Ana Palacios
Bio
Ana Palacios is a journalist and a documentary photographer focused in human rights issues shining a light on broken corners in collaboration with NGOs such as Manos Unidas, Africa Directo and UNICEF.
In 2021 she was awarded the National Geographic Society's Emergency Fund for Journalists, selected for the New York Times Portfolio Review and nominated for the Leica Oskar Barnack Award.
Her work has been awarded, exhibited and published worldwide (National Geographic, The Guardian Weekend Magazine, Al Jazeera, Stern, Der Spiegel, New Internationalist, Greenpeace Magazine, Rhythms Magazine Taiwan, Het Blad, Terra Mater, 6 Mois, Days Japan, El País Semanal, La Vaguardia Magazine, XL Semanal, Tiempo, etc). She has published three books: “Albino”, about the pledge of the albinos in Tanzania, “Art in Movement” about the art as a social change in Uganda and "Slave children: The Back Door" about the reinsertion of slave children in West Africa. She has also directed her first documentary on this last topic available on Filmin.
She is a public speaker at universities, photography festivals and other educational centers in order to instruct, educate and inspire topics regarding Human Rights. She is also a member of national and international photo contest juries.
Click here for extended resume
She graduated in Journalism in University of Navarre (Spain), followed by film and photography studies in UCLA, Los Angeles (USA), where she lived for several years. She worked as a journalist for the newsroom at Antena 3 Televisión, she has run communications departments, and for more than fifteen years she has been working as a film production coordinator, particularly on international co-productions. She has worked with directors such as Ridley Scott, Milos Forman, Tony Kaye, Michael Radford, Jim Jarmusch and Roman Polanski.
Since 2010, she produces documentary photography, always in connection with development cooperation projects mainly in Africa, but also in Asia and South America. Her photographs raise awareness of childhood and women’s issues for various NGOs, including Manos Unidas, Africa Directo and UNICEF. She photographs the world’s broken corners: orphanages, asylums, hospitals, psychiatric units, ghettoes and the like. Her intention is to make vulnerable communities visible with a sense of optimism and hope. She has lived alongside homeless women in India, lepers in China, albinos in Tanzania, tribes in Ethiopia, pygmies in Burundi and children at risk of social exclusion in Uganda, who have become the subjects of some of her work.
She publishes in international media outlets such as National Geographic, The Guardian Weekend Magazine, Al Jazeera, Stern, Die Zeit, Der Spiegel, New Internationalist, Daily Mail, Terra Mater, 6 Mois, Days Japan, El País Semanal, La Vanguardia Magazine, XL Semanal, Papel, El País, Tiempo, etc. writing about issues related to human rights.
In 2015 published her first book “Art in Movement” about art as a tool for social change in Uganda. In 2016 she published her second book “Albino” about the skin cancer of people with albinism in Tanzania. In 2018 she is releasing her third book "Slave children: The Back Door" about the reinsertion of slave children in West Africa. She has also directed her first documentary on this last topic available on Filmin.
Currently based in Madrid (Spain).
exhibitions
Go to "Exhibitions" for more info.
collections
Ana Palacios’ photographies are in both private and public collections such as:
• DKV Seguros Collection.
• María Cristina Masaveu Peterson Foundation.
• Ayuntamiento de Alcobendas.
• Genes y Gentes Foundation.
• The Heraldo de Aragón Newspaper Museum.
• Fernando de Castro Education for Women Foundation.
• Kilimanjaro Medical Center, Moshi. Tanzania.
• Ayuntamiento de Murcia.
• Universidad de Zaragoza.
• Universidad de Sevilla.
• Archivo Municipal de Málaga.
awards
• Premio Artes&Letras de fotografía. Winner 2022.
• Premio Internacional SUGi x NAVA Photography Award. Winner 2022.
• Premio Internacional de Fotografía E CA de Riba-Roja. Selected. 2022.
• Premio Avuelapluma de Fotografía 'Juan Guerrero'. Winner. 2022.
• Premio Internacional de Periodismo 'Manuel Chaves Nogales'. Honorable Mention. 2022.
• National Geographic Society's Emergency Fund for Journalists. Award. 2021.
• Ayudas a la creación SOS ARTE/CULTURA from VEGAP. Winner. 2021.
• Premio f/DKV a la Fotografía con Causa. Winner. 2021.
• Concurso Internacional de Fotografía Fundación Esperanza Pertusa. Winner. 2021.
• Leica Oskar Barnack Award 2021. Nominee. 2021.
