The award-winning photographs of The Hindu photographers in the Andhra Pradesh Photo Journalists Association (APPJA) National Photo Contest 2026, held as part of the World Photography Day celebrations. (Clockwise from left): K.R. Deepak (First Prize), G.N. Rao (Consolation Prize), K.V.S. Giri (Second Prize), V. Peddi Raju (Consolation Prize) and Kommuri Srinivas (Consolation Prize).

| Photo Credit: The Hindu

The Andhra Pradesh Photojournalists Association (APPJA) on Tuesday (August 11, 2026) announced the winners of its National Photojournalism Contest 2026, organised to commemorate World Photography Day.The contest featured spot news and general news categories, highlighting photographs that captured important events, issues and significant moments in society. The association president Ch. V.S. Vijaya Bhaskara Rao said 110 photojournalists from different States participated in the contest and submitted 440 photographs. The participants came from States and UTs including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Goa, and Jammu and Kashmir.In the ‘Spot News’ category, K.R. Deepak of The Hindu (Visakhapatnam) bagged the first prize, Manvender Vashist of PTI (New Delhi) secured second prize, while B. Maridayya of Eenadu, Vijayawada, secured third position.In the ‘General News’ category, Anantha Subramanyam K., a freelancer from Bangalore bagged first prize, K.V.S. Giri of The Hindu, Vijayawada, secured second prize, while C. Mallikarjuna of Eenadu, Ongole, stood at third position.Vudimudi Peddi Raju of The Hindu, Visakhapatnam, is among the 12 photojournalists awarded for their good work in the “Achievement Awards” category, while Kommuri Srinivas, The Hindu, Ongole, and G.N. Rao, The Hindu, Vijayawada, secured consolation prizes in the contest.The contest was supported by CR Media Academy of Andhra Pradesh and the A.P. Creative and Cultural Commission. The judging panel comprised R. Appaji, Resident Editor of The Hindu (Andhra Pradesh), A. Rajendra Prasad, Chief Photographer, I&PR Department and Ch. Narayana Rao, Senior Photographer, Deccan Chronicle. Published - August 11, 2026 09:18 pm IST