Byron Smith
Byron Smith (b. 1986) is an American freelance photographer based in Athens, Greece. With a background in history, he has put down the pen in favor of the lens to document these times. Before moving to Athens this past August he worked as a stringer in New York City since 2011. His clients include The New York Times, Le Monde, Der Spiegel, Getty Images, The Wall Street Journal among others. Byron was apart of The New York Times Portfolio Review in 2017 and has been selected for the same review in 2020. His work has been published with: Getty Images, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Sunday Times, The Guardian, Le Monde, Der Spiegel, and VICE.
Awards:
• 2021 Belfast Photo Festival – Highly commended
• 2020 Athens Photo World Award Runner up / New York Portfolio Review Selected Participant
• 2019 Vogue Italia Portfolio Review Attendee
• 2019 New York Press Photographers Association Best in Show
• 2018 Yunghi Grant Recipient
• 2018 New York Press Photographers Association Best in Show
• 2017 New York Times Portfolio Review
• 2017 PhotogrVphy Magazine & Grant: Finalist Mosul Offensive 2016
• 2017 En Foco Fellowship
• 2016 New York Press Photographers Association
• News Picture Story: 1 st place • National / International News: 1 st & 3 rd place 2011 New York Press Association • Feature “Occupy Wall Street Protesters on the No.4 Train” 1st place 2011 National Press Photographers Association Monthly News Clip Contest
• Feature/Multiple Picture: “Springfield’s Deadly Tornadoes”: 2nd Place 2008 New Jersey Press Association Better Newspaper Contest • Spot News: 3 rd place 2007 Boston Press Photographers Association College Photojournalism Contest •News: 1 st & 2 nd place
•Photo Story: 1 st & 3 rd place Education 9/2004 -5/2008 Boston University Boston, MA
•Graduated with a B.S. in Journalism, Photojournalism Emphasis
Sudan: A Nation in Transition
Two years after a revolution gave way to the end of Omar al-Bashir’s 30-year rule, the new government inherited a bankrupt state, burdened by the consequences of international sanctions. Although assisted by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, the country remains mired in the economic crisis.
The images show life in Khartoum as the country works its way back to be a part of the international community once again. While rolling blackouts can easily interrupt a family dinner, and long bread and fuel lines in soaring temperatures continue to demoralize the citizenry, the people still yet put their faith in the fact that their best days are just around the corner. This is evident with new cultural institutions and the social-political engagement with a younger generation, which bloomed at the time of the revolution. While these images were being made, the United States announced that it would remove Sudan from a list of state sponsors of terrorism. Countries that remain on the list are Iran, North Korea, and Syria.