• The New York Portfolio Review. Selected. 2021.
• International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF) Journalism Relief Fund. Grantee. 2020.
• Marilyn Stafford FotoReportage Award. Shortlist. 2020.
• MadridDocuFest. Documentary Multimedia Category. Winner. 2019.
• UNICEF Photo of the Year Award. Honorable Mention. 2018.
• IPA International Photography Awards (IPA). Editorial, Photo Essay and Feature Story Categories. Honorable Mentions. 2018.
• IPA International Photography Awards (IPA). Book People Category. Silver Medal. 2018.
• Press Award of Manos Unidas. Winner. 2018.
• Visa de l’ANI 2018. French Picture Editors Association (ANI). Finalist. 2018.
• Festival de Internacional Fotografia Paraty em Foco Brasil. Single shot. Finalist. 2018.
• Festival de Internacional Fotografia Paraty em Foco Brasil. Essay. Finalist. 2018.
• UNICEF Photo of the Year Award. Honorable Mention. 2017.
• Moscow International Foto Awards (MIFA). Photo Essay Category. Gold medal. 2017.
• Moscow International Foto Awards (MIFA). Life Style Category. Gold medal. 2017.
• Visa de l’ANI 2017. French Picture Editors Association (ANI). Winner. 2017.
• PX3 Prix de la Photographie Paris. Press People Category. Gold medal. 2017.
• PX3 Prix de la Photographie Paris. Portraiture Children Category. Gold medal. 2017.
• Fine Art Photography Awards (FAPA). People Category. Silver medal. 2017.
• Alfred Fried Photography Awards. Finalist. 2017.
• Festival Della Fotografia Etica. Spot light Award. Finalist. 2017.
• Siena International Photo Awards (SIPA). Daily Life Category. Finalist. 2017.
• Siena International Photo Awards (SIPA). Children Category. Finalist. 2017.
• Travel Photographer Awards. Finalist. 2017.
• Pollux Awards. Portrait Category. Finalist. 2017.
• Pollux Awards. Documentary Category. Finalist. 2017.
• Nikonians Photography Awards. Finalist. 2017.
• Head On Photo Festival. Portrait Category. Semi-finalist. 2017.
• Social Documentary Network. Featured Photographer. 2017.
• Neutral Density Awards (ND). Photo Essay / Story Category. Silver medal. 2016.
public speaker & jury member
Public speaker for several universities, photo festivals and high schools across the country to instruct, educate and inspire on Human Rights topics sharing personal experiences to relate and bring the reality of how journalism and photography can change lives.
Educational institutions such as EFTI, IEFC, Escuela Lens, MadPhoto, Voice4Migrants European Union Program, Universidad Carlos III, Universidad de Salamanca and San Pablo CEU, among others.
See selected list for talks and workshops by clicking here
2022
• Photography Festival. "Humanitarian photography" We Are Photo. Huelva.
• Photography Festival. "Wild love project". Montphoto Nature Photo. Lloret de Mar (Girona).
• Photography School. Escuela Mistos. Alicante.
• Seminar "About photojournalism". Universidad de San Jorge. Zaragoza.
• Photography School. "Financing documentary projects". Escuela EFE. Guatemala.
• NGO Doctors Without Borders. “Women in humanitarian photography” EnfocAH meeting. Madrid.
• University Master “News for media agencies” along with Canon Spain. University Carlos III and Agencia EFE. Madrid.
• Photography School. Master “Photojournalism and reportage”. EFTI Photography & Film School. Madrid.
2021
• Sustainability congress. "Más que una etiqueta verde". Valencia.
• Photography School. Workshop "Fotos de impresión" along with Canon Spain. Blackkamera. Bilbao.
• Photojournalism seminar. XX Seminario de Fotografía y Periodismo. Albarracin.
• Seminar “About photojournalism”. Universidad de San Jorge. Zaragoza.
• Photography Festival. Encuentros de Gijón. Asturias.
• Photography School. Master “Photojournalism and reportage”. EFTI Photography & Film School. Madrid.
• Photography School. Escuela Mistos. Alicante.
• Photography School. Workshop "Fotos de impresión" along with Canon Spain. PIC.A Alcobendas. Madrid. University Master “News for media agencies” along with Canon Spain. University Carlos III and Agencia EFE. Madrid.
• NGO. Encuentro y Solidaridad. Webinar “Creativity”. Granada.
2020
• NGO. Bel Avenir. Webinar “The challenges of photography in forgotten contexts”. Madrid.
