Syria’s long civil war reached a turning point when on 8 December 2024, after a two-week upsurge in success, rebel forces took the capital Damascus with little resistance, toppling President Bashar al-Assad’s 24-year regime. The rebel forces immediately began to free inmates from a vast network of detention centers, with the much-feared Sednaya military prison at its core. Survivors’ accounts revealed the extent of the Assad regime’s systematic detention, torture, and secret execution of its opponents, which transformed its already brutal prison system into a weapon of war.
Are you a photographer and/or passionate about press freedom? Sign up for our newsletter to stay updated on our annual contest and to hear about exhibitions near you.
2025 Photo Contest - West, Central, and South Asia - Stories
The Shadows Already Have Names
Photographer
Samuel Nacar
for Revista 5W
Shutter Speed
1/160
Focal length
24-70mm
F-Stop
F2.8
ISO
1.6
Camera
DC-S5
Jury comment
This deeply personal and sensitive story— taken at the Sednaya Military Prison following the overthrow of the Al-assad government in December 2024— stood out to the jury for each frame's gentle approach and striking composition. The photographer’s clear vision is reflected in the powerful frames and exceptional sequencing, which seamlessly shift between scales— from intimate close-ups of a single person to expansive views of an entire prison. The project’s softness sets it apart, allowing the story to resonate long after viewing, leaving a lingering and profound impact.