Desolation

• Prize
  Gold in Editorial/Conflict, 1st Place winner in Editorial
• Jury Top 5 Selection

  Emre Kuheylan

• Photographer
  Alejandro Martinez Velez
• Agency / Studio
  Freelance For Anadolu Agency
• Technical Info
  Canon Eos R6, Sigma 35mm 1.4 Art, Sigma 50mm 1.4 Art, Canon Ef 70-200 F4 L
• Photo Date
  2022

The escalating tension between Russia and Ukraine finally blew up in the early morning of February 24, 2022, after almost eight years of war in the Donbas region, with the entry of the Russian Army into the Ukrainian territory. This new conflict phase has caused millions of lives to be cut short and the devastation of several parts of the country. According to the United Nations, at least 6.5 million people have fled Ukraine and the number of internally displaced persons rises to 8 million. The shellings and the frontline advance have cost more than 6,000 deaths and 9,000 verified wounded.

Alejandro Martinez Velez, 1991, is a photojournalist currently based in Madrid, Spain. He began his photography training at Lens School of Visual Arts, combining it with his university studies in Political Sciences (Complutense Univesity of Madrid). His work focuses especially on social conflicts, human rights or political issues. He is currently documenting the exodus of hundreds of thousands of people to Europe. His pictures have been exhibited in different cities like Madrid, Moscow, Istanbul, New York, Shanghai, Warsaw or Milan