• Photography Festival. Quijote Photo Fest. University de Alcalá. Madrid.
• Congress “Image week”. University Francisco de Vitoria. Madrid.
• Photography School. Madphoto. Madrid.
• Photography School. Master “Photojournalism and reportage”. EFTI Photography & Film School. Madrid.
• Photography School. Escuela Mistos. Alicante.
• Photography School. Vortice Photo. Alicante.
2019
• Congress “Between art and journalism”. University Carlos III. Madrid.
• Congress “Responsible communication, reputation and social responsibility”. Universidad de Alicante.
• Congress 3enRed. “Africa from a perspective”. Madrid.
• Congress “Voice for Migrants”. “Journalistic exploration on migration: telling a different story”. San Sebastián.
• Photography festival. Diecinueve Trece. Lanzarote.
• Photography School. Master “Photojournalism and reportage”. EFTI Photography & Film School. Madrid.
• Photography School. Lens. Madrid.
• Photography School. Cabanillas del Campo, Guadalajara.
• University Master “Corporate Communication”. “Communication on NGOs”. University of Villanueva. Madrid.
• “Traveling women” panel at La Térmica. Málaga.
• Nethinking space Espacio Abierto. Madrid.
• “Albino. Health and Art”. Hospital de Denia, Alicante.
• Educating the city: “International day against child slavery”. Catarroja City Hall. Valencia.
• “Talking to her” artists panel. Ámbito Cultural Corte Inglés. Madrid.
• “Aula fotográfica” activities. Universidad de Alcalá De Henares. Madrid.
2018
• Congress “Childhood and youth at risk. Present and Future”. University of Salamanca.
• Congress “Design and Photography”. University CEU. Madrid.
• Congress “Social Photography”. IEFC Photography School. Barcelona.
• Congress “Social Journalism” “Slavery today”. University CEU. Madrid. Congress “Aragon overseas”. Orhiuela del Tremedal. Teruel.
• Congress “Journalists in Africa”. Casa África. Caixa Forum. Madrid.
• Photography Festival. Euskalphoto. Fuenterrabía, Guipúzcoa.
• Photography Festival. PhotoFestival. Málaga.
• Photography Festival. AFOGRA. Granada.
• Photography Festival. Imaginaria. Castellón
• Seminar “Health and Cooperation” “Emerging ethical scenarios for development”. University of Alicante.
• “International day against child slavery”. Obras Misionales Pontificias. Vitoria.
• Photography School. Madphoto. Madrid.
• Photography School. Master “Photojournalism and reportage”. EFTI Photography & Film School. Madrid.
• “Film for peace” Debate moderator. Círculo De Bellas Artes. Madrid.
2017
• Royal Photographic Society. Madrid.
• Cycle “Meetings with commitments”. CaixaForum. Mallorca. Gerona. Zaragoza. Tarragona and Barcelona.
• German School. Zaragoza.
• NGO. AIPC Pandora. Madrid.
previous professional experience
FILM PRODUCTION
Production Coordinator for Film and Television for 17 years (From 1998 to 2014).
Feature Films: Exodus, Kingdom of Heaven, Asterix at the Olympic Games, The Liberator, Intruders, The Inbetweeners, The Limits of Control, La Mula, Tirante el Blanco, Queen of Swords, Goya’s Ghosts and The Dictator, among others.
She has worked for production companies such as the BBC, Fox, Paramount, etc. and with directors Ridley Scott, Michael Radford, Jim Jarmusch, Tony Kaye, Milos Forman and Roman Polanski among others.
PRESS OFFICES & MARKETING SERVICES
Palacio Vistalegre – Head of Communications. Exhibition venue for events in large format. Madrid. 2001 – 2003.
Media DIGISAT – Marketing Director. Audiovisual Fair for Latin America and Spain. Madrid. 1999.
Fine Art Connection – Fine Art Connections Gallery. Art Consultant. Beverly Hills, USA. 1997.
Steve Reich Photography – Studio and Locations Assistant. Los Angeles, USA. 1997.
Antena 3 TV – Reporter 1997 – 98.
academic background
BA in Journalism, from the University of Navarre, Pamplona. 1990 – 1995.
Master Certificate Program in Film & TV, in UCLA. Los Angeles, USA. 1996 – 1997.
Various courses of film production, photojournalism, digital photography, developing and printing in black and white, photography touching-up, etc. at the University of California, San Francisco, University of California, Los Angeles and University of Navarre.