Working across Asia and beyond, Altaf Qadri is a highly respected and an award-winning photojournalist who for the last 15 years has been at the cutting edge of international photojournalism. Altaf started out covering news and features stories for the European Press Photo Agency (EPA) in Kashmir before moving on to the Associated Press and over the course of his career he has covered everything from political turmoil and cultural interest stories through to major natural disasters. His photographs appear daily in a wide range of highly esteemed international publications.
Altaf is also a well experienced conflict photographer who has documented everything from deadly street battles in his native Kashmir to full blown international and civil wars such as those in Afghanistan and Libya, where in 2012 he spent around two days hiding behind the lines of General Gadaffi's advancing forces.
Having repeatedly risked life and limb to file hard-hitting reports from some of the world's most fraught regions, Altaf is a fount of practical journalistic knowledge and photographic know-how that has time and again been put to the test out in the field. Altaf have won numerous awards and accolades include winning the World Press Photo twice, the National Geographic Society award, and Photographer of the Year International awards among many others. He delivers guest lectures to the students at various universities and colleges across India. He has also delivered lectures at The Aurora Forum at the Stanford University, Los Angeles college of Arts, National Geographic Headquarters in Washington DC. This is a rare opportunity to benefit from the expert insights of a highly talented and dedicated photographer The New York Times describes as "prolific and perceptive".
"He brings the high standards of conflict zone photojournalism into his every day work covering political and social life and also to his personal projects" - LensCulture.
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While he continues his love for photography, he is an ace traveler, a great companion and an amazing story teller. He has been leading off road adventure groups and individuals with special interest in Culture, Photography and Adventure. He is trained and certified in Hostile Environment and First Aid Training (HEFAT) programme from UK.
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Click here to see the list of awards received by Altaf. His complete profile can be seen here.
Awards
2016: Alfred Fred Photography Award.
2015: Photo Story of the Year by WE Journalism awards.
2014: First place in People/ Portraiture category from The Atlanta Photojournalism Seminar.
2014: Documentary Award by The Humanity Photo Awards/ UNESCO
2013: APME Best Feature Photo Story award.
2013: Silver prize in General News category from China International Press Photo Contest.
2013: Honorable Mention in Contemporary Issues Stories from World Press Photo.
2012: Third place in General News category from The Atlanta Photojournalism Seminar.
2011: First place in People in News category from World Press Photo.
2011: Second place in General News category from Media Federation of India.
2011: Finalist in the World Understanding Award category from Pictures of Year International.
2011: Award of Excellence in General News category from Pictures of Year International (POYi).
2010: Third place in the feature photography from National Headliner Award.
2008: First place in General News Story category from India Press Photo Contest
2008: Best Published Picture Story category from National Press Photographers Association.
2008: The Paola Biocca International Reportage Award from International Journalism Festival, Italy.
2007: Winner of the All Roads Photography Program from the National Geographic Society.
2007: Nominated for the 11th International Festival of Photojournalism, Spain.
2007: Bronze prize in War & Disaster News category from China International Press Photo Contest.
2007: Special Jury Prize at the DAYS JAPAN International Photojournalism Awards.
2007: First Prize in "One Weeks Work" category by Pictures of Year International (POYi).
2007: Honorable Mention for the Nature & Environmental News Story by China International Press Photo Contest.
2006: First prize in Sports Action & Feature category from India Press Photo Contest.
2006: Outstanding Award in Spot News from China International Press Photo Contest.
2006: Outstanding Award in General News from China International Press Photo Contest.
2005: Second prize for International News Pictures Story Category from National Press Photographers Association.
2005: Best Photo Story in General News category from Mumbai Press Photo Contest
2005: Second prize in General News singles category from Mumbai Press Photo Contest.
2005: Third prize in Sports Action singles category from Mumbai Press Photo Contest.
2005: Third prize in People in the News singles category from Mumbai Press Photo Contest.