Borella's work was praised by the judging panel for its sensitivity, technical excellence and artistry in bringing to light a global concern. THE Sony World Photography Awards are a global platform for photography and today they offer a fundamental vision of contemporary photography. For both established and emerging artists, the awards offer world-class opportunities for exposure of their work.
After winning the prize which includes a $25.000 (USD) prize, Borella said: “This award is one of the most important things in my career and my life. This kind of exposure is amazing because it allows me and my work to reach a global audience. It is a "golden ticket" that happens once in a lifetime. I feel a huge responsibility because I was able to witness and record this situation as a photojournalist. This award is proof for my subjects that they can trust me – and for my profession it is essential ".
Borella was selected among the ten winners of the Professional competition category which were announced today along with those in 2nd and 3rd place in each professional category. The winners of the 'Open' (best single image), Youth and Student awards were also revealed at a prestigious London Awards ceremony, which was also attended by the Outstanding Photography Award winner of 2019, artist Nadav Kander to collect his award. All winners received Sony digital imaging equipment, publication in the Winners Book and their work will be shown as part of the 2019 Sony World Photography Awards Exhibition at Somerset House, London.
Produced by World Photography Organization, the Sony World Photography Awards are one of the largest and most prestigious photography competitions in the world. The 12th edition saw a record 326.997 entries from photographers from 195 countries and territories, showcasing the world's best contemporary photography captured over the past year.
Five Degrees is a project by the Italian photographer from Bologna Federico Borella (35 years old). Graduated in Classical Literature and Masters in Photojournalism, Borella is an internationally renowned freelance photojournalist with over ten years of experience as a news photographer and also a photography and photojournalism educator.
The Five Degrees series focuses on male suicide in the farming community of Tamil Nadu in southern India, which is facing its worst drought in 140 years. Based on a UC Berkeley study that found a correlation between climate change and rising suicide rates among Indian farmers, Borella explored the impact of climate change on this agricultural region and its community through the moving and powerful blend of images depicting the agricultural landscape, memories of deceased farmers and portraits of those left behind.
