Kazakhstani photographer Anel Bazylova emerged as the winner of the prestigious 2025 National and Regional Awards at the Sony World Photography Awards. Her project, which depicts women with rare genetic diseases and those diagnosed with cancer, was selected from 400,000 photos submitted by participants from 56 countries.
A piece of visual art by 35-year-old Bazylova, created within the photo project called «Bud’»(Live), was selected as the best from Kazakhstan. She began the project in 2024, pursuing the goal of supporting women with rare diseases.
«My goal is to motivate women who have found themselves in a tough situation due to their diseases not to give up or isolate themselves from the world. These photos offer at least some hope and the courage to speak out about themselves and their condition,» Anel said.
The model for the winning photograph was Dinara Isa, a 25-year-old Kazakhstani woman who is fighting against a rare genetic ailment — Gorham’s disease.
«This is an extremely rare condition. According to Dinara, if I’m not mistaken, she is the only person with this diagnosis in Kazakhstan, while worldwide, there are only 28 individuals with this condition,» she highlighted.
As a result, a piece by Bazylova will be presented in a group exhibition of winners in London from April 17 to May 5. Additionally, Anel often takes photos at the Astana Opera, aiming to spark interest in ballet among Kazakhstanis. She believes that even commercial photos must carry meaning and have a social aspect. Bazylova also calls for businesses to create commercial photos featuring vulnerable population groups.
