Balazs Gardi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Balazs Gardi
|
|
|---|---|
| Balázs Gárdi | |
.jpg)
Gardi on the USS Rafael Peralta in 2023
|
|
| Born | 1975 (age 49–50) |
| Alma mater | MÚOSZ Journalism School |
Balazs Gardi (born 1975) is a talented Hungarian-American photographer. He is well-known for his powerful pictures. Gardi spent many years photographing the landscapes of Afghanistan during a long period of conflict. He also traveled to many countries. His goal was to show how the global water crisis affects people and places.
In 2008, Gardi won important awards for his work. He received two first prizes at the World Press Photo Awards. He also won the Photojournalism prize at the Bayeux-Calvados Award. These awards were for his amazing photos from Afghanistan.
Contents
Balazs Gardi's Photography Journey
Gardi began his career as a photographer around the year 2000. He worked for a daily newspaper called Népszabadság. In the mid-2000s, he spent two years on a special project. He documented the Roma communities. He photographed these people who faced many challenges in Eastern European countries.
His photographs have been featured in many famous magazines. These include Harper's Magazine, National Geographic, and The New York Times. His work has also appeared in Wired, Time, and The Guardian.
Capturing the Water Crisis
One of Gardi's important projects is called "Thirst." This series shows how people live in areas where water is scarce. "Thirst" is part of a bigger project called Facing Water Crisis. This project highlights how the growth of human population affects water availability.
Documenting Life in Conflict Zones
In 2010 and 2011, Gardi documented the First Battalion, Eighth Marines. This was a group of soldiers during their time in southern Afghanistan. Gardi even tried using an iPhone as his main camera there. He published a photo essay about this experience in Foreign Policy magazine. It was titled "The War in Hipstamatic."
In 2011, Gardi traveled to a rural area in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. He documented the communities living there. His work in South Africa was supported by a grant from the Magnum Foundation.
Recent Work and Recognition
Gardi also created a series of photos called "The Storm." He made this work after the 2020 U.S. presidential election events. He worked with writer Luke Mogelson for The New Yorker magazine. This photo series was a finalist for the 11th Prix Pictet Award. This award recognizes photography that focuses on sustainability.
Exhibitions of Gardi's Work
Balazs Gardi's photographs have been shown in many places. He has had solo exhibitions, meaning only his work was shown. These include shows at the European Parliament in Brussels (2005) and the New York Photo Festival (2011). His work was also displayed at Roca Gallery in Barcelona (2015).
Gardi has also participated in group exhibitions. His photos have been part of shows at the Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest (2008). They were also shown at Les Invalides, Paris (2009). Other venues include The Annenberg Space for Photography, Los Angeles (2009). His work was also at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (2012). Most recently, his photos were at the Saatchi Gallery, London (2022).
Awards and Grants
Balazs Gardi has received many grants and fellowships. These are special funds or opportunities given to support artists. Some of these came from the Alexia Foundation and the Magnum Foundation. He also received support from the Reuters Foundation and the World Press Photo Foundation.
As mentioned, he won the Bayeux-Calvados Award in 2008. In 2009, he received the Global Vision Award at Pictures of the Year International. He has also won three first prizes at World Press Photo. These awards show how important and impactful his photography is.
