery
- Winner of the All Roads Photography Program by National Geographic SocietyNational Geographic SocietyThe National Geographic Society , headquartered in Washington, D.C. in the United States, is one of the largest non-profit scientific and educational institutions in the world. Its interests include geography, archaeology and natural science, the promotion of environmental and historical...
for the year 2007. http://www.nationalgeographic.com/allroads/photography.html - Nominated for the 11th International Festival of Photojournalism, Spain.http://www.fotoperiodismogijon.com/espanol/04_premio.htm
- His photo story titled Kashmir: Paradise in Pain won the bronze prize in the War & Disaster News category in the China International Press Photo (CHIPP) Contest 2007.
- His picture story about the conflict in Kashmir titled Kashmir: Paradise in Pain won him Special Jury Prize at the 3rd DAYS JAPAN International Photojournalism Awards 2007.http://www.daysjapan.net/e/award2007/
- First Prize in "One Weeks Work" category by Pictures of the YearPictures of the Yearis the oldest and most prestigious photojournalism program in the world. POYi began as an annual competition for photojournalism in 1944, and is now an international professional development program for visual journalism. POYi is a non-profit, academic program dedicated to journalism education...
International (POYi) 2007.http://www.poyi.org/64/44/index.php - Honorable Mention in the Nature & Environmental News Story category in the 3rd CHIPP Contest 2007.
- His picture of Kashmir village children playing cricket gave him the First prize in Sports Action and Feature category in the ‘India Press Photo 2006 by The Indian ExpressThe Indian ExpressThe Indian Express is an Indian English-language daily newspaper. It is published in Mumbai by Indian Express Group. After Ramnath Goenka's death in 1991, the group was split in 1999 among his family members into two with the southern editions taking the name The New Indian Express, while the old...
Ramnath Goenka Foundation.http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_archive_full_story.php?content_id=147945 - Outstanding Award in Spot News at the 2nd China International Press Photo Contest (CHIPP) 2006.
- Outstanding Award in General News at the 2nd China International Press Photo Contest (CHIPP) 2006.
- Second prize in the International News Pictures Story Category in the 'Best of Photojournalism 2005" by National Press Photographers Association (NPPANPPANPPA may refer to:* National Pest Plant Accord in New Zealand* National Press Photographers Association* National Professional Practice Assessment...
).http://bop.nppa.org/2005/still_photography/winners/INS/26645/49953.html - In 2005 his picture story on the Orphans of Kashmir titled Orphans of War was judged Best Story in 'General News' category at Mumbai Press Photo Contest 2005.
- Second prize in 'General News singles' category at Mumbai Press Photo Contest 2005.
- Third prize in 'Sports Action singles' category at Mumbai Press Photo Contest 2005.
- Third prize in 'People in the News singles' category at Mumbai Press Photo Contest 2005.
External links
- Atlaf Qadri's recent work
- Atlaf Qadri's website
- Profile at Lightstalkers
- The New York Times Lens Blog
- Kashmiri photojournalist bags 3 awards, The Hindu, Saturday, May 28, 2005
- Indian Press Photo Results announced, The Indian Express.
- Men behind lenses in strife zone, Khaleej Times.
- Altaf Qadri on the Deadly Standoff in Kashmir, Warshooter.