Willem van der Berg of South Africa’s Landbou Weekblad won the 2022 Star Prize for Photography from the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) for “3000 Days of Drought,” a haunting portrait of farmer Dawid le Roux. The award was presented in Vingsted, Denmark, on June 27 at IFAJ’s World Congress. Van der Berg is a member of the Agricultural Writers Association of South Africa.
“3000 Days of Drought” captured first place in the People category of the contest and was selected among the other category winners for the top prize. Van der Berg was also honored with a runner-up award in the Nature and Landscape category for “Kalahari Miracle,” also published in Landbou Weekblad.
Judges applauded “3000 Days of Drought” as a “great dramatic portrait and composition.”
The other category winners included:
- Myrna Stark Leader of the Canadian Farm Writers Federation for “Night Moves” in Country Life in BC, and John Eveson of the British Guild of Agricultural Journalists, for “Belted Galloway Cattle in the Lake District” in Farmers Guardian, tied for first place in the Production category.
- Joel Reichenberger of the Agricultural Communicators Network (USA) for “Storm Brewing” in Progressive Farmer, first place in the Nature/Landscape category.
- Reichenberger also received a runner-up award in the People category for “Pouring Seed,” published in Progressive Farmer.
“Willem van der Berg’s Star Prize-winning photo reminds us how powerful photography can be in telling stories from the field,” said Adalberto Rossi, IFAJ secretary-general. “Along with the other category winners and the wide range of entries from around the world, the work of our members demonstrates the many ways journalists can bring experiences from the countryside to viewers far away with skill, artfulness and passion.”
The 2022 IFAJ Star Prize for Photography judging panel included Johnnie Belinda Cluff of New Zealand, Kurt Lawton of the U.S. and Janice Thoroughgood of Canada.
Click here to see “3000 Days of Drought.“