Acayan’s visual investigation of the severe plastic pollution plaguing the Philippines also won Getty Images’ News Photo Essay of the Year for Asia Pacific
Photojournalist Ezra Acayan is named News Photographer of the Year in Asia Pacific at the recent Getty Images Editorial Awards 2023.
Vivek Prakash, Getty Images APAC managing editor praised Acayan’s body of work, calling the photographer’s news pictures a “masterclass in the power of visual storytelling.”
“His imagery evokes strong emotions in the viewer, making it a memorable and impactful visual experience, and is the mark of a top quality professional in full flight,” Prakash was quoted on the Getty Images Editorial Awards website.
Some of his notable work on the Getty Images highlight reel include his coverage of the Pride March in Quezon City last year featuring local drag performers, human rights activist and former senator Leila de Lima at her bail hearing at Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court, and a candid photo of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his second State of the Nation Address.
Acayan also won the Asia Pacific News Photo Essay of the Year for his photo assignment for Break Free From Plastic on the story of sachets or how small plastic packaging proliferated in and continues to plague the Philippines.
The photojournalist said of the awards on Instagram, “[I am] [h]onoured and humbled to be named News Photographer of the Year and win News Photo Essay of the Year for APAC in this year’s Getty Global Editorial Awards 📸 Many thanks to my @gettyimages editors and colleagues, most especially to @vivpix, for the opportunity and privilege to keep doing this work 🙏🏼.”
The Getty Images Editorial Awards features the best content from its News, Sports, and Entertainment teams captured throughout the year. The showcase celebrates the creativity, dedication, and expertise of Getty photographers and videographers as well as editors, producers, and directors.
Acayan has been covering politics, climate change, and social injustice for a decade now. He has regularly worked on assignments for Getty Images since 2019.
In 2021, Acayan was named a Pulitzer Prize Finalist in Feature Photography for his visual reportage of the situation at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport during the onset of the pandemic lockdown.
In the same year, he received his second World Press Photo Award for his work on Taal Volcano’s eruption. Acayan was first awarded the honor in the Spot News category for his reportage on the drug war in 2019.