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The Spirit of the VooDoo | Benin

The series focuses on Voodoo, which originated in the Dahomey kingdom, now Benin and Togo. It is one of the world's oldest religions rooted in animism, the belief that all things have a spirit. A more accurate name for the religion was vodúnsínsen, meaning "spirit worship."

Awards

World Photo Annual

2024

Honorable Mention

People

Professional

Nominee

Travel

Professional

The Spirit of the VooDoo | Benin

The series focuses on Voodoo, which originated in the Dahomey kingdom, now Benin and Togo. It is one of the world's oldest religions rooted in animism, the belief that all things have a spirit. A more accurate name for the religion was vodúnsínsen, meaning "spirit worship."

About Artist

Aga Szydlik

Aga Szydlik is a highly accomplished independent photographer. Her work is focused on cultural and documentary photography. She is passionate about exploring the world and the societies she documents, concentrating on lesser-known and disappearing cultures and their essence. Aga uses her photography to understand and document the rich cultural heritage of various tribes and their rituals while exploring how these traditions intersect with modern and traditional knowledge. Her images have now been shown in curated exhibitions and have won numerous awards including reFocus Awards (2023), Pollux (2020) and Julia Margaret Cameron Award (2019 and 2020), Monovision Award (2022), Dodho(217) and IPA (2015). A comprehensive list of publications, exhibitions, and awards can be found on https://www.agalphotography.com/publications-exhibitions Aga began her professional career while living in Thailand as a fight photographer, where she developed a passion for Muay Thai. Later, she relocated to Indonesia and South Africa, expanding her career as a scientist and photographer. Aga works with different NGOs and as an independent contributor, aiming to capture the essence of the people Aga photographs in a powerful and meaningful way. She actively supports human rights movements, environmental protection, and conservation efforts. Aga currently resides in the USA, dividing her time between science and photography. When she is not traveling, she practices yoga and appreciates a slower pace of life.

Aga Szydlik

Photographic Areas of Focus

People, Photojournalism, Portrait, Travel

Location

United States of America

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