Dr Iqbal Survé, Chairman of Survé Group Holdings, officially opened the Andrei Stenin International Press Photo Contest Exhibition in Durban on Tuesday. The exhibition features 30 award-winning photographs by photojournalists from different countries and backgrounds. According to Dr Survé, while the photographs document very different circumstances, they share a common thread: the human experience. The exhibition marks the first time it has been hosted in Durban.
Dr Survé emphasized the power of photography to transcend borders, preserve human stories, and encourage understanding between people. He noted that a single photograph can sometimes communicate more powerfully than pages of text, especially in an era dominated by an overwhelming flow of information. Dr Survé reflected on the enduring power of an image, arguing that it can convey complex emotions and ideas in a way that text cannot.
The importance of perspective was a key theme in Dr Survé's address. He pointed out that every photograph represents a choice by the person behind the camera, from where they stand to what they choose to capture. However, the viewer also brings their own perspective to an image, and two people can look at the same photograph and see different things. Dr Survé described these differences as one of photography's greatest strengths.
Dr Survé also reflected on the legacy of Andrei Stenin, the Russian photojournalist in whose memory the international competition was established. He described Stenin's work as representing the risks, responsibilities, and courage associated with documenting events as they unfold. The competition provides an international platform for emerging photographers to showcase their work.
Dr Survé highlighted the role of culture and the arts in strengthening relationships between countries. He recalled participating in the opening of the BRICS Universe photographic exhibition at the Iziko Planetarium in Cape Town in 2024. Dr Survé noted that international friendship is not only built through political agreements or economic partnerships but also through culture, education, art, ideas, and human contact.
Dr Survé emphasized that photography provides a form of communication that does not necessarily require translation. An image can move from one country to another, from one generation to another, and still communicate something deeply human. He argued that cultural exchange can provide an alternative way of encountering difference, encouraging curiosity rather than suspicion.
The exhibition is a celebration of the human experience, and Dr Survé encouraged visitors to spend time with the photographs, considering not only what they see but also what they might be missing. He paid tribute to the young photographers represented in the exhibition, emphasizing the importance of professional photojournalism in capturing striking images and telling human stories.
Key points
- The exhibition features 30 award-winning photographs by photojournalists from different countries and backgrounds.
- Dr Survé emphasized the power of photography to transcend borders and encourage understanding between people.
- The exhibition marks the first time it has been hosted in Durban.
