DID Press: Iranian photographer Morteza Akhondi has won first place in the News Photography category of the 2026 Golden Shot Photography Awards, outperforming hundreds of entries submitted by photographers from around the world.
The award-winning image captures an aerial view of the funeral and burial ceremony for the student victims of the Minab tragedy. The photograph drew significant attention from the competition’s judges and international audiences for its powerful visual portrayal of grief and collective mourning.
According to organizers, the image documented the funeral procession and burial of 168 students killed in Minab. The photograph has since received widespread recognition across international media and artistic circles, becoming one of the most discussed images of the year.
The achievement marks a significant international success for Iranian photojournalism, highlighting the impact of documentary photography in conveying the human consequences of major tragedies.