Three Greeks are among the photography staff of Thomson Reuters, which was awarded on Monday a Pulitzer Prize in the Breaking News Photography category, “for gripping photographs, each with its own voice, that follow migrant refugees hundreds of miles across uncertain boundaries to unknown destinations.”
The Reuters photo coverage of Middle Eastern migrants arriving in Europe was led from Greece by Yannis Behrakis, chief photographer for Greece and Cyprus, and the Guardian newspaper’s 2015 Agency Photographer of the Year. The other two Greeks on the team that was awarded in the 100th installment of the prestigious event at New York’s Columbia University are Alkis Konstantinidis and Alexandros Avramidis. The team captured a series of images of migrants crowded on flimsy sea craft and their first moments upon reaching Europe.
“We showed the world what was going on, and the world cared. It showed that humanity is still alive,” Behrakis said. “We made for these unfortunate people’s voice to be heard. Now with a Pulitzer, we feel that our work has been professionally recognized.” Some images showed families rushing ashore, flailing away in the water or collapsing on the beach. Others juxtaposed the rafters at sea with a cruise ship or a leaping dolphin or the setting sun.
This year’s announcement marked the 100th anniversary of the Pulitzers, which began in 1917 after a bequest from newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer. [Reuters/Combined reports]
