Statements made by Partners, Jurors and Participants

“Considering the issue of violence prevention as highly important for children and adolescents […], we do support […] the contest […].”

Michael Strathmann
Public Relations
E-Plus-Gruppe   

There are countless new photo contests every month, but they are rarely devoted to such demanding topics as the prevention of violence. Not easy to be interpreted in terms of photography, this contest poses a big challenge to photographers worldwide. The underlying idea of the organizers to draw attention to an urgent issue by means of photography in a creative and not in a moralizing manner, deserves to be fully supported. This is why FOTO HITS Magazine, a large German photo magazine, participates in this campaign.

Dr. Martin Knapp
Chief Editor FOTO HITS Magazin
Managing Director of GFW PhotoPublishing GmbH

“We like the idea that the prevention of violence is the subject of a photo contest. We quickly decided to provide large-sized prints of the award-winning pictures, in museum quality. Nobody will remain unimpressed by the diversity of the pictures. Public awareness is drawn to this important issue in a rather casual way.”

Bettina Scheerbarth
Public Relations
Hahnemühle FineArt GmbH

Daily routine hardly leaves any time for teaching staff to take a closer look in order to detect, for example, hidden forms of violence. And often, there is no reaction to humiliating behaviour towards others. Schools blame parents for the violent behaviour of their female or male students, and parents put the blame on schools. To me, this contest is an excellent opportunity to talk with students about violence, to point out their own responsibility for their behaviour and to think about alternatives. I think that the conviction of a student that violence is the only possible form to react to certain situations, is clear proof of the urgency of this issue. 

Bettina Hogendorf, Germany, Award Winner 2009 / Category Short Film

“We need young people for the future – as a society and, particularly, we as an enterprise. We are investing heavily into the on-site training of young people here. Due to our long-term support of “agi” and the „Glückliche Familie e.V.“ (the non-profit organisation of Happy Family e.V.), it is quite natural for us to promote the contest.”

Franz Hellbach 
Marketing Business Development & Public Relation Manager
Interstuhl Büromöbel GmbH & Co. KG

“To me, the combination of creative work and social commitment is a crucial task for designers and photographers. Taking on topics that are right on our doorstep is particularly challenging. Visualizing the prevention of violence can have a major effect. To achieve this, you must have a clear, witty and relevant idea which reflects life as it is. Here, too, the three most important factors for good photographing are: picture composition, narration and the magic of the moment.”

Prof. Matthias Leupold
Berliner Technische Kunsthochschule
(Technical Art College, Berlin)

“My short film “Ways of Decision” is meant to encourage particularly adolescents and children to find better ways of coping with daily problems than resorting to violence. In my short film the problems of mobbing and aggression at schools demonstrate that violence never contributes to finding the right solution, but has negative consequences instead.

Christopher Caldwell, Germany, Award Winner 2009 / Category Short Film

“When I saw the poster of the Saturn market, I was extremely irritated by the coldness and arrogance displayed on it. I heard glass splinter and burst when looking at the poster. Goods are sold by means of aggressive marketing which is based on violence. Even worse, violence itself is sold without any product being touted. Violence is presented as something positive to identify with. This is what I tried to express with my photo. To me this kind of advertising is unbearable. Possible negative effects on children and adolescents, a major target group of the Saturn market, have not even been considered.”

Benjamin Schulte-Frohlinde, Germany, Award Winner 2009 / Category Digital Photography

Apart from physical forms of violence inflicted on children in the form of slaps in the face, beatings etc., there are also psychological injuries caused by adults, such as insults, humiliations, disrespect and negligence, from which children have to suffer. […] All this violates the basic right of each child to be respected as a person. Through violence and suppression the children concerned […] are taught modes of behaviour that make it harder for them to lead a life of fair and peaceful cooperation, in their families or in society. “It is up to us whether the child becomes a perpetrator of violence or a natural scientist.”

Nicola Krabbe. Germany, Award Winner 2009 / Category Digital Photography

“As a matter of principle, this topic must be addressed, even if you are not personally concerned. The brutalization of society has a direct or indirect effect on the quality of life, leads to an increased readiness to use violence and further lowers the inhibition threshold. I think, in this context one is easily motivated to develop a photo concept. The idea of the ‘maltreated’ teddy bear allowed me to show the vulnerability of a child. Physical or psychological injuries may have a decisive impact on the further lives of adolescents.”

Daniel Bracher, Switzerland, Award Winner 2009 / Category Digital Photography

“I decided to use a black-and-white photo series in order to illustrate violence and its prevention. The photos are meant to direct the focus of attention to the essential without any distraction through colours. […] Photography is a wonderful medium to present the issue of violence prevention as it gives much room for thought.”

Wilfried Hinz, Switzerland, Award Winner 2009 / Category Digital Photography