Spotlight Award 2025 | Diego Fedele (eng)

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Spotlight Award Winner 2025Diego Fedele
In the Shadow of a Deadly Sky

The war in Eastern Ukraine continues to escalate throughout the third year since Russia’s President Vladimir Putin ordered its full-scale invasion in February 2022, after years of diplomatic tensions. The hostilities in the eastern regions started in 2014, and many civilians have been forced to relocate to Western Ukraine or European countries. The relentless bombardments have left a trail of destruction, crippling Ukraine’s infrastructure, economy, and way of life.

Photo copyright: © Diego Fedele

The Jury's Motivation

In the Shadow of a Deadly Sky by Diego Fedele stands out for its deeply human and visually cohesive approach to the story.
This comprehensive project, which covers the war in Ukraine from its beginning, conveys the emotional and psychological toll of living under constant threat with remarkable sensitivity and restraint. The photographer has demonstrated the ability to balance intimacy and context, avoiding sensationalism through careful sequencing and strong visual consistency.

Diego Fedele is an Italian freelance photojournalist currently based in Melbourne, Australia. He will relocate to Munich, Germany, in September 2025. In 2015, he attended a documentary photography course at WSP Photography in Rome, marking the beginning of his photographic journey. Afterwards, in 2022, Diego was selected for the 35th edition of the Eddie Adams Workshop in New York. After living in Australia for seven years and working with leading Australian news outlets, his work in Ukraine was recognised with a Walkley Award for feature photography in 2024—the most prestigious journalistic award in Australia. His most recent and ongoing project explores the Ukraine–Russia war from a humanistic perspective, aiming to capture intimate moments that highlight individual dignity in the face of conflict and hardship. Diego is also a stringer for the Australian Associated Press and Getty Images, covering news and politics. His work has been featured in both national and international newspapers and magazines.

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