A Photograph by Ospan Ali on the Tragedy of the Caspian Sea Wins an Award at the International Chromatic Awards
A photograph by Kazakh photographer Ospan Ali, dedicated to the environmental tragedy of the Caspian Sea, has been awarded second place in the category Environment (Professionals) at the international color photography competitions — Chromatic Awards 2025.
The submitted work depicts a dead seal entangled in fishing nets. The photograph was captures for the Save the Caspian Sea photo exhibition “The Last Shore” and highlights the ecological crisis of the Caspian Sea, drawing the attention of the international professional community to this urgent issue.
A photograph by Kazakh photographer Ospan Ali, dedicated to the environmental tragedy of the Caspian Sea, has been awarded second place in the category Environment (Professionals) at the international color photography competitions — Chromatic Awards 2025.
The submitted work depicts a dead seal entangled in fishing nets. The photograph was captures for the Save the Caspian Sea photo exhibition “The Last Shore” and highlights the ecological crisis of the Caspian Sea, drawing the attention of the international professional community to this urgent issue.
Participation and the award at the Chromatic Awards brought the work international recognition and became a clear example of achievement gained without paid promotion, solely through the power of visual storytelling and the relevance of the subject.
“This is a strong example of how Kazakh photographers can gain international recognition and compete on equal professional terms, while at the same time drawing attention to issues that deeply concern us. I am particularly worried about the environmental condition of the Caspian Sea — in many ways it echoes the tragedy of the Aral Sea,” Ospan Ali noted.
The Chromatic Awards is an international competition fully dedicated to color photography, bringing together thousands of professional photographers and visual artists from around the world each year. Entries are evaluated by an international jury composed of photographers, curators, art directors, and representatives of leading media outlets and galleries. Winning or receiving an award at the competition is considered a significant professional achievement and contributes to the author’s international recognition.
“This is a strong example of how Kazakh photographers can gain international recognition and compete on equal professional terms, while at the same time drawing attention to issues that deeply concern us. I am particularly worried about the environmental condition of the Caspian Sea — in many ways it echoes the tragedy of the Aral Sea,” Ospan Ali noted.
The Chromatic Awards is an international competition fully dedicated to color photography, bringing together thousands of professional photographers and visual artists from around the world each year. Entries are evaluated by an international jury composed of photographers, curators, art directors, and representatives of leading media outlets and galleries. Winning or receiving an award at the competition is considered a significant professional achievement and contributes to the author’s international recognition.
