US female photojournalist wins award for courage

Former Washington Post photographer Andrea Bruce has won the International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF) Anja Niedringhaus Courage in Photojournalism Award 2018, with honourable mentions to Canon shooter Amber Bracken and Rebecca Conway.

Winner Andrea Bruce (pictured above) is an American documentary photographer whose work focuses on people living in the aftermath of war, particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan. For eight years, Andrea was a staff photographer at The Washington Post and wrote the column Unseen Iraq, which explored the lives of the Iraqi people and the US military.

She was celebrated at a ceremony in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, at the close of the World Press Photo Festival, during which she was recognised for her empathy, her emotional connection with subjects, and for the dignity that shines through in her portfolio. Juror Eman Mohammed noted that Andrea “was always inspiring others within the field to step up.”

Bruce was chosen from among 136 nominations, the highest since the programme began four years ago. She follows a prestigious line of previous IWMF winners, who include Canon shooters Stephanie Sinclair and Nicole Tung.

Amber Bracken received an honorable mention, with the jury noting the incredible perseverance evident in Amber's work along with her fresh and memorable look at indigenous peoples of her home region and beyond.

British photojournalist Rebecca Conway also received an honorable mention. She is based in New Delhi and known for capturing the long-simmering conflict in Kashmir and its effects on local civilians.

"Women journalists have long been vulnerable to work-related harassment and other dangers that we are just now starting to talk about," said Elisa Lees Muñoz, Executive Director of the IWMF. "This award is about honoring those who operate in areas of greatest risk yet stay laser focused on those who, as they will tell you, are the real heroes."