Hristo Rusev photography: The awarded pictures of Hristo Rusev-BG PRESS PHOTO 2016

Here you can see my awarded pictures by Bulgarian Picture of The 2016 year by BG PRESS PHOTO:

- I was awarded with the prize of the best young Bulgarian photojournalist under 23 year, for the second consecutive year.
- Second prize for documentary photojournalism from Bulgaria
- First and Third prize for International photojournalism

Hristo Rusev/2015 - 2016/ NurPhoto

KUMANOVO

Hristo Rusev/2015 - 2016/ NurPhoto

A war-ravaged street “Tode Mendol” in the Albanian quarter of the town of Kumanovo is a sad reminder of the anti terrorist operation held in Macedonia two weeks ago. What happened then in the country’s second biggest town still raises more question that it provides answers. What was proclaimed by the Gruevski’s government as a strike against dangerous terror unit has led to the destruction of tens of houses with hundreds of people left homeless or lost their small businesses. Now all the rooftops in the neighbourhood look like giant craters, with large hole in walls and the smelt of burnt still lingering through the street. A row of smashed and burnt vehicle outside homes is another sad sign of how tense the attack on the neighbourhood was. “My whole family of 12 was in the house when the attack began. We managed to hide in the cellar but then all of a sudden I realized that the house above us is on fire. We somehow succeeded in running into the street with our hand held high to show them we were not criminals. Thank god all my loved ones are alive”, an old man says. He is adamant that there are no terrorist in Kumanovo and the Albanian population is not interested in insurgencies and creating ethnical tension. One of his neighbours has lost his small barbershop and is now determined to move out of the town in search of ways to make a living.

According to the official date 8 policemen and 14 terrrorist were killed during the operation. But the questioned no one has answered so far is how the supposed terrorist managed to get into civilians’ houses. People in Kumanovo are convinced that the state will help them repair their damaged homes but they are not so optimistic when asked when would that happen. “In 2-3 years”, they reply.

EDIRNE

Hristo Rusev/2015 - 2016/ NurPhoto

In mid September 2015 thousands of Syrian refugees started their difficult journey from Istanbul to the border city Edirne. Those refugees faced a barricade on the highway to Edirne. Thousands of them were transported back by buses, vans and cars. Around 1200 refugees, however, succeeded in getting to the city, where the local authorities arrested them and again tried to transport them back to where they had come from.

BRUSSELS

Hristo Rusev/2015 - 2016/ NurPhoto

The Brussels Maelbeek metro station reopen after the attacks

PARIS

Hristo Rusev/2015 - 2016/ NurPhoto

In December when I went to Paris to meet with people and hear their stories, so I can get closer to their pain, I saw a sign saing in big letters “HAPPY HOURS”. In fact, this sign attracts the customers during the time between 6pm and 8pm, when there is discount on food or something else. The terror happens just after these “Happy Hours”.

People are walking around Paris and shooting. Shooting to everyone. There’s something odd .I’ll never forget the things that happened those days. Even at the moment, although I did not get hurt, but the city I live in for long time. We’re talking about an act of terrorism here, which aims to frighten and terrorize the population. Danger is everywhere. On the field of war you know what to expect at any time, but here danger comes and anytime you see a bearded man on the street you think, look he is a bad man. In fact, this bearded man waits for his daughter, he paints the walls on the streets as you or the rest of the people do.