August 30, 2026; "Shirko Mam-Agha," a photographer from Boukan, won four honors at the 2026 International Photography Awards (IPA) in the United States, including a 3rd Place World Award for his photograph "The Tambourine-Playing Ceremony of the People of Palangan Village" and three Honorable Mentions in the "Fine Art," "People – Children," and "People – Lifestyle" categories.

In this edition of the competition, 14,000 photos submitted by photographers from 139 countries were evaluated. Mam-Agha submitted 20 works, six of which reached the finals, with four ultimately securing a third-place global award and three Honorable Mentions:

  • 3rd Place in "Events, Traditions, and Cultures": The Tambourine-Playing Ceremony of the People of Palangan Village, documenting the tambourine ceremony in Palangan.
  • Honorable Mention in "Fine Art Portraiture": Smoke of History in a Beam of Silence.
  • Honorable Mention in "People – Children": The Flight of Dreams of Nomadic Children in the Mountains.
  • Honorable Mention in "People – Lifestyle": Friends of Nature, depicting lifestyle and humanity's connection with nature.

Born in 1982 in the village of "Rahim Khan" in the Simmineh district of Boukan, "Shirko Mam-Agha" has previously earned awards, silver medals, and Honorable Mentions in international competitions across France, the United States, Canada, China, Turkey, and Kyrgyzstan, with over 60 selected works to his credit.

The International Photography Awards (IPA) is a globally recognized competition held since 2003, featuring photographers worldwide. Winning works are featured in publications and international exhibitions. The success of documentary photography in such venues provides an opportunity to introduce the culture, identity, traditions, and lifestyle of the region to a global audience.