TEHRAN — Iranian photographer Shirko Mam-Agha has won four honors at the 2026 International Photography Awards (IPA) in the United States, including a third-place finish and three honorable mentions, according to the head of the Culture and Islamic Guidance office in the northwestern city of Bukan.
Reza Abbasi said Mam-Agha won third place in the Events, Traditions and Cultures category for The Tambourine-Playing Ceremony of the People of Pal Village, which depicts a traditional tambourine-playing ceremony in Palangan village.
Mam-Agha also received an honorable mention in the Fine Art Portrait category for Smoke of History in a Beam of Silence.
His photograph The Flight of Dreams of Nomadic Children in the Mountains, focusing on nomadic children in the mountains, was recognized in the People — Children category.
A fourth work, Friends of Nature, which explores the relationship between people and nature, received an honorable mention in the People — Lifestyle category.
Abbasi said the awards demonstrated the ability of artists from Bukan to compete internationally and showcase the culture, traditions and way of life of the region through photography.
He said the participation and success of local artists in international events also provide an opportunity to highlight Iran’s indigenous traditions, nomadic life and social and cultural features.
Abbasi congratulated the city’s cultural and artistic community on Mam-Agha’s achievement and called for continued support for artists and greater opportunities for them to participate in national and international festivals and competitions